References for Application

[mammabella1]

Hello

I currently work in research, in a small but busy research institute in the U.K. I have been fortunate to work on many projects in my field of interest and have a good publication record as a result of this job. I am educated to Masters level and am now considering pursuing a PhD. My relationship with my Masters supervisor was poor, and we have not remained in contact in the 3 years since that degree so I am not confident he would provide a good reference (most likely just provide my overall grade), that's if he even responds to my request which he may not. I'm reluctant to ask my current boss as I would like to secure a position before giving notice, so am not keen on asking for a reference from him. I am applying for a position in Germany and was wondering if anyone could advise on the likelihood of an invitation to interview without references included in an application? Or, would a reference from a close colleague suffice, in addition to a character reference?

Any advise would be gratefully received!

Not an expert on the German system but here, you need to provide the references if they ask for them. You can however specify that they can’t contact them straight away, only after an offer has been made.

Try your masters supervisor. Unless you had a full on fight, I am sure he will do it. I get requests from students who I haven’t heard from in years and have never turned down a reference request. Also write full ones too, not just the grade. It would need to be a seriously unusual situation for me to decline to give a reference.

Otherwise, if they demand a reference pre-interview, I think a close colleague and a character one is fine.

You don't need to be in contact to ask for a reference although it might end up a bit brief and not the glowing academic one you require if they can't remember you that well!

I would use a colleague at work who won't tell as an alternative, or someone else on the Masters, perhaps someone whose course you did really well in. You do need academic refs for an academic post for sure.