No suitable references for an NHS job

[anervousinterviewee]

I have an interview with the NHS tomorrow morning. I am a new graduate and have provided my tutor as a reference. I was at the same university for five years with two different courses. I graduated a year ago and have had an unemployment gap whilst job hunting.

I was a little worried about references but thought if I had been offered an interview my reference from my tutor must be good enough on its own. However, I have now been told by someone familiar with NHS recruitment that it is likely that I will need to provide two character references but they cannot be from the same place of work. I was planning on asking my dissertation supervisor and a lecturer to provide the character references but I now can't. All my work experience like summer placements have been at my university aside from I help my brother at his small business but I can't ask my brother for a reference as he is a relative.

I don't know anyone suitable to ask as they need to be of good standing. All of my friends are students, currently job hunting or working in roles that don't qualify as being "of good standing". My parents don't know anyone suitable either. I think I will have to withdraw my application if this is the case as I genuinely am completely stuck.

If you have been unemployed, would your work coach provide you with a reference. After all, their main job is to help you get a job

Do you belong to any clubs or a gym. Someone you have met there could provide a reference

Or someone that you met during volunteering

Or an employed neighbour or friend

Don't give up !

They always ask this, I've been working in the NHS since 1981 and I took a year off as I was ill to just do nothing and recover. I gave in my notice, didn't take sick leave.
They asked me for two character references to cover that year out. I asked one of my neighbours who is an ex firefighter and a friend who is a manager in an insurance company.
Can you go back to your secondary school and ask one of your old teachers to give you a character reference?
Did you do any Saturday jobs? Got any friends or neighbours in a position of responsibility?

Don't withdraw your application. If you get offered the job and if they ask for another reference then talk to them, explain your situation and see what they advise.

Don't withdraw just because you cannot yet think of another referee. Are any of your friends in professional type jobs? Since you did different courses at uni you could offer a lecturer from another department. Or perhaps someone who works in your DB's business. References are a problem for many people and increasingly employers only give factual references anyway (job title and dates employed). Just look at it as a problem solving exercise.