Who Should be a Reference When you Have No Job Experience?

Academic references are one option; teachers, professors, or academic advisors can attest to your school performance, work ethic, and ability to learn and apply new skills, often highlighting specific projects or group work where you’ve excelled.

If you’ve volunteered, a supervisor from that organization can vouch for your dedication, teamwork, and leadership, even in an unpaid setting.

Coaches or mentors from sports teams, clubs, or other extracurricular activities can speak to your commitment, responsibility, and time management abilities.

Personal references, such as a family friend, neighbor, or respected community member who knows you well, can comment on your character, work ethic, and reliability. However, avoid close family members, as a more objective view is preferred.

If you’ve completed an internship or job shadowing, even if it was unpaid, a supervisor from that experience can provide valuable insight into your skills, eagerness to learn, and professionalism.

Remember to ask permission before listing someone as a reference, and let them know about the job you’re applying for so they can tailor their reference to align with the role.