Vocations · Career Resources

Three people who will say
the right things about you.

Make a reference list for each job you apply to. Track who has agreed, give each person what they need to speak well about you, and print a clean page with only the references who said yes.

Start a reference listWhat you get
$5one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $5

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Job search kit, $29 for 34 items.

Reference lists

The worked example is made up: a medical assistant application with two references agreed and one still deciding, and last spring’s camp job with three. Records save on this device only.

Loading the reference list form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Vocations · Career Resources$5

What you finish with
A record per application with the role, the date and your heading line; each reference with name, title and organization, relationship, phone, email and whether they agreed; five preparation steps; a count of who agreed; flags for fewer than three, a reference still waiting, one who declined and missing contact details; a printable reference page listing only people who agreed.
Who it is for
Students and graduates applying for jobs, internships and programs, career changers, and the counselors and teachers helping them.
Format
Browser builder with a saved list per application. Prints the reference page to attach, the full record, every list or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Job search kit ($29) and the Vocations Suite pass ($99), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Career Resources space in Caveat Vocations.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Start a list for the job and add the people you plan to ask.
  2. Ask each one first, and mark who agrees.
  3. Send each the posting and your résumé, and tell them what to speak to.
  4. Print the reference page when the employer asks for it.
  5. Thank them, and tell them how it turned out.

Start a reference list

Working with references

Five steps that keep references happy to help1AskTwo weeks before you apply, by message or in person: “Would you becomfortable speaking about my work?”2EquipSend the posting, your résumé and two or three things you hopethey mention.3ListName, title, organization, how they know you, phone and email, onits own page.4WarnWhen an employer asks for references, tell each person who maycall and for what job.5Close the loopThank them, and tell them whether you got the job.Five steps that keep references happy to help1AskTwo weeks before you apply, by messageor in person: “Would you becomfortable speaking about my work?”2EquipSend the posting, your résumé and twoor three things you hope they mention.3ListName, title, organization, how theyknow you, phone and email, on its ownpage.4WarnWhen an employer asks for references,tell each person who may call and forwhat job.5Close the loopThank them, and tell them whether yougot the job.
A reference who knows the job and what to say is worth more than an impressive title who barely remembers you.

Who makes a good reference

The best references have watched you work recently: a supervisor, a practicum or internship lead, a teacher or professor from a course close to the job, a coach or a volunteer leader. Family members and friends do not count. If you have little work history, a teacher and a coach or club advisor who can speak to reliability and effort are a solid start.

Keep the page separate

Put references on their own page instead of the résumé, and send it when it is asked for. That way you can choose the right three for each job and warn them before anyone calls.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. CareerOneStop: References guidance for job seekers (careeronestop.org).
  2. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. USAJOBS help: references and how federal hiring may contact them (usajobs.gov/help).
  3. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Career readiness competencies employers ask references about (naceweb.org).
  4. U.S. Department of Labor. Soft Skills to Pay the Bills: professionalism and communication skills employers look for (dol.gov/agencies/odep).

The worked example is made up, and every name, phone number and email in it is invented. Your list, and your references’ contact details, stay in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.