r/BeMyReference

How best to thank my professional referrers?

I was positioned for (by a headhunter) and interviewed with folks from the company across multiple rounds (all virtual) and did a drop-in at the company to meet my new boss and team in-person after the offer was signed.

I provided three professional references which the company (not the headhunting company) reached out to.

Obviously I got the job (signed the offer, I start Monday 6th July) and:

\\- a former coworker who connected and reportedly “gave a glowing reference”

\\- a former CEO (skip level, my boss’ boss)

\\- a former boss (to the above-CEO, but only for 2 mos) and she has been working for a global brand for 8 years in another country; I provided the German and USA phone numbers & email

Apparently the hiring company only connected with the first two.

How do I best thank each of them?

I suspect the former coworker would be happiest with cash, the former CEO would appreciate a handwritten letter and the overseas former boss would be fine with an email.

\\#1 - I don’t want to give cash but … ?

\\#2 - is it too weird to ask for his home address (he moved from the last time we worked together and I don’t have the “new” in the last few years address) only to send a lame letter rather than something \*better\*? (He collects fountain pens and regularly calls me on my birthday; he’s all about personal connection and intersection points)

\\#3 - I adored working for her the mostest; brief but she was fantabulous. She never actually provided a reference but that wasn’t her fault and she was anticipating the call to provide the reference so a “thanks anyway” email feels a bit lame; I might ask her again in 3-5 years!

Not sure why this sub suspects this was written by environment-destroying Ai but I assure you, 100% me.

Hi! Maybe not the norm but I’m requesting 2 references to volunteer with seniors.

A little bit about me:
I’ve been in the animal/veteran realm for the past 8 years and spent 2 years prior serving active duty personnel and their families

I am a student very close to obtaining my AA in liberal arts and have always felt inclined to help anyone in need.

My goal with this senior organization is to not only provide physical help but to also foster companionship as so many seniors are on their own. I want them to feel seen, appreciated, and heard.

Happy to share additional details and thank you in advance!

PS. Happy to return the favor and i’m on LinkedIn!

I jumped through all of the hoops for this behavioral health job and now they’re threatening to rescind my offer if I don’t find 5 references. I don’t keep in contact with anyone from my previous jobs and it’s ridiculous that they’re asking this, but I figure I might as well try.

I need the reference (email survey) by end of business tomorrow, and I’m unsure if there’ll be anything else required (like a phone call).

Please message me or reply if you can help.

Nanny of many yrs here & can provide screenshots of several excellent recommendations/reviews from parents. I've always had a stellar list of references, but due to having worked full time for one family the past full year, I fear the ones before are outdated. I'm unsure of how things ended with this family in March- all seemed great (job ended due to foreseen daycare transition) until I've recently had cause to think mom has not been reliable.

I've thankfully landed multiple part time jobs/families through my agency since, but would really like to start looking for a single, full time position and would like 1-2 references to speak to recent FT experience. I can't use current families as i am looking to replace them, and would prefer to not ask years old references though they have always been reliable.

I would like to find a couple people on here i could use long term (would pay if all goes well and return the favor) as I plan to quit nannying next year and have some back up #s in case i need to return years down the line. I have a corporate background as well and have been a reference for many others, so I will return the favor. TIA!

Healthcare related, I'll give more details via DM. But I need 3 references for this job, unemployment SUCKS! Please and thank you!!!

I need references for a rental in Minnesota - 1 landlord reference, 1 employment reference for my partner

We have been homeless since Dec and have had trouble competing with 2 income families for houses we have looked at. We have lost like 200 in fees due to this.

If anyone knows how to get a cosigner since my family is unsupportive that info could be useful. I’ve seen other states allow bonds etc but this isn’t common in MN.

I work full time. My job is supposed to be remote but because it’s in healthcare I am not able to access the data I need from a hotel or public places. I worked hard to get this job due to health conditions that prevented me from working so now I risk my safety to commute but we really need my income as my partner is disabled on SSI. He will be seeking a part time job once we move just to help out but we are fine as is. We just don’t look good on paper and like I said competing for a place.

Thanks!

Closing on a role and need 2 supervisor references. This is for a Staff software engineer role.

First, I apologize to the people that reached out to me that I inadvertently ignored; my phone was not sending me notifications and I did not see messages until it was too late. But now that it’s been rectified, please let me know if you need a reference. Thanks to this sub, I have just started my third week on a job I’m really enjoying and I would love to return the favor. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for all of you!!

