References when you have never worked?

lisa_75

margaretclare wrote:

Have you been involved in any leisure-time activities - Scouts/Guides, PTA at your children's school, church, local politics, volunteer groups, anything at all? Anyone can give you a reference if they've known you for a period of time even if it was only singing in the church choir! Punctuality, reliability, working as a team member, getting on well with others, those things all count.

Margaret

I was a volunteer at my local community centre for 5 years when the kids were little. However, I quit 2 years ago (because of uni). I feel a bit cheeky asking for a reference after all that time.

lisa_75

november wrote:

Another idea is could you fit in some voluntary work before you leave uni even if its only a couple of hours a week?

I quit my volunteer job 2 years ago because of uni commitments. I have 2 kids, a husband and a house to run and simply don't have the time anymore.

NAR

Are you on friendly terms with your Doctor or Dentist? They might be prepared to give you a reference.

Astaroth

At the end of the day you can get anyone to give you a reference, generally it is considered better to use someone who is a "professional" however there is no requirement for them to be so. I know when I asked my GP for a reference the only thing the receptionist said was that it was £25 and they could have it ready by the afternoon even though I had never actually met my GP.

Savvy_Sue

lisa_75 wrote:

I was a volunteer at my local community centre for 5 years when the kids were little. However, I quit 2 years ago (because of uni). I feel a bit cheeky asking for a reference after all that time.

Worth a phone call to see if there is anyone there who remembers you who would be prepared to give a reference. We have volunteers at work and we would happily do this for (most of) our former volunteers!

Astaroth

My employers insist on 3 years of references (irrespective of the number of jobs you have held) and if they dont get all 3 years you get turned down for the job... going back only 2 years shouldnt be a problem

november

lisa_75 wrote:

I quit my volunteer job 2 years ago because of uni commitments. I have 2 kids, a husband and a house to run and simply don't have the time anymore.

What Sue and Astorath said. Two years isn't that long ago

Dumyat

two years isnt long. especially when you have someone from college to give you a reference for more recent "employment"