what do you do if you don't have any referees?

[fartmeistergeneral]

I'm going to apply for a part time job, but haven't worked for 6 years and I know my last two previous employers have moved on. I'm not in touch with my previous colleagues and know that one of the departments I worked in has completely restructured.

What do I put under 'two referees'?? do I use a character reference?

Anyone got any experience of this?

If it is a large company with HR dept then they will probably do the references anyway. (I know this to be the case from our place, managers have to fill out a form when a staff member leaves and all refs are then written by HR, manager never contacted unless personally by the ex employee and even then we are not meant to do it) so they should be able yo do it from records. Then use a friend (pref professional eg teacher/ lawyer/ doctor/ maanger etc) to do a more personal character ref

so do you think I should put down my previous 2 boss's names even though they are not there anymore, and plead ignorance. Are you saying that someone else from those companies will write my reference anyway? What if no-one is left who remembers me !!

Do you know where your two previous bosses have moved on to?

I would ask the HR dept first.

Don't put anyone down without checking with them first - the refs will be taken up and you don't want anyone who doesn't want to do it or can't be found.