In the trades, reputation travels fast. A foreman who can say “they show up on time, work safe and listen” can be worth more than anything on your resume. Here's how to build references that help you get hired.
Who makes a good reference?
- Supervisors and foremen who directly saw your work.
- Journeypersons you worked alongside or apprenticed under.
- Instructors from a pre-apprenticeship, college or high-school tech program.
- Employers from non-trades jobs who can speak to reliability, safety and work ethic.
- Volunteer coordinators — for example, from a community build or a sports club where you held responsibility.
Avoid family members and friends unless you worked for them in a real, verifiable job.
How to ask
- Ask in person or by phone first, not just by text.
- Confirm the best phone number and email, and how they'd like to be described (title, company).
- Remind them what you worked on together and what kind of job you're applying for.
- Give a heads-up when you apply somewhere they might be called.
- Thank them — and let them know when you land the job.
Building references when you're new
- Treat every job — even a summer labour gig — as a reference audition.
- Be early, put your phone away and ask good questions.
- Take on the jobs nobody wants, and do them well.
- Keep your logbook and hour records accurate; it shows you're organized.
- Stay in touch with past supervisors with a quick message every so often.
Formatting your reference list
Put references on a separate page that matches your resume. List three people with name, title, company, relationship to you, phone and email. Bring printed copies to interviews. Our resume service can format it for you.
This article is general information for people exploring trades careers in Canada. Rules, programs and amounts change and differ between provinces and territories — confirm details with your apprenticeship authority and official government sources.