Many Sri Lankan job ads end with the same instruction: send your CV with the names and contact details of two non-related referees. Two of this week’s advertisements say exactly that: CDB’s trainee marketing post and the Central Finance Branch Executive post in Jaffna. This guide explains what the phrase means, who to pick and what to do before you put anyone’s name on your application.
What non-related means
A non-related referee is someone who is not a member of your family or a relative by marriage. The employer wants an outside view of your work, study habits and character. A parent, sibling, uncle or cousin cannot give that, whatever their position.
Who makes a good referee
Pick people who have watched you work or study and who will answer a phone call or an email.
- A current or former manager or supervisor
- A senior colleague who worked with you on a project
- A university lecturer or project supervisor
- Your school principal or a teacher who knew you well, if you have just left school
- An internship or training supervisor
If you are applying for a first job, a lecturer and an internship supervisor are the easiest pair to find. Our first job guide covers how to get that internship.
Who to avoid
- Relatives, including relatives by marriage
- Friends who have never seen you work
- Anyone who has not agreed to be named
- Someone who left the organisation and cannot be reached
Ask first, then brief them
Ask each person before you list them. A referee who gets an unexpected call from a bank or finance company may hesitate, and that hesitation can cost you the job. When someone agrees, send them:
- Your CV
- The job title and the company
- The skills the ad asks for, so they can speak to those
- A date range for when the employer may call
What to put on your application
List each referee with the same 5 details: full name, job title, organisation, mobile number and email address. Add a short line on how you know them, for example “Supervised my internship at ABC Ltd, 2025”. Check every number twice. A wrong digit looks careless and may mean the employer never reaches them.
Match the instruction in the ad
The CDB ad asks you to state the position in the email subject line. The Central Finance ad asks you to address the application to the undersigned and to apply within 7 working days. Follow each instruction exactly. Employers use these small steps to see who reads carefully. For tips on the rest of your CV, see our CV guide.
After you apply
Tell your referees when you have sent the application, and thank them once the process ends, whatever the result. You may need them again next year.
Prasad Fernando is the CEO of Skysol Solutions and the owner of CareerLK.com and CourseLK.com.