References
How to ask a teacher or school staff member for a reference
When you have no work history, a reference is often the only part of your application that comes from someone other than you. That makes it worth getting right.
The good news is that teachers and school staff are often asked to provide references, and many are willing to help when they know the student well enough. What makes the difference is who you ask and how you ask them.
Choose someone who actually knows you
A common mistake is going for the biggest title available. A principal who can only confirm you're enrolled writes a reference that says almost nothing. A Year 10 coordinator who has taught you for two years, seen you turn work in on time and watched you help a struggling classmate can write something specific and convincing.
An employer can usually tell the difference. Specific beats senior.
Good options:
- A teacher who has taught you for a full year or more
- Your year level coordinator
- A sports coach, band director or club supervisor from school
- A work experience supervisor
- A volunteering coordinator
- A teacher aide or support staff member who has worked with you closely
Ask yourself: could this person describe a specific thing I did? If not, pick someone else.
Ask — don't just list them
Never put someone's name and contact details on an application before they've agreed. It's unfair to them, and an employer ringing someone who doesn't know they're a referee is the worst version of this.
Always ask first, and give them a genuine chance to say no. Occasionally a staff member will decline, or say another teacher would be better placed. That is not a rejection of you — it usually means they don't think they can write something strong, which is information worth having.
Give reasonable notice
Give as much notice as you reasonably can. Where possible, a week or two is considerate — particularly if something written is required. Asking on a Friday afternoon for something due Monday puts a teacher in a position where the only options are rushing it or letting you down.
Term timing matters too. Reporting periods and exam blocks are difficult weeks to ask. If you know a deadline is coming, ask early.
How to ask
In person, at a sensible moment — after class, not during. If that's not possible, email is fine.
Say who you are in relation to them, what the opportunity is, what you'd need from them, and when it's needed by:
Hi Ms Carter,
I'm applying for a casual job at my local supermarket and they've asked for a referee. You've taught me English for the last two years and I thought you'd be the best person to ask.
Would you be comfortable being a referee for me? They'd most likely call rather than ask for anything written. I'd need to give them the details by Friday 12 September.
Happy to give you more information about the role if that helps.
Thanks, Jordan Ellis, Year 10
Short, clear, easy to answer.
Give them useful context
Once someone agrees, make their job easy. Send them:
- What the role is and who the employer is
- What the employer seems to care about — reliability, customer service, teamwork
- A couple of things you'd be glad if they mentioned, phrased as a suggestion rather than a script
- Your current résumé or profile summary
- The deadline, and whether it'll be a phone call, a form or a written letter
Don't write the reference for them. Do save them from having to reconstruct two years from memory in five minutes.
Be respectful of their time
They're doing this outside their actual job. So:
- Ask once, and follow up once if the deadline is close
- Don't list the same teacher for fifteen applications without telling them
- Tell them if you no longer need it
- Let them know if an employer is likely to call, and roughly when
Say thank you — and tell them what happened
A short thank-you message afterwards costs nothing and matters more than students expect. Tell them how it went, whether you got the role or not. Staff generally like knowing, and there's a good chance you'll need to ask them again.
Using references in Strive
Strive has a built-in reference request flow, so you can ask a staff member at your school through the platform rather than chasing it by email. You choose the staff member, they're notified, and if they write a reference it's attached to your profile and can appear on your résumé — with you controlling whether it's shown.
That doesn't replace asking properly. It's still worth speaking to the person first, especially if it's someone you haven't had a conversation with in a while. The platform handles the admin; the relationship is still yours.
If you're not sure who at your school knows your work well enough, completing your profile is a useful first step — it usually makes the answer obvious.