You get the message every job seeker hopes for: "We'd like to proceed. Please send the contact details of two referees." Then you realise your former manager hasn't heard from you in three years, and the lecturer you had in mind changed his number. A strong interview can still stall at this stage, so it pays to prepare your referees before anyone asks.
This guide covers who to choose, how to ask, what to send them, and what to do when your situation is awkward, such as a boss who won't be kind or a first job search with no work history.
What employers actually do with references
Practice varies by company, so don't assume one pattern. Some employers phone referees. Others send a written form or an email with a few questions. Some only ask for a reference after a conditional offer, and some do it quietly alongside other checks such as verifying your certificates or guarantor details.
Whatever the format, the questions tend to be similar: how the referee knows you, how long and in what role, how you performed, how you worked with people, and whether they would work with you again. Reliability and honesty carry more weight than flashy praise. A short, specific, lukewarm-but-true reference often does less damage than a vague, glowing one that falls apart when the recruiter asks a follow-up.
Who to choose as referees
Aim for people who have seen your work, not just people with impressive titles. A line manager who supervised you for a year beats a director who barely knew your name.
Good choices
- A current or former direct supervisor. Employers usually value this most.
- A senior colleague or team lead who reviewed your work.
- A client, if you freelance or ran a project. Pick someone who paid on time and was happy with the result.
- A lecturer or project supervisor, if you're a fresh graduate. Choose one who knows your final-year project or a course you did well in.
- An NYSC place-of-primary-assignment supervisor or a community development service group leader, if corps service is your main experience.
- A volunteer or church, mosque or association leader who supervised you in a real responsibility, as a supporting referee rather than your only one.
Weak choices
- Relatives, close friends, or anyone who'd be described as "just a well-known person".
- Someone who can't be reached by phone or email within a few days.
- A person who might say something negative or vague because they were unhappy about how you left.
Most employers want at least one professional referee, and two or three is common. Check the instructions in the job advert or offer email, because some specify the number and the relationship (for example, "your most recent employer"). If an application says that, follow it rather than substituting your preferred person.
How to ask: a step-by-step process
- Ask before you list them. Never put someone's name down and hope. A surprise call from a recruiter gets a cautious answer.
- Ask directly, and give an easy way out. For example: "I'm applying for a role in operations and I'd like to list you as a referee. Do you feel comfortable giving me a positive reference?" That last phrase matters. If they hesitate, you've learned something useful.
- Confirm the best contact details. Get their current phone number (ideally WhatsApp-reachable), email, job title and organisation. Ask when they're easiest to reach.
- Send a short briefing once you have an interview or offer stage (see below).
- Tell them when to expect contact, and update them if the timing changes.
- Thank them afterwards, whether or not you got the job.
What to send your referee
A referee who is busy will say what they remember, and memory fades. Help them with a brief message. Keep it to a few lines, and attach your CV and the job advert.
Hello Mr Adeyemi, thank you for agreeing to be my referee. I've been shortlisted for a Procurement Officer role at a manufacturing company. I've attached my CV and the job description. They may call you from a Lagos number or email you in the next week. If it helps, you could mention the vendor-tracking spreadsheet I built in 2024 and how I handled the supplier delay that quarter. I'll let you know the outcome. Thank you again.
That example is hypothetical, but notice what it does. It names the role, gives a timeframe, and offers two concrete things the referee can honestly speak to. You aren't scripting their answer. You're reminding them of facts.
What to include
- The job title and employer type, and a line on why it fits you.
- Your updated CV and the dates you worked together.
- One to three specific achievements or situations from your time with them.
- Any detail that could cause confusion, such as a job title change or the reason you left.
Don't write the reference for them and ask them to sign it. Some referees do offer to adapt a draft, but a reference that sounds like you wrote it is easy for a recruiter to spot, and it can undermine your credibility.
