A job references template is a single page with your name and contact line at the top, the heading "References", and then three or four people listed in the same order: full name, job title, organization, how they know you, phone and email. Copy the layout below, fill the brackets and save it as a PDF.
Use it when an employer asks for references by email, at an interview or in a portal upload box. Before you fill it, make sure each person has said yes; the guide to choosing references covers that part.
Quick answers
Length
One page. Three references is standard, four at most unless asked.Order
Strongest and most recent first, usually your last direct supervisor.Each entry
Name, title, organization, relationship, phone, email. Address is optional.Header
The same name and contact line you use on your resume.File
PDF named like Firstname-Lastname-References.pdf.
Job references template you can copy
[Your full name]
[City, State] | [Phone] | [Email]
Professional References
[Reference full name]
[Their job title]
[Their organization]
Relationship: [Former supervisor at Company, Month to Month]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Reference full name]
[Their job title]
[Their organization]
Relationship: [Team lead on the same shift]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Reference full name]
[Their job title]
[Their organization]
Relationship: [Course instructor, Name of course]
[Phone] | [Email]
Leave one blank line between entries. Use the same font and size as your resume so the two pages look like a set.
Sample list of references for a job
Here is the same layout filled with made up details, to show the finished look.
Asha [Surname]
Columbus, OH | [Phone] | [Email]
References
Daniel [Surname]
Assistant Store Manager
[Grocery chain], Westside branch
Relationship: My direct supervisor for two years
[Phone] | [Email]
Rosa [Surname]
Front End Lead
[Grocery chain], Westside branch
Relationship: Trained me and worked the same shifts
[Phone] | [Email]
Ken [Surname]
Volunteer Coordinator
[Community food bank]
Relationship: Supervised my weekend volunteering
[Phone] | [Email]
How to format references for a job
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Font | Same as your resume, 10 to 12 point |
| Margins | About one inch on every side |
| Name line | Bold or slightly larger than the rest |
| Entries | Left aligned, one blank line between them |
| Relationship line | Short phrase with where and how long |
| Address | Leave out unless the employer asks |
| Photos or logos | Leave out |
| File type | PDF unless the portal asks for another format |
Reference entry examples by job type
The relationship line is where most people go wrong. It should tell the reader in a few words why this person is worth calling.
| Job type | Example relationship line |
|---|---|
| Retail or food service | Shift manager who scheduled and reviewed my work |
| Office or admin | Office manager I reported to for 18 months |
| Nursing or care | Charge nurse on my unit, night shift |
| Teaching | Principal at my placement school |
| Trades | Site foreman on two commercial projects |
| Student or first job | Math teacher and robotics club advisor |
| Freelance | Client for whom I managed a six month project |
Do and do not
Do: "Relationship: Direct supervisor at [Company], [Month] to [Month]".
Don't: "Relationship: Knows me".
Do: keep the page separate from your resume and send it only when asked.
Don't: put "References available upon request" at the bottom of your resume. It wastes a line; employers assume it.
How to write references for a job when you are short on time
If an employer asks for a reference page for job application paperwork by the end of the day, you can still do it well in about twenty minutes.
- Open your resume file and save a copy named References.
- Delete everything under the header.
- Type the heading and paste the template block three times.
- Fill each block from your phone contacts, then text each person a quick heads up.
- Read it once aloud to catch spelling mistakes in names and titles.
That is how to list references for a job without missing a detail. Job references examples online often add long paragraphs about each person; you do not need them. The employer only wants to know who to call and why.
How to list references for a job application online
Portals handle references in two ways. Some show three blocks of boxes, one per person. Others have an upload slot labeled Additional documents or References. If both exist, fill the boxes; recruiters search those fields, not the attachment.
When you email the page, send the PDF and add one line to the message: "I have attached my list of references as requested." For the rest of the message, see the job application email guide. Keep a copy of which references you gave each employer in your tracker, so you can warn the right people.
Questions people ask
How do you format references for a job?
Put your name and contacts at the top, a "References" heading, then each person in the same block: name, title, organization, relationship and contact details. Use the resume's font and keep it to one page.
Should references be on a separate page?
Yes. Most employers expect a separate page sent only when they ask. It keeps your resume short and protects your references from unwanted calls.
How many references should be on the list?
Three is standard. List four only if the employer asks for more or one person may be hard to reach.
Do I include addresses for references?
Usually not. Phone and email are enough. Add a mailing address only when the form or posting asks for it.
What order should references go in?
Put your most recent direct supervisor first, then other work references, then any personal or academic ones. The first name on the list is often the first one called.