references when you havent worked at all?

culpepper

What do people do about references when they haven't had a job before?
My DS is finding that the jobs he is looking at, have forms to fill with a request to either gain references from previous employers or a certain amount of time outlined in previous positions.
Since leaving uni,he has not had a job and so isn't sure what to put for this.
He hasn't registered with the job centre as yet despite us suggesting he should.

Any suggestions please ??

j.e.j.

I'd suggest in that case he contacts the HR department of the company he's applying to and asks them. I think employers will take a character reference if no work reference is available.

InsideInsurance

How long since he finished uni?

Normally you would ask the company or agency for guidance but typically you would look at his tutor at uni as a "professional" reference and a second reference from a friend or acquaintance, ideally someone who is a professional or "manager" etc to give a "personal/ character" reference

sammyroser

Usually if you've not worked you'd get a teacher/tutor from uni to be his professional reference.

If you can't do this you'll need good character references from people in a good profession ie. director/doctor.

culpepper

Thankyou for the answers.
I shall pass on about the uni tutor being the professional reference and about contacting the prospective employers HR.
He has a couple of people he can ask for character references .
He graduated last summer.