Requesting References

3 – The Application Form and Process

Similarly to CV formats and other supporting documentation, it is important to clearly communicate what you expect a reference to contain. In order to avoid receiving references which counteract efforts you may have made to embed EDI in applications, or which address irrelevant qualities for the role, you could provide guidance for referees.

The IAPETUS doctoral training partnership provides a template and guidance to referees to:

Avoid gender bias
Avoid reference to protected or personal characteristics of the applicant
Ensure the reference provides key information which the review panel needs (e.g., evidence of the candidate’s ability to carry out the project they have proposed)

Providing this sort of structure can also discourage referees from commenting inappropriately, for example by making gendered assumptions.

You might consider using your interview questions as a basis for the guidance you provide to referees, especially if you are communicating interview questions in advance to candidates. Or, if you are using a narrative CV, you could request referees to provide feedback in a similar format.

Ask yourself what information would be most helpful for a referee to provide, and what information would be most likely to negatively impact your efforts to enhance EDI in your application process, and make sure the referees are aware to include the former, and leave out the latter.

As ever, be mindful of the voluntary work you are asking of referees and keep the workload proportionate to your real needs.

SECTION 3: The Application Form and Process

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Will you be requesting documents in the application such as cover letters, personal statements, etc?