I’m career switching from healthcare as an anaesthetic practitioner to anything that’ll get my foot into roles within tech or cooperate. Anyone in these areas willing to give a reference would be highly appreciated ♥️

I’m based in the Uk but happy to receive references from other locations

so tbh this is my second job ever, I havent had a professional job in like almost 2 years bc I had to be a caretaker for my aunt. I already have the job but they’re asking me for 3 references that used to be my manager/supervisor for the pretraining stuff. I am wondering if 3 of yall can pretend to have been my managers in the past. It was just a regular retail store I worked at when I was 17. I tried to use my actual managers but it was rejected bc I didn’t have their emails bc I havent worked there since december 2024 and I feel weird contacting them for their emails

There is a year-long community food bank program position I really want to apply for but it needs a minimum of two references. I've been out of full-time work for awhile due to brain tumor treatment/surgery and I found out that during those years most of my primary references have passed away, moved abroad, or their phone numbers that I had are out-of-service. I don't have any family members or friends to ask for references. The part-time work I've been doing rotates me between their sites so often that I don't get to stay with a single team long enough to get to know anyone well enough to ask for a reference.

I have a work and volunteer background in education, agriculture, retail, and K-12 food service. This organization will call and do a reference verification if I'm selected. I just need someone to act as a prior volunteer or work supervisor and give a good reference when they call. I'll happily even write the written portion of the reference if you want, I just need someone to do the call verification portion if I get to that stage.

I can provide all the details needed over DM. Additionally, I've wrote numerous letters of recommendation over the years for people and would be happy to write a letter of reference for a job, graduate school, AmeriCorps, etc. for you as well (that you can view prior to submission too to make sure you're happy with it) or be listed on your resume/application as a reference in exchange for my verification call. Thank you!

Edited to add, unfortunately, none of the responses to this post are showing up? I think the automod filter is getting them. If you see this and responded, or are interested in being my reference, could you please DM me? I'd appreciate it, thank you again!

I recently got the okay to move forward and need a manager/Supervisor reference. I have one Supervisor reference but need one more. I can provide any information that is needed.
It’s a Healthcare Admin position, and it’s the reference tracking is through skill survey. If anyone can help me I would greatly appreciate it thank you so much!

Like the post says, I'm trying to zhuuz up my linkedin profile for future viewers and recruiters and there's a glaring lack of references. Most of my work friends dont use linkedin so they're never able to respond or follow up. Any help would be immensely appreciated. Of course I'll also be a reference for someone as well!

Applications are opening up in July and my application from April got rejected. I wanna see if getting a good reference would increase my chances of getting a position.

i graduated last year with a degree in archaeology and anthropology and decided to go in the direction of environmental law with my degrees. a lot of my more related references would be in Korea, as I studied abroad in my last year, but it’s harder to get in contact with them as I no longer have my school email or international calling. i had been applying to be a litigation assistant at a bunch of law firms and finally got a call back from a law firm that handles employment discrimination cases. the job is a remote position, so I don’t necessarily need references from my state, but I live in and work from North Carolina.

At the end of the phone screening, I was asked for 3 references that can attest to my work ethic and communication skills. Unfortunately, i just haven’t spoken to my most relevant employers in a couple of years and have been unemployed for a while

I can send my resume and other relevant details in a DM. i would appreciate it if anyone could help me out.

The market for these are really competitive in my area for summer just need a basic job like grocery store or restaurant i can write the cover letter just need a reference can help you as-well.

Hi everyone. I'm returning to the workforce after a several-year hiatus and unfortunately I've lost all my references. Before leaving I used to work in the mental health field but I decided I want to venture out into something new like being a virtual assistant, AI trainer, or data specialist. Would anyone be willing to be a reference for me and I'll absolutely return the favor? Thanks in advance <3

i need a professional reference and a supervisor reference. tysm

Hello everyone!! I just got my CNA certification and I’m very eager to apply to CNA positions, but I just need one more “peer” reference I need to put down. If anyone could please help me out, that would be greatly appreciated.

Apparently companies no longer offer references and I cannot use my previous job of 4 years. Just had 3rd round interviews at 2 different companies and just waiting on a potential offer.

Really need a solid reference from someone in the IT industry, if someone could do me a solid this would mean the world to me.