Career Snapshot: referees and references
References are requested by potential employers or postgraduate supervisors to confirm that the details you have given during the application process are accurate.
These references are provided by referees who are people that you have nominated on your application. Most applications in the UK do not accept pre-written reference letters. Normally you will require two referees but sometimes you may need more.
Get started by viewing the Career Snapshot: Referees and References video to get an overview of what referees and references are, and then use the sections below and downloadable resources for further support.
Referees and references
Providing referees
Organisations will ask you to give them the details of your referees at different stages during the application process.
- CV – you can add your referee details to your CV however it is more common to simply state ‘References available on request’. For more information on this, please visit the structure section of our CVs and resumes page.
- Application form – there is normally a common section on an application where you are asked to give the name, title and contact details for your referees. Usually two referees are requested, however, for academic applications like PhD programmes organisations will usually request three.
- Before attending an interview – once you have passed the shortlisting process you may need to complete a form before you attend an interview where you are asked for the details of your referees.
- Before you sign a contract – some organisations only use referees to confirm your past work history so will only request them once you have been offered the job.
Different types of referee
Choosing your referee