Who is acceptable to use as a reference?
Choose references who can attest to those job skills. Good examples of professional references include: College professors, coaches or other advisors (especially if you're a recent college graduate or don't have a lengthy work history) Former employer (the person who hired and paid you)
Who can you not use as a reference?
4 people you should never use as job references
Can I put someone as a reference without asking?
While you can list anyone you'd like as a reference, it definitely isn't a good idea to do so without asking them for permission first. Giving a potential reference a heads up can only benefit you by giving them time to think about how they might answer questions about your character and performance.