How long are references valid for?

Chris_M_3

I was recently made redundant after 13 years service after the company went kaput and it was company policy not to give references, instead I have a Letter Of Service stating start & finish dates with reason for leaving.

I do have an employer reference from 1995 but that company is also now kaput. And before that, I was just working part-time in various jobs.

So as it stands, I do not have a valid and recent 'employer reference' to give to a prospective employer if they ask. Would the LoS and the 1995 reference suffice as a substitute reference?

fengirl_2

This would be entirely up to the prospective employer, but I doubt whether they would be happy with a 15 yr old reference.

leedsfan_3

You can't do anything about your former employer going under. You could if you have the opportunity maybe do some voluntary work to give yourself a current checkable reference but that's entirely up to you. I am sure prospective employers realise the wreck of the economy has led to many companies going under.

sammyjo1979

You could maybe do some voluntary work in the meantime just to help get some references?

sammyjo1979

:rotfl:Leedsfan! You are beating me to the pip today re. Voluntary Work!!!

DVardysShadow

fengirl wrote: »

This would be entirely up to the prospective employer, but I doubt whether they would be happy with a 15 yr old reference.

Somewhat harsh. I would say a 15 year reference is valid forever as evidence of the state of play 15 years ago. The problem is substantiating what has happened since then.

[Deleted User]

Are you still in contact with anyone from your former employer who was more senior than you, even if not the company boss? Supervisor, team leader? Someone who could comment on your work. Given the circumstances (the length of time with them and reason for needing to look for new work), I don't think it's unreasonable to ask someone like this for a reference, and you could use this along with Letter of Service.

custardy

bar my last employer(who give a generic reference) all my references are gone,moved on or whatever so i have just listed my work history

Mini_Bear

I suggest getting personal references to cover these roles. I use friends who are doctors/professionals to cover any gaps. Although they cannot account for the standard of your work they may be able to confirm you were employed during the period they knew you.
Not an ideal situation granted, but I am sure companies would not discredit you because your emplyers went under and cannot get specific refs.

Chris_M_3

Domino9 wrote: »

Are you still in contact with anyone from your former employer who was more senior than you, even if not the company boss? Supervisor, team leader?

Unfortunately not. Once the company went kaput everybody went their separate ways and it was not the sort of place where people became friends and socialised outside of work.

Mini_Bear wrote: »

I suggest getting personal references to cover these roles. I use friends who are doctors/professionals to cover any gaps. Although they cannot account for the standard of your work they may be able to confirm you were employed during the period they knew you.

Unfortunately I don't know any 'professional' people or mix socially with 'professional people'....whatever 'professional people' are...I have no idea.