Applying for your first job can feel like a catch-22. Employers ask for experience and referees, but how do you provide either when you have never held a formal position?
The good news is that you can build credible referees before your first permanent job. A teacher, lecturer, learnership facilitator, volunteer supervisor, coach, community leader or project coordinator may be able to speak honestly about your reliability, attitude and ability to learn.
In South Africa, many entry-level employers understand that school leavers, graduates and first-time job seekers may not have former managers. What matters is presenting relevant people professionally and choosing referees who have genuinely observed your work or conduct.
What is a referee on a job application?
A referee is someone an employer can contact to verify your skills, behaviour, reliability or previous responsibilities. A reference is the feedback that person provides.
A referee is not necessarily a former employer. For a first job application, employers may accept someone who can provide a meaningful academic, work-related or character reference, depending on the vacancy.
Suitable referees may include:
- A teacher or lecturer: They can comment on your attendance, discipline, communication and ability to complete assignments.
- A learnership or training facilitator: They may verify your participation, practical skills and progress.
- A volunteer supervisor: They can describe your reliability, teamwork and service to the community.
- A job-shadowing supervisor: They may confirm that you arrived on time, followed instructions and showed interest.
- A coach or activity leader: They can discuss commitment, teamwork and how you respond to feedback.
- A community project leader: They may confirm your responsibilities in an event, campaign or local initiative.
- A supervisor from casual or informal work: This could include a small business owner you helped, even if you were paid casually.
A family member or close friend is usually a weak choice because they may appear biased. Choose someone with a professional or structured connection to you whenever possible.
Who can be a referee if you have no work experience?
Your best referee is someone who has seen you do something relevant to the role. The person does not need to have managed you in a corporate office.
For example, if you are applying for an administration job, an educator could discuss your organisation, computer skills and ability to meet deadlines. If you are applying for a retail position, a volunteer coordinator could confirm your customer service, punctuality and ability to work under pressure.
Alternative referees for graduates and school leavers
Consider people from these areas:
| Your experience | Potential referee | What they may confirm |
|---|---|---|
| School projects | Teacher or subject head | Teamwork, deadlines and communication |
| University or college | Lecturer or tutor | Research, writing and analytical ability |
| Learnership | Facilitator or workplace mentor | Attendance, practical learning and conduct |
| Volunteering | Project supervisor | Reliability, initiative and service |
| Job shadowing | Host or department supervisor | Professional behaviour and interest |
| Sport or cultural activities | Coach or organiser | Commitment, teamwork and discipline |
| Community work | Non-profit coordinator | Responsibility and interaction with people |
| Informal work | Business owner or senior colleague | Customer service and task performance |
The key is relevance. Someone who knows you well but cannot describe your work habits may not be as useful as a supervisor who worked with you for only three months.
How to build credible referees before applying
You do not need to wait until an employer asks for references. Start building professional relationships now.
1. Make a list of people who have supervised you
Think beyond paid employment. Write down people who have observed your performance in a structured setting.
Include:
- Teachers and lecturers
- Learnership facilitators
- Internship or work-experience supervisors
- Volunteer coordinators
- Coaches and activity leaders
- Leaders of church, youth or community programmes
- People who supervised short-term projects
- Small-business owners you assisted
Next to each name, record what they saw you do. This will help you identify which referee best matches each vacancy.
2. Choose quality over status
A well-known person who barely remembers you is not necessarily a strong referee. A supervisor from a small community project may provide a more specific and believable account of your abilities.
Ask yourself:
- Did this person directly observe my work?
- Can they remember specific responsibilities or achievements?
- Do they communicate clearly and professionally?
- Will they respond if an employer contacts them?
- Are they likely to give an honest and supportive reference?
Key takeaway: credibility comes from relevant knowledge, not from an impressive job title.
3. Request permission before listing anyone
Never add someone’s name and contact details to your CV without asking. The person may be unavailable, may not want to provide references or may be surprised by an employer’s call.
Contact them politely by email, WhatsApp or in person. Explain the type of role you are applying for and why you believe they can comment on your abilities.
You could write:
Good afternoon, Ms Mokoena. I am applying for entry-level administration roles and would like to ask whether I may list you as a referee. You taught me Business Studies in Grade 12 and supervised our school project, so you can speak about my organisation, teamwork and ability to meet deadlines. Please let me know if you are comfortable with this.
Give the person enough time to respond. If they agree, confirm their preferred phone number, email address and job title.
What should you tell your referee?
A referee can give a better reference when they understand the role. Send them the job advertisement or a short summary of the position.
Provide:
- Your updated CV
- The name of the employer
- The job title
- The closing date, if relevant
- The main duties
- Two or three skills the employer is seeking
- A brief reminder of the work or project you completed together
Do not ask a referee to exaggerate or claim that you performed duties you did not do. Instead, point them towards accurate examples they may wish to mention.
