Advice please, worried sick

shoperholicnot

I am at present employed in a job that is low paid and I am struggling with Debt and am finding it hard to manage.

I went for a job with a much better salary, which would help me to pay my debts.
After the interview I heard nothing for 3 weeks and assumed that I would not get it ( I messed up the interview a bit), anyway this week I got a letteer telling me I got the job!!! cant believe it and really pleased. The only fly in the ointment is references. I have got to give four weeks notice to present employer, but one of my referees has gone awol, I need two, I used to do voluntary work and the manager has left. What do I do? who else can I get a ref off, I am running round like a headless chicken, trying to find someone else there who would give me a ref, they are either on annual leave or there is no answer from their phones. Is it ok to give two refs from two different managers same company??
The thing is I dont want to hand in my notice and find that there is a problem with my refs , because then instead of having 2 jobs i am worried i will have none! :eek:

In_Search_Of_Me

Firstly, breathe & congratulations on the job! Employers are used to this kind of thing so try not to panic, although I know its hard when youre the one waiting. Even if old vol work manager has left they should still have a record of you and should be able to provide a reference. If reference went awol they should be able to do it again so that shouldnt be a problem. Suggest that you ring them both on Monday and ask & i think its a good idea not to hand your notice in until you have a firm, written offer as you dont want to land in cack with NO job!. Also do you have someone who has known you over a long time who could give you a character reference? Hope your sort it! Keep us updated!

Iona_Penny

Well done to you for getting this job :j
Secondly do not hand your notice in until you have a letter stating your salary and start date for the new job (presumably they know you have to give 4 weeks notice)
I think you are better using someone not from your existing company for the second reference; does it have to be a work one? or is there someone who can give you a reference about your character even though they haven't worked with you? Let them know the problem about not being able to contact this person and why you are giving them a new name.
Hope you manage to sort this out.

Iona_Penny

Sorry overlap fishface

Claudie

Well done and congratulations! That is v exciting.

I have to agree with the others - don't hand in your notice until you receive your written job offer and you agree with the terms and conditions offered and a start date.

References can be given by a number of people - employers, teachers, colleagues, clergy, friends, GP etc...it depends on what the new employer asks for really. But always ensure you ask whoever you are using before you actually use them...they need to know what you are applying for and how to sell you best for your new job.

References can be factual. A previous firm where no one knows you can still provide a reference by saying how long you worked there, days off etc. I would suggest calling your previous workplace and asking who you should use. If the second reference doesn't have to be work placed I would ask a friend who is confident in that type of thing and will sing your praises.

And don't worry - they obviously like you - they hired you!!

shoperholicnot

Thank you everyone.

I am thrilled about getting it as it will really help me out of the mess i'm in at the moment, in debt and also daughter is in the 1st year at uni too and she is stating to bleed me dry as well lol

I am a bit of a worry wort sometimes and have been panicking a bit, starting to get near hyper ventilate stage so I just had a lie down in a darkened room to calm down

I will phone volunteer centre again tomorrow to try and pin someone down, if not I am going to take time off work and go down there in person. I will also phone new job and explain situation and ask them about a character ref, as that will not be a problem for me to get. They seem to be quite a strict company, they even do a police check! I suppose I cant believe my luck and I am convinced that something will stuff it up! They have already sent me a formal letter offering me the job and have asked me to provide a start date, to take effect I would have to give in my resignation tomorrow! :eek: so I really need to sort this ASAP, I can always say that there is a problem and can I put my start date back a week, I think that they will be ok with this.

tesuhoha

I am in the same situation as you in debt and with a daughter at uni, although mine is nearing the end of her second year. I have supported my daughter rather too much and I am hoping that after her exams she will take a part time job. Because i have paid so many of her expenses I feel justified in selling off some of her stuff on ebay. I asked her to sort out stuff that she didnt want and I got a whole load of designer clothes to sell on ebay. Also Im selling her camera and maybe some of her videos. I think in hindsight, I should had made it clear what I was prepared to pay for at the start rather than volunteering to foot all bills. I even bailed her out last year when all her money was stolen on the first day of her holiday in Spain. You are probably feeling the way I did and still do, that you want to help her as much as possible and try to prevent her from getting into debt herself. Yes, I still feel that way, but recently I asked myself, who is the one worrying and pulling their hair out about money? Certainly not her. So I have pulled back a bit and thats why I dont feel guilty about keeping her camera money and selling her clothes. I wish you good luck in your new job.

nadnad

references are normally a formality. If you know you aren't going to get a bad reference then hand your notice in. I assume you have already given the name of your referrees to the new job people? If so then let them worry about getting the actual reference. If you're really worried then either (1) try to track the other referee down or (2) phone your new job and explain you are worried they won't be able to get hold of one of the referees, ask them do they want someone elses name instead - they may not. If they have asked you for a start date they are obviously pretty confident about you and so unless someone gives you an awful reference the job is yours.

so don't worry and be happy!!

in*the*red_6

Hi I would agree that as long as you have the organisation name and address, let your new employers worry about it. Don't know what kind of company you are joining but as someone who's worked in recruitment for a large organisation it is often the case that they will only check a sample of references anyway.

Congrats on the job, you have no need to worry!

ITR

shoperholicnot

My present employers should give me a very good reference, if not i will be :mad: and want to know why!

its just when I started present job another girl was starting too, she had problems with getting 2 refs and they would not let her start untill she got both refs sorted! just dont the same thing happening to me

shoperholicnot

oh and if all goes well I will be starting new job on my Birthday :j

Yay!