A reference request is a request for someone else's time and reputation. Prepare it before an overseas employer needs a fast response. The aim is to identify people who can speak accurately about your work, confirm their willingness and make the process practical across distance and time zones. Do not assume a former manager can provide more than their organization's policy allows.
Check the requirement before choosing a person
Read the employer's instructions: how many references, which relationships, what period and when they will be contacted. Some processes ask for direct supervisors; others accept academic or character references. Follow the actual request instead of a rule from a generic CV template. Clarify an unclear requirement with the verified employer channel.
The National Careers Service describes useful referees as people who have worked with you directly, such as a manager or trainer, and notes alternatives for people with little experience. Choose someone who can discuss relevant work honestly. A famous name who barely knows you may have little useful information to provide.
Ask permission with a bounded request
Contact the person through a route you already know belongs to them. Explain the kind of role, the country and what the process currently requires. Ask whether they are comfortable being a referee and which contact details they prefer you to use. Give them room to decline without pressure.
A simple draft could be: I am applying for operations roles abroad. Would you be comfortable providing a reference about our work together on supplier scheduling? I can send the role details before anyone contacts you. This is an example to adapt, not a message to send without checking the relationship and facts.
Prepare an accurate briefing
Once they agree, send a short description of the vacancy, dates you worked together, your role and a few relevant projects they actually observed. Include the expected contact method and deadline if known. Check whether a company policy requires all references to go through HR. Respect the boundary rather than asking for an unofficial workaround.
Do not write invented praise for them to repeat. If they ask you for a factual summary, distinguish your responsibilities from team results and correct any date uncertainty first. Tell them if the employer may call from another country so the request is not mistaken for an unexpected sales call.
Share details only at the right stage
Keep a private reference record with permission, preferred details and any limits. Do not publish someone's phone number on an open CV or profile. UK National Careers Service CV guidance recommends saying references are available on request rather than putting other people's contact details on the CV; employer forms elsewhere may request details separately.
If you do not want a current employer contacted yet, raise that clearly with the recruiting employer and ask what alternatives or timing are possible. Do not promise that contact can never happen. Update referees when a specific request is coming and thank them afterward. If their availability changes, resolve it before relying on their name for another application.
Sources and further reading
Source guidance checked on October 27, 2026. The exercises and examples above are editorial suggestions, not hiring guarantees. Follow current employer instructions and destination-specific official requirements.
Continue your job-abroad plan
- Read our guide to writing a clear overseas CV.
- Read our guide to organizing applications.
