How on earth do you get a job without references?

[Featuredcreature]

The last time I worked was at McDonald's probably 2018, every job seems to require 2 references which I don't have. I had a stroke, so my right hand is not so useful.

I literally have no idea how I could get a job. I could apply for pip but that also seems very stressful. Wtf do I do?

Provide a personal reference. Any volunteer work you can do would be a reference, or if you can't volunteer even briefly, someone in the community like a vicar or a friend. If it's unskilled work, they are mostly confirming your identity and no major red flags anyway.

Good luck OP. Don't give up. I'm in a similar situation. Caring for one of the dc with special needs meant I was out of employment for 25 years. I've a lot of personal/character references, if I get that far but nothing from work.

I would just put the name of whomever was your line manager at the time of your working at your last job OP and give the head office address . In real terms for that level of job what often happens is that a generic form is sent to the head office to deal with, who will have a record of your employment or the current branch manager will make enquiries. You could ring the branch you worked at and ask to speak to the current branch manager to ask who to put and what address to give. When I was a retail manager frankly we barely ever got anyones references back anyway. As long as they passed their probation and were doing the job well it didn't affect anything much, rightly or wrongly.

Otherwise a personal reference can be from anyone.

I expect somewhere on one of the MN forums there will be a lot of advice on how to claim PIP and what's involved. If you are unable to work please do apply for it, that is what it is there for.

PIP is not means tested so you may be able to claim it in addition to any wages/salary you receive.

You can use an academic reference. If you’re on benefits then there’s a support line you can call where you get given an advisor to support you back to work - if you go to all their support / training sessions, are on time, speak clearly, do all the ‘homework’, they can often be used as a reference too

I work in a profession where the reference simply confirms the dates you worked there and your grade. Gives zero information about your skills etc, apart from confirmation I worked there not very useful guide for a future employer. I have asked people who I volunteer with to provide the other reference.

If you go to your local CAB they should be able to help you with the PIP forms

For my first job, I provided a reference from a teacher and from a family friend.

After a career break and moving to a new country, I applied for volunteer work. My referees were my neighbour and a former employer overseas (overseas references don’t go far here). I’m pretty sure that they never checked my references as I gave the email for my former boss who had moved on from the company.

My next reference came from my boss at the charity I volunteered for and was for another volunteer job (just an hour a week).

Those two volunteer jobs gave me smashing references and landed my current job.

I’m just saying this to highlight that you don’t necessarily need professional references. You can also offer semi-professions references from volunteer work, academic references or personal references.

• Write a coherent covering letter which explains why you cannot provide professional references,
• outline what you have been doing since your last employment,
• clearly state why you are totally suited for the role you are applying for.

The company I work for don’t ask for references

My boss never checked my references.

You can put your references from your last job etc but tbh it depends on the company. I am seeing more and more job adverts which specifically ask for references from paid employment within the past two years, so even references from volunteering are starting to become invalid.

FWIW I am in the same position as you but haven’t worked for 20 years after becoming a SAHM and then being diagnosed with a serious heart condition.

Apply for PIP anyway, PIP is not a work related benefit and you working or not working is not relevant to the PIP application process.

The disability work related benefit is ESA, but they have changed the rules recently to state you have to have paid national insurance in the past two years to be eligible.

People are saying do some voluntary work to get references.
I had to provide two references and fill in a six page application in order to be an unpaid volunteer!

Op I needed a reference for my current job and couldn't get a work reference as I was self employed and my previous employer was no longer around as the company was liquidated. I got two personal references and that was fine. Just ask friends to help you out.

Character reference instead

I recently provided a reference for a (known for 20 + years) friend starting work again after a long time off. Was at a school and they accepted.

We ask for two employment and a character reference. In your position we’d seek to verify your employment record for dates etc and then we would ask for additional character reference from (ideally someone with a professional role).

Don’t let that references put you off. Most companies have probation periods anyway so you’d have opportunity to prove yourself.

@Fairyliz

People are saying do some voluntary work to get references. I had to provide two references and fill in a six page application in order to be an unpaid volunteer!

Yes, me too.

But… the charity was a) willing to accept personal reference and b) less diligent than a paying employer would be in following up the references.