List References in a Cover Letter

References are people you can rely on to provide positive recommendations for you when applying for jobs or higher education opportunities. The people you list as references should know your abilities, previous experience and skills you possess, and be willing to recommend you as a viable candidate for the positions for which you apply. Follow these steps to learn how to properly create a reference list.

Steps

Selecting Your References

1. Select the people you think would make good references. Generally companies will ask for two to three references, if they ask for any references at all. Just in case, make a list of four to five people you think would be good, on the off chance that one of the people you select does not want to be a reference. You should pick people who have worked closely with you in a school or work setting. Choose former supervisors, employers, coordinators, or teachers or faculty members who can share information about the positive abilities, skills and qualifications you have to offer.
   • You could also select colleagues, peers or co-workers who can provide insight to your work ethic, skill levels and abilities. People who can provide examples detailing your positive qualities because of your work relationships are effective references.
   • Consider people with whom you've volunteered or worked with through a non-profit organization. Despite not being paid for your work, you may have shown leadership or other skills that can be valuable as a candidate for a job or higher education. People with whom you've volunteered may be able to share details about your skills.
2. Ask the people you would like to use as references if it is ok to do so. Some people would prefer not to be contacted by companies wanting to get an idea of your character. However, most people will say yes, particularly if they are close to you in some way. Do not give out their contact information to potential employers unless they give you their explicit permission. Find out how they would best like to be contacted (for example, cell phone, email, etc.)
   • When asking someone to be your reference, make sure that they plan on giving you a positive recommendation. You should try to select people you know will give you an excellent recommendation.
3. List your references on a separate page from any other information you may be turning in with your application (such as a resume, cover letter, etc.) Only do this if the company you are applying to specifically asks that you provide references. If you are applying for housing (such as when you wish to rent an apartment), you will most likely have to provide references with your housing application.
   • You should not mention references unless you are asked to do so by the company or program you are applying to.

Writing Your Reference List

1. Format your references in the same way as your resume. Use the same fonts, sizes, dividers, graphics and phrasing methods. Your references sheet should be a complementary piece to your resume.
2. Create a heading at the top of the page. Write your name out at the top of the page in a large, clear font in bold. Write your address, phone number, and email in a smaller font underneath your name.
   • If you would like to make a clear break between your header and the content of your page, add a line below your contact information.
3. Create a title for your page. The title should be about the same size as your name. Your title should be to the point--do not make it flowery in any way. Something like “References” or “Professional References for (Your Name)” would work.
4. Create your list of references. You do not need to list your references in a specific order. If you have a reference who is “best” (someone you know very well and will give you a stellar review) you could list this person first. Otherwise, you could organize your list so that it is alphabetical.
   • Write down your first reference. His or her name should be in bold. Underneath his/her name, write his/her relationship to you (ie. Professor, or Boss) and the company or program that you both worked for.
   • Write down the company’s address if your reference still works at that company. If he/she does not, do not list any address.
   • List your reference’s contact information a line below your relationship to your reference. This should be the contact information they provided you--either a telephone number, email, or both.
5. Write down the rest of your references. Do so by following the format detailed above. If you are listing a lot of references, you could format your list so that your references are placed in categories (ie. References from School, References from Work, etc.) This is optional and only should be done if you must list many references.
6. Check the spelling for each listing. Spelling errors on your reference page can reflect poorly on you.

Tips

• Only list references that you know for a fact will give you a positive review. If there is any doubt, try to come up with a different reference.
• Double and triple check the spelling of your references' names. Misspelling their names could show a lack of attention to detail or disrespect on your part.

Related Articles

• Write a Cover Letter
• Include References on a Resume
• Apply for a Job

References

See also

• Write a Thank You Letter for Job Contacts
• Make a Reference Page
• Recommend Someone for a Job
• Give References Without Job Experience
• Ask for a Reference
• Handle Bad References
• Know What to Expect from a Reference Check
• Tell an Ex Employer That Their Reference Letter Isn't Good Enough
• Write a Polite Reference for a Disliked Employee
• Choose a Work Reference

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