When providing character references to accompany job applications, this is our list of recommended character reference professions.
All counter-signatories must:
- work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession
- have known the applicant for at least two years, in a professional or personal
- capacity, and be able to confirm the identity of the individual
They should not:
- be closely related to the applicant by birth or marriage
- be involved with the applicant e.g. in a relationship
- live at the same address as the applicant
- Accountant
- Airline pilot
- Articled clerk of a limited company
- Assurance agent of a recognised company
- Bank/building society official
- Barrister
- Chairman/director of limited company
- Chiropodist
- Commissioner of oaths
- Councillor (local or county)
- Civil servant (permanent) (excluding those who work for the HMPO)
- Dentist
- Director/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
- Engineer (with professional qualifications)
- Financial services intermediary (for example, a stockbroker or insurance broker)
- Fire service official
- Funeral director
- Insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
- Journalist
- Justice of the peace
- Legal secretary (for example a fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and Personal Assistants)
- Licensee of a public house
- Local government officer
- Manager/personnel officer of a limited company
- Member, associate or fellow of a professional body
- Member of parliament
- Merchant navy officer
- Minister of a recognised religion, including Christian science
- Nurse (RGN and RMN)
- Officer of the armed services (active or retired)
- Optician
- Paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
- Person with honours (for example, OBE or MBE)
- Pharmacist
- Photographer (professional)
- Police officer
- Post Office official
- President/secretary of a recognised organisation
- Salvation Army officer
- Social worker
- Solicitor
- Surveyor
- Teacher/ lecturer
- Trade union officer
- Travel agent (qualified)
- Valuer or auctioneer (fellows and associate members of the incorporated society)
- Warrant officers and chief petty officers (excluding those who work for HMPO)