For instance, if you are applying for a receptionist role, your referee could discuss how you welcomed visitors at a community event, managed registrations or handled telephone enquiries.
How to present referees on your CV
You normally do not need to include a long reference letter with every application. A simple reference section is enough unless the job advertisement requests something specific.
Use a clear format:
References
Ms Lerato Mokoena
Business Studies Teacher, ABC High School
Relationship: Former teacher and project supervisor
Phone: 082 000 0000
Email: lerato.mokoena@example.com
Mr Thabo Naidoo
Volunteer Coordinator, Community Food Initiative
Relationship: Volunteer supervisor
Phone: 083 000 0000
Email: thabo.naidoo@example.com
Use two referees where possible. One may be academic and one may be work-related, volunteer-based or community-based.
If you have not received permission yet, write:
References available on request
However, this should not be used to avoid preparing referees. Have suitable contacts ready before an interview or reference check.
For more guidance on protecting personal information during applications, read this guide to POPIA-compliant job applications. Only share your referees’ details with their consent, and avoid publishing their phone numbers on public profiles.
How to make an academic reference stronger
Academic references are useful when they connect classroom performance to workplace behaviour. Instead of simply listing a teacher, choose someone who can give specific examples.
A strong academic referee may be able to confirm that you:
- Consistently attended lessons
- Completed assignments on time
- Worked effectively in groups
- Presented information clearly
- Used Microsoft Office or other digital tools
- Accepted feedback and improved
- Took responsibility for a project or leadership role
When approaching a teacher or lecturer, remind them of the relevant subject, project or period when they knew you. This makes it easier for them to provide an accurate reference.
How volunteer supervisors can support your first application
Volunteer experience can provide valuable evidence when you lack paid employment. A supervisor may be able to confirm that you arrived on time, followed procedures, assisted the public or completed tasks without constant supervision.
For example, helping at a food drive could demonstrate:
- Customer and community interaction
- Stock handling
- Teamwork
- Basic administration
- Reliability during busy periods
Do not describe volunteering as paid employment. Present it honestly under a section such as Volunteer Experience, then use the supervisor as a referee.
If you want to turn volunteering into stronger application evidence, see this guide to volunteer experience that helps South Africans get hired.
What if you have no suitable referee yet?
You can start creating credible references through short, structured opportunities. Look for activities where someone can observe your contribution over time.
Practical options include:
- Volunteering at a registered organisation or community programme
- Joining a learnership, internship or workplace-readiness course
- Asking for a supervised job-shadowing opportunity
- Helping a small business with administration, stock or social media
- Completing a project for a school, club or community group
- Participating in a recognised skills or youth programme
Keep evidence of what you do, such as project instructions, completion certificates, feedback emails or a record of dates and responsibilities. These documents do not replace a referee, but they help the referee remember your contribution accurately.
You can also read this practical guide on asking for a job-shadowing opportunity in South Africa.
Common referee mistakes to avoid
A poor reference process can make an otherwise strong application look careless. Avoid these mistakes:
- Listing someone without permission: They may refuse to respond or provide an unhelpful reference.
- Using only family members: Employers may question their objectivity.
- Providing outdated contact details: Check phone numbers and email addresses before applying.
- Choosing someone irrelevant: A referee should understand your abilities in relation to the role.
- Failing to brief your referee: Send the job details and your latest CV.
- Exaggerating the relationship: Do not call a casual acquaintance your supervisor.
- Sharing too many referees: Two relevant contacts are usually better than five weak ones.
- Ignoring privacy: Handle names and contact information responsibly.
Also, be cautious if a recruiter asks for unnecessary personal information from your referees. A legitimate employer generally needs professional contact details for verification, not sensitive financial or identity documents.
How to answer “Do you have references?” in an interview
Be honest and confident. You do not need to apologise for being new to the workplace.
Try this response:
“I have not held a permanent full-time role yet, but I can provide an academic referee and a volunteer supervisor who can comment on my reliability, teamwork and ability to learn. I can also provide my learnership facilitator’s details if required.”
This answer acknowledges your limited experience while showing that you have prepared credible alternatives.
Employers hiring entry-level candidates are often assessing your attitude, communication and willingness to learn. Your referees should reinforce those qualities with specific examples.
Build references as part of your job-search system
Keep a private reference list with each person’s:
- Full name and preferred title
- Organisation and role
- Relationship to you
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Date permission was given
- Types of roles they can support
Update the list when someone changes jobs or contact details. You can also track applications and reference requests in a simple spreadsheet using this job application tracking guide.
Final takeaway: you do not need years of employment history to build credible referees. Start with people who have directly observed your effort, ask permission professionally, give them useful context and match each referee to the job you want. That approach turns “no references” into a clear, honest and evidence-based first-job application.