Worried about lack of references

coin_operated_girl

Hi,

Last week I was offered a job as a mental health support worker. I want to get into the mental health field so I'm pretty excited about this job. The offer is subject to satisfactory references for the past 3 years and CRB check. I know the references I have provided will give me really good feedback and my CRB check will be fine too, but the problem is I haven't been in work for most of the past 3 years due to ill health (only been in voluntary work from sept 2009-april 2010 and aug 2011-present).

I have been studying part time with The Open Uni since 2008 so I have requested a reference from them too, but I'm really worried that this won't count as a satisfactory reference because obviously its a long distance learning course so they cannot provide me with a character reference, just an academic one. I've already shown them my academic records (to prove that I have been studying between the dates I told them and to show my grades- not that they are really bothered about the grades, its not a requirement for this job), but they still want a reference. I'm not really sure what else the OU can say other than what I have shown them. Its not like they can comment on whether I'm punctual or seem friendly etc like a tutor at a brick uni can.

Whoever short listed me for the interview must be aware that I haven't really been in work much the last 3 years, but I doubt they really looked at my application form properly. The admin side of this company seem to be a bit disorganised- the interviewers didn't have my application form in front of them when they interviewed me and didn't ask me about my work history or anything and due to admin messing up I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who attended the interview. So the fact that I was short listed and then offered the job doesn't really mean that they are OK with me not being able to provide a 3 year work history.

I am able to give them details of another person who I know will give me a really good reference, but I only know her from the charity that I work for at the moment so she will only be able to comment on the last few months (same as one of my other references), so they probably still wont accept that.

I was just wondering whether anyone else has been in a similar situation and what they did. I can't think of anyone else with some sort of weight who can give me a reference- I'm not a member of any club or anything.

Sky_

I think there are two aspects to this: firstly, I imagine they would have read your application form before selecting you for interview, so you may be worrying unnecessarily.

Secondly, anyone in a trustworthy position in the community, who knows you, may be an acceptable referee. For example, a neighbour or family friend who is a teacher, other professional, works in a bank or something like that? Just in case they do ask you to provide another referee.

coin_operated_girl

I possibly am worrying about this unnecessarily (I'm a big worrier), but I'm not sure that they did read it properly because when I went into the office today to fill in a CRB form she looked through my application form whilst I was there to look at my references and then asked why there was a gap in my employment history and said they need references for the past 3 years, as though she hasn't looked at my application form before- I'm guessing that she probably wasn't the one who decides who is short listed for the interviews though, so maybe if there is a problem she can talk to who ever did short list me.

Thats a good idea about a trustworthy person in the community. I don't know anyone who is a teacher or anything but my dad has a friend who is counsellor and I know her fairly well as she has been giving me advice about getting into the mental health field. I wonder if they would accept a reference from her as not only is she a trustworthy person, but she is probably pretty well qualified to comment on my suitability.

I guess I'll just see what they say about my Open Uni reference first- I just wanted to have a backup plan ready in case they phone me up and say I need to give them a different referee.

pillion

I have been responsible for recruiting care staff in the past and the company taking you on have to obtain a reference from your current or last employer, if you have only been doing voluntary work then that should do, and a second reference which can be a character reference from someone you know. This is the minimum requirement they have to satisfy. They are probably just trying to find out for certain where you have been for the last 5 years and not in prison for example. I know a CRB check would show this up, and one will be done, but they take time and money.

coin_operated_girl

Oh thank you, you have put my mind at ease a bit. If that is the case then presumably an academic reference will be fine- although, my academic records (which I showed them today) show that I have been studying over the past few years, but maybe they want an actual reference from the uni as well just to check that they don't have anything really bad to say about me. Thanks again.

dandelionclock30

You should be fine with what you've got reference wize-they sound a bit slack though.
As long as you havent previously tried to strangle a client or been in prison you'll be fine.

coin_operated_girl

Thanks, it seems like (as usual) I'm probably worrying about nothing...hopefully. I think I just got worried because the woman got incredibly arsey with me today when looking at my references and sort of spoke to me in a 'this isn't good enough' kind of way. She made me feel like a school child who tried to do their homework but ended up answering the wrong questions by mistake because they weren't paying attention in class lol. Luckily I won't actually be working with her and the people who I will be working with seemed lovely in the interview.