How Your Job Reference Page Should Look: Job References Templates

hiring manager looking at an applicant's list of job references

How should a job references page look? Learn how to create a list of job references or download a job references template designed by the experts at iHire.

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Once you have permission from your references to send their information to employers, it’s time to construct the official sheet for the hiring manager. But how should a job references page look? Follow the tips below and choose the job references template you like best to create a clean and professional reference page.

1: Use Consistent Formatting

Your resume, cover letter, and job references format should look like they belong together. The top section with your contact information should be formatted identically on all your application materials. Similarly, type the job reference list in the same font as the body text in the other two documents.

2: Order Your Job Reference List Meaningfully

If you are at the beginning of your career, you might have certain references that are significantly more relevant than others. Because some employers may not contact every person on your job reference list, you should push your best references to the top of the page. While there is no guarantee that hiring managers will call your top contacts first, it’s a good way to boost your chances.

For job seekers who have been in the workforce for several years, however, all your job references may be equally strong. In this case you should create a list of job references that is organized either in alphabetized order by last name or chronologically from the time you last worked with them.

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3: Eliminate Distractions

How should a job references page look? The answer is rather simple. The best job references format is clean and straightforward; there’s no need to include details like your work history here. Your professional reference page needs to give prospective employers a quick and easy way to identify and contact the people who can speak to your experience, work ethic, and abilities.

Take care not to clutter the page with extra details that will confuse or frustrate the reader. When listing contact information, include only the best ways for hiring managers to contact each reference – that means one phone number and one email address per person.

Additionally, unless the potential employer specifically requests otherwise, keep your job reference list to three to five individuals. Any more than that is overwhelming and unnecessary. Plus, including fewer contacts gives you more control over who the hiring manager speaks with.

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