References when boss has left - what's best

[wafflesmochi]

Worked at Company A for a year until I left to do freelance consultancy.

Now applying for a job at Company B.

References have to be two recent jobs so I think that should be Company A and my current biggest freelance client.

But for Company A everyone I worked with has now left - whole team merged into a new Company C. (That's not why I left - I'd have joined Company C too if I'd stayed.) But I have no relationship with Company C at all, whereas Company A and HR still exist and will have my salary/sickness records etc.

Do I put Company A's HR department for a reference, or my old boss's new role at Company C even though I have never worked there?

Company A is a big respected organisation and Company C is a start up.

It's the type of situation where a factual reference would be fine I think because I'm giving a freelance client too.

Yes, put company HR. Good luck with the application 👍

Company A - they’re the ones that will have your record of employment

Company A.

Nowadays references are more along the lines of confirming you worked with them from what date til what date and in what capacity. Not the way it used to be where you hoped your old boss would praise you to the high heavens and go into details about how good you were at various tasks.

Thanks all, yes I was hoping that would be the case. I think my old boss likes me well enough but this is simpler!