Who to use as a referee in NZ

The ranked list, from strongest to last resort. All honest.

The short version

Tier one

A direct manager from a recent role who rated your work. The gold standard.

Tier two

Second-level managers, close teammates, clients and stakeholders who saw outcomes. Underused and strong.

Tier three

HR for dates verification, character referees, community leaders. Fine in support, weak alone.

Where Reference Ace fits in

The honest version of this problem is solvable, and it lasts. No usable referee? We check real examples of your work, confirm they're yours, and vouch for them openly as an independent reviewer. Got referees? We brief them properly, run a practice of the exact call employers make, and use the consent rules that keep your current employer out of it until you have signed. Nothing to hide, nothing that unravels in year two.

Common questions

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Can I list a referee from ten years ago?

As a supplement, yes. Employers weight the last two roles, so recency matters.

Is a teammate a legitimate referee?

Absolutely, and it sidesteps awkward managers entirely. Brief them on the outcomes they saw.

Can my current boss be one?

Only after an offer is accepted, with your consent, per the standard wording. Before that, no.

No referee? Show us your work

Reference Ace checks real examples of your work, confirms they're yours, and vouches for them to employers by name, always as an independent reviewer and never as a former boss. Got a referee already? We brief them and run the practice check before a real employer calls.

See how it works and pricing