A worked example: preparing three referees
Here's a hypothetical case. Funke is applying for an accounts role after two years at a small distribution company. She has an offer pending references. Her options are below.
| Referee | Relationship | Risk | Her plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Okafor, former finance manager | Supervised her for 18 months | Changed companies; phone number may be old | Message on LinkedIn, confirm number, send briefing |
| Mr Bello, current MD | Current employer | She hasn't told the company she is leaving | Don't list him yet; ask the new employer to contact him only after an offer |
| Dr Eze, final-year project supervisor | Supervised her thesis | Five years ago, so less relevant | Use only as a third, character-and-ability referee |
Funke lists Mrs Okafor first, a trusted senior colleague second, and Dr Eze third. She tells the employer in writing that her current boss is unaware of her search, and asks that he be contacted only once an offer is confirmed. Many employers accept this, although it's their decision, and it's better to say it early than to have them find out.
Common situations that complicate things
Your current employer doesn't know you're leaving
Say so plainly when you're asked. Offer a previous manager or a colleague instead, and ask whether the employer can make the check at the final stage. Don't give a fake name, and never ask a friend to pose as a former manager. Impersonating a referee is fraud, and employers do withdraw offers when they find it.
You left on bad terms
Don't list that person unless you must. Choose someone else who saw your work. If the employer insists on your last employer, be ready with a short, calm, honest explanation. Something like: "We disagreed about workload and I left to find a better fit. Here is what I'd say I did well there." Avoid blaming. Our post on questions to ask before accepting a job offer can help you check you're moving to a better situation.
You have little or no work history
Use a lecturer, NYSC supervisor, internship supervisor, or a person who supervised a volunteer role or a client project. Prepare them in the same way, with specific examples from your CV.
Your referee is outside Nigeria
Give the time zone and the best channel, whether email or WhatsApp. Tell the employer, so a call at an odd hour doesn't go unanswered.
You're a freelancer
Choose clients, not agency contacts you only messaged. Remind them of the project and result. If you keep a record of deliverables and feedback, your referee can check it quickly. Our post on following up after an interview without being pushy covers how to keep in touch with a hiring team while references are being checked.
Common mistakes
- Listing someone without asking. It's the most common and the most avoidable.
- Using only senior names. A famous person who can't describe your work is worse than a modest supervisor with details.
- Forgetting to update contacts. Test the number and email a day or two before you submit them.
- Not telling the referee what the role is. They may stress the wrong strengths.
- Exaggerating titles or dates. Referees and HR records can contradict you. Keep your CV and your referees consistent.
- Going silent after. Referees help people they feel respected by. Update them and say thanks.
- Paying anyone for a reference or a "clearance". A genuine employer doesn't charge you to check references. If someone asks, read our guide on spotting fake job adverts and recruitment fee scams.
Build your referee list before you need it
Once a quarter, spend ten minutes on this. Note two or three people who could vouch for you. Save their current contact details. When you finish a major project or leave a job, send a short thank-you message and ask whether you can use them as a referee later. People are more willing when they're asked while the work is fresh.
If you also change jobs often, keep a short document with each role, your dates, your supervisor's name and two or three results you can prove. It saves time on applications and helps your referees recall accurately. When you're moving on, our post on what to do with your pension when changing jobs covers another task that is easy to forget.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to put referees on my CV?
Usually not. A line such as "References available on request" is enough, and you provide names when the employer asks. If the advert asks for referees up front, include them.
Can a referee refuse or give a bad reference?
Yes. That's why you ask first and give them an easy way to decline. If they decline, thank them and choose someone else.
Is a WhatsApp voice note acceptable as a reference?
That depends on the employer. Most prefer a phone call, an email or their own form. Ask the recruiter what format they need and tell your referee.
What if my only referee is my current boss?
Say so, and explain your concern about confidentiality. Ask the employer to hold the check until after a firm offer, and offer an additional colleague or client as a backup. Some employers will accept that. Others won't, so be ready to decide how much risk you're willing to take.
Should I give a reference letter instead?
A signed letter can be a useful addition, but many employers still want to speak to someone directly, so treat it as a supplement.
Your next step
Today, write down three people who have seen your work. Message each one to ask permission, confirm their contact details, and save them in one note on your phone. That way, when the offer email comes, you only have to send a briefing.
Always apply through the employer's official website or verified channels. Genuine employers never ask applicants to pay for a job, training, or an interview.