Many job applications ask for two or three references: people who can speak to your abilities and character. If you have never had a formal job, that request can feel impossible. Who is supposed to vouch for you?
More people than you think. Employers hiring for entry-level roles understand that first-time applicants will use academic and volunteer references. What matters is that the person knows you well enough to talk about how you work.
Who can be a reference when you have no boss
Good options, roughly in order of usefulness:
- Supervisors from internships, part-time or informal jobs, including babysitting or tutoring families and small business owners you helped.
- Volunteer coordinators who saw you show up and take responsibility.
- Professors, teachers or academic advisers, ideally ones who supervised a project or saw your work closely.
- Coaches, club advisers or program leaders who watched you lead or work in a team.
- Mentors from structured programs.
People who usually should not be references: family members, romantic partners and close friends. Employers want someone who has observed your work, not someone who loves you.
What makes a strong reference
A strong reference can answer questions like:
- How reliable and punctual is this person?
- How do they handle feedback and pressure?
- How do they communicate and work with others?
- What are their strengths and areas for growth?
A professor who taught you in a 300-person lecture can say little. A professor who supervised your capstone project can say a lot. Choose depth of knowledge over impressive titles.
When to ask
Ask before you start applying, not when an employer requests references tomorrow. Give people at least a week’s notice when possible. Ask again, briefly, each time a reference might be contacted.
How to ask
Ask in a way that makes it easy to say no. Some people are too busy or do not feel they know you well enough, and a reluctant reference is worse than none.
Asking a professor
Subject: Reference request – Jordan Rivera (Business 410, spring 2026)
Dear Professor Kim,
I hope you’re well. I’m applying for entry-level operations roles and wondered whether you’d feel comfortable serving as a reference. You supervised my team’s logistics capstone project this spring, and I think you could speak to my organization and teamwork.
If you’re able to, I’ll send my resume and the types of roles I’m applying for. If you’re too busy, I completely understand.
Thank you,
Jordan Rivera
Asking a volunteer coordinator
Hi Maria, I’m starting my job search for customer service roles and would love to list you as a reference, since you saw my work at the Saturday check-in desk for a year. Would you be comfortable with that? Happy to send my resume and details first.
What to send once they agree
Make your references’ job easy by sending:
- Your current resume.
- The types of roles you are applying for and two or three skills you would like them to mention.
- A reminder of specific things you did together (“the check-in spreadsheet I built”, “the presentation to the city council”).
- How you would like them to be contacted (phone or email) and their preferred details.
Format your reference list
Keep references on a separate page, not on your resume, and provide it only when asked. Use the same header as your resume.
Reference list format
Dr. Sam Kim · Associate Professor of Business, Lakeside University · sam.kim@lakeside.example · (555) 010-3381 · Relationship: supervised my capstone project, Jan–May 2026
Maria Lopez · Volunteer Coordinator, Eastside Community Food Bank · maria@eastsidefood.example · (555) 010-7720 · Relationship: supervised my weekly volunteer shifts, 2025–2026
These people and contact details are fictional. Always get permission before listing anyone, and double-check that their contact details are current.
Prepare them for the call
When you reach the reference stage for a specific job, send a short heads-up:
Heads-up message
Hi Professor Kim, thank you again for being a reference. Northwind Logistics may contact you this week about an Operations Assistant role. The job focuses on accurate record-keeping and coordinating with carriers, so my work organizing our capstone data might be most relevant.
Say thank you and share the outcome
Thank each reference after they have been contacted, and let them know when you get the job. It is good manners, and it keeps the relationship strong for the future. A short update a few months into your new role is a nice touch.
What if you truly have no one?
Start building references now. Volunteer for a few hours a week, take on a short freelance or temporary assignment through an agency, or join a structured program with a mentor. Within a couple of months you will have someone who has seen your work. Our guide to finding your first job with no experience suggests ways to build this kind of track record, and networking for beginners can help you meet potential mentors.