Balls! Have given a referee who no longer works there.

[COCKadoodledooo]

Oh holy fuck, what a cock up!

Gave my line manager's details (including wrong phone number ) on the application form. Just had a call from potential new employer's HR (interview Wednesday) that email has bounced, presume he no longer works there. Had heard he was thinking of leaving, but it's 4 years since I left the place so am out of touch.

Will this go against me?! Should I have checked he was still there? I mean, I presumed I'd get a standard ref from my old HR dept (big company) so it wouldn't matter.

Gave line manager's manager's email, and just had another call to say that too has bounced. Wtf do I do? Have given a general number for the office (all I now have) and will try to get hold of the one colleague I know is def still there (but is prob not speaking to me because I turned down his amorous advances ), but seriously will this count against me? Will they think I'm really daffy and too crap to employ?

Am I, in short, fucked?

Shouldn't think it's too bad - I did the same, gave the name of someone who I subsequently found out had been made redundant and left the week before.

Just give your new employers the name and number of the HR department who will confirm that you worked there etc, etc then if they need another reference ask if a personal (i.e. non work-related one) is okay which would testify your good character.