what do you do for references if you just DONT HAVE ANY

[nailpolish]

its been so long since i worked in this 'field' i dont actually have any relevant references to give on job applications - old managers etc have moved on and to where i dont know

what od i do???

You could ask someone to give you a character reference. Preferably not a family member but someone who has known for you for 3 years or more.

i just dont think that would be acceptable

Does it have to be a reference from a particular job, rather than your most recent one? Or is it quite a specialised area?

I don't think you have to name anyone specifically though, just the Personnel/HR Office of the organisation.

I had more or less the same problem. I have moved around several countries in the last 10 years and so have my former employers, unfortunately... interviewers some way do not really like to ring for references out od the country.

What I have done is to volunteer for a while, then ask the person who I volunteered for for a recommendation letter.

The bonus of this is that you get a chance to get used to the work demands without being excesively pressurised to perform as if you had never stop working.

HTH

yes its quite specailised

would it be ok if i put the current line manager - who would have my record on file (work record etc)
ami wrong to assume that they will hopefully speak to former colleagues, even my old manager who i suspect can be contacted by her replacement?

.

Yes, I'd put your current line manager.

Good luck, hope you get the jon!

Nail, that's what i would do. People do move on, but that can't mean that all the valuable work you've done for a company is just wiped out. They should have someone who could go through your file and do a reference on that basis. They can say that no-one who worked directly with you is currently with the company, but that from your file you were with them for.... and your role was......etc.

If the new company want anything further, I guess they'd have to let you know.

I also agree that volunteering can be a good way of getting an up to date reference but perhaps not appropriate in every field.

nailpolish if the manager who is currently there had no contact with you I wouldn't put him/her. I would put the HR dept with a note to say that previous line manager is no longer at the organisation.

You could contact the HR dept of your old job/s and ask if they are able to contact old line manager to get information to enable them to give a more detailed reference than just dates etc

I would just put the HR dept - part of their job is digging out old employees files for references.

Have you worked more recently but not in the field you are looking? A reference from your current employer will still be valuable in that case, will speak volumes about your work attitude, reliability etc so still worth putting that even if it doesn't seem remotely relevant to the job you are applying for.

good luck

Quite often the references are dealt with by HR departments and not the actual managers themselves.

I do intervewining and understand how hard it is for some people to get references. I have to put down two different people from the same company as I have been here so long but is seems to have been ok for most jobs I have applied for.

Personal charactor references aren't much use unless the person is of some standing themselves, as I try to explain of course you freind will say you are great. Even a collegue would be better as they know you through a work capacity, a minister, teacher, a manager (even if they weren't your manager), parole officer etc are better than nothing.

thanks very much everyone