What do you do when you want a job but have no references at all?

I worked for 10 years or so between 3 companies that ALL went bust... so no possibility to use them for a reference. That caused quite a bit of aggro a few years back.

Why are you unable to provide ? have you worked before ?
 
If you've recently left school then headmaster / teachers. As an adult it gets harder, as above every company I have ever worked for went bust (not my fault, honest! ;) ) so in that situation I would probably make them up...
 
Im 28 and have never had a real job before. I know ill likely get crucified here for that but hey ho im trying to fix this.

From ages 18-22 I did a BSc in Environmental management, it wasn’t my thing at all. After that I did nothing and lived with parents for 2 years and I didn’t find out what I wanted to do in life until I was 24 when I discovered I could code. So from 24-28 I did another degree but this time it was at the open university. I did Q62 Computing & IT with a software dev specialization. Im almost done with that im just waiting for my final grade, it’ll be a 2.1. I pieced together a dynamic website for my final project to get a portfolio started so I can shove that on my CV.

Ive never met any of my tutors so realistically I cant use them as a reference. The only job I ever had was a brief 4 month stretch at an outsourcing callcenter and it was just a trial period, they never kept me on because I was pretty bad at customer service apparently. I can get a character reference from a friend but no work references.

I saw this and the OU can send an academic reference showing "my progress as a student", that might do the trick in lieu of an actual work reference.
http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/careers/applying-for-jobs/references
 
dowie said:
erm get some

if you've never had a job then a school teacher, your old headmaster, university tutor etc.. can be the reference

if you have had a job then why can't you use them for a reference and what references did you use to get that job?
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Always been a tricky one for me - my academic references have long since retired and/or died etc. and many of my previous jobs the companies no longer exist or have been through massive changes. (I seem to have been a bit unlucky on that front).

Fortunately can use my current employer if needed and my dad's boss knows me well enough he is happy to provide a reference if needed but without those I'd be pretty stuck for up to date references.

EDIT: The interesting thing is I know one of my previous references was never approached at all for a dozen different jobs I've worked and the other I believe has only been asked once, in a couple of cases I found out subsequently they ignored my references and approached my immediate previous employer directly.
 
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MaxP779 said:
Im 28 and have never had a real job before. I know ill likely get crucified here for that but hey ho im trying to fix this.

From ages 18-22 I did a BSc in Environmental management, it wasn’t my thing at all. After that I did nothing and lived with parents for 2 years and I didn’t find out what I wanted to do in life until I was 24 when I discovered I could code. So from 24-28 I did another degree but this time it was at the open university. I did Q62 Computing & IT with a software dev specialization. Im almost done with that im just waiting for my final grade, it’ll be a 2.1. I pieced together a dynamic website for my final project to get a portfolio started so I can shove that on my CV.

Ive never met any of my tutors so realistically I cant use them as a reference. The only job I ever had was a brief 4 month stretch at an outsourcing callcenter and it was just a trial period, they never kept me on because I was pretty bad at customer service apparently. I can get a character reference from a friend but no work references.

I saw this and the OU can send an academic reference showing "my progress as a student", that might do the trick in lieu of an actual work reference.
http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/careers/applying-for-jobs/references
Click to expand...

Why did you do an OU course?
I hate the term "Code" Its Programming.... Not "Coding"
Like "Programming Language" NOT "Coding Language"

Arrrgh /rant
 
Don't lie on your references. Never, ever, ever.

If you don't have work references, simply include character references from your best professional contacts and explain on your cover letter that you don't have work references as this would be your first entry into the workplace after education.

Just make sure you back that up with details of your strengths and enthusiasm, and the values and talents that you can bring to the business. If you get that across well enough, it should at least help you get to an interview.

Everyone starts somewhere, and employers know that. Don't feel too bad about it.
 
Email the OU and ask for an academic reference?

Do you have any friends that would be willing to be a character reference?

Thinking outside the box may help you here. Why don't you try and do some volunteering or freelance work in the interim? You could then use them as a reference.
 
No references isn't that big a deal, it's a disadvantage, but not insurmountable - a lot of uni leavers are in the same situation. Probably need to think of a cover story for the two years you spent sat on your parents' sofa scratching your arse though. Build up a back-story about travelling the world, in case it comes up.

