I’ve worked freelance for marketing agencies for 15 years but the work is becoming quite erratic and wages are barely increasing. I now want the security and benefits of an employed job, but all my contracts say the agency won’t provide references for freelancers or contractors. I also kind of got into this career by accident, so I have years of experience but I don’t actually have any relevant qualifications.
I did a short part time employed contract for a company in a similar field to my work until 2020, so that’s something but obviously it was 6 years ago, is that too long ago for a reference? I know that one manager from an agency left to go in-house at a company, would it be acceptable for me to message him on LinkedIn to ask if he’d consider providing a reference? I feel so stuck. This is the only job I’ve ever done and I didn’t really think it’d last this long but now I’m in my 30s with no references and barely any interview experience