No references at all

robb01

I also wouldnt use relatives

Top_Banana_2

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Generally I would avoid using blood relatives.

I'm trying to think of those I've suggested for my boys' first jobs: the pastor at church and a friend of the family who's known them ever since we moved here spring to mind. These people don't really know my boys well, so it's more of a 'nice lad, good family' kind of comment they can make.

Two of them have done paper rounds, either the free paper or the Sundays via the local shop, so that's another possible referee.

Oh, and one was a Venture Scout until he went to Uni, so that's another possible, did you do anything like that before you were ill?

Unfortunately not. I've never really been in any clubs or that sort of thing.

I'm really struggling to get work- I had no idea it was so hard.

ohreally

Employers won't generally be too interested in multiple character references...one is sufficient, so don't waste a lot of energy on this.

Oldernotwiser

You don't normally need references for work experience placements; that's why they're such a good way for people in your situation to move back into the workplace.

Top_Banana_2

ohreally wrote: »

Employers won't generally be too interested in multiple character references...one is sufficient, so don't waste a lot of energy on this.

In other words, they will only check with one of the referees?

jumpycheese1

I had a similar problem about 5 years ago, as I moved to a city 110 miles from where I used to live. I have used a relative's name in the past (different surname) for a reference. Companies don't have the time or resources to check if references are relatives. The relative in question is one of my father's cousins.

One of my friends has a surname in the Top 5 and her former boss shares the same surname. To avoid problems, she used a team coach's name for the reference.

LittleVoice

Top_Banana wrote: »

By the way, one question I wanted to ask.......

Could I put my aunt as a reference? As she has a different surname, I could say she was a family friend rather than a relative. Is this ethical?

If you have to ask whether something is ethical it probably isn't.

LittleVoice

Top_Banana wrote: »

In other words, they will only check with one of the referees?

The original quote related to "character" references and normally only one such referee is requested - because work references could also include comments about honesty/integrity.