Would be advisable to get a part time job or do some volunteering now and stick that on your CV - make it look like you're not actually a workshy layabout. Or, at least, not one any more. You will even get a reference out of it.
 
Pixel said:
1) Make up a fake, small company
2) Ask a friend to be your fake boss, and to expect a call from your potential employers
3) Give your potential employers your friend's phone number
4) Hope your friend is actually a friend and will lie for you
5) Enjoy your new job!
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Made me think of this :D

 
OP, did you do any part time shop or bar-type work when you were in 6th form? After I graduated, I used my 6th form job as a 1st referee and the personal tutor from uni as my 2nd referee.
 
Rroff said:
Always been a tricky one for me - my academic references have long since retired and/or died etc. and many of my previous jobs the companies no longer exist or have been through massive changes. (I seem to have been a bit unlucky on that front).

Fortunately can use my current employer if needed and my dad's boss knows me well enough he is happy to provide a reference if needed but without those I'd be pretty stuck for up to date references.
.
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previous companies going through changes shouldn't matter - they'll still have a record of you working there even if they've been taken over etc.. that is all that is usually required from previous employers these days - plenty of companies don't do references per say but just confirm job title and dates of employment
 
MaxP779 said:
Im 28 and have never had a real job before. I know ill likely get crucified here for that but hey ho im trying to fix this.

From ages 18-22 I did a BSc in Environmental management, it wasn’t my thing at all. After that I did nothing and lived with parents for 2 years and I didn’t find out what I wanted to do in life until I was 24 when I discovered I could code. So from 24-28 I did another degree but this time it was at the open university. I did Q62 Computing & IT with a software dev specialization. Im almost done with that im just waiting for my final grade, it’ll be a 2.1. I pieced together a dynamic website for my final project to get a portfolio started so I can shove that on my CV.

Ive never met any of my tutors so realistically I cant use them as a reference. The only job I ever had was a brief 4 month stretch at an outsourcing callcenter and it was just a trial period, they never kept me on because I was pretty bad at customer service apparently. I can get a character reference from a friend but no work references.

I saw this and the OU can send an academic reference showing "my progress as a student", that might do the trick in lieu of an actual work reference.
http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/careers/applying-for-jobs/references
Click to expand...


OU tutors aren't supposed to give you a reference directly anyway - what you need to do is contact your student support team and ask for a reference... they will then contact two tutors who will add comments on the overall OU reference.

What you can do is contact tutors in advance of this and ask them(then provide their details to the student support team) - i.e. contact ones for recent modules where you've had good grades... sure you've not met them but they've seen your work and can comment on it. It is distance learning so they should be understanding. People do this for MSc applications etc.. too.

Essentially you should end up with a couple of pages from someone at student support with a bit of waffle about how great OU students are + within that document you'll get a paragraph from each of the two tutors. You can also ask for a copy of your transcript so you can show a breakdown of your modules/grades to employers.

There is no reason why you can't start applying for jobs already - the OU is designed to be part time after all - the letter from student support can also state that you're predicted a 2:1.
 
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though I wouldn't condone telling fibs on your CV I think that the 2 years you spent on your parents sofa would probably be better sold as 'travelling' - assuming you at least did have some foreign trips during that time period so it isn't a complete load of BS.
 
I'm an employer in this sector (own a digital agency with 25 staff) and we don't bother taking up references. We don't even ask for them any more, as they aren't worth the paper they are written on.

Make sure you have a good amount of demonstrateable work - if you don't have commercial experience then personal projects, as long as they are to a good standard are fine.

For us, 70% of the interview is cultural fit and values. We might take a punt on the right person with the right attitude, aptitude and no experience, but would never employ someone with a perfect portfolio but who wouldn't fit in with the rest of the team.
 
Pestilence said:
Don't lie on your references. Never, ever, ever.

If you don't have work references, simply include character references from your best professional contacts and explain on your cover letter that you don't have work references as this would be your first entry into the workplace after education.

Just make sure you back that up with details of your strengths and enthusiasm, and the values and talents that you can bring to the business. If you get that across well enough, it should at least help you get to an interview.

Everyone starts somewhere, and employers know that. Don't feel too bad about it.
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This.

Any reputable employer will check your references and some will run a background check.
 
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