Former or current direct supervisors make excellent references, but Job Title Email List clients, your former employees, co-workers, and vendors you have interfaced with often make great references also. If you have people willing to endorse you whose names are recognizable in your industry or profession and Job Title Email List who will add credibility to your job search, by all means include them--and do so prominently. But, don't neglect to include references from people at all levels, particularly those in positions that represent the people you would have to interact with on a Job Title Email List real-world, day-to-day basis in your next job.
As much as possible, you will want to maintain connections with "old" colleagues Job Title Email List and other people that you worked with or associated with in past jobs. While the most current references will often hold the most weight, having no references from past employers can look suspect. Recruiters Job Title Email List may wonder, for example, if you left your past employer on bad terms or if you had or have trouble establishing strong professional relationships. If you have lost touch with old colleagues, you might try looking for them on LinkedIn or other professional networking Job Title Email List sites. Contact each person that you intend to list as a reference and ask for their permission.
Never provide someone as a reference unless you have discussed it with Job Title Email List them first and briefed them on your current job search. Verify the contact information for each reference and ask for permission to list a telephone number and email address. When relevant, you will want to list the Job Title Email List name of your reference, along with their current job title and the company at which they work. While mailing addresses are rarely necessary, you should include at least the city and state (or country, if the reference is an international one). You should also include the Job Title Email List preferred telephone number and email address for the reference.