References when previous employers have gone bust

heart_free

Having a slight problem at the moment with obtaining previous employment references.

I'm currently working part time after being made redundant last year, but desperately searching for a full time post. The problam I have is that because I've worked predominantly in the luxury goods industry, many of my previous employers have gone bust and I can't get references! Of my last 4 employers, only one is still trading. Has anyone else come across this problem and how did you get round it withour resorting to personal references rather than buisiness refs?

Thanks

G_Model101

heart_free wrote: »

Having a slight problem at the moment with obtaining previous employment references.

I'm currently working part time after being made redundant last year, but desperately searching for a full time post. The problam I have is that because I've worked predominantly in the luxury goods industry, many of my previous employers have gone bust and I can't get references! Of my last 4 employers, only one is still trading. Has anyone else come across this problem and how did you get round it withour resorting to personal references rather than buisiness refs?

Thanks

Are you in contact with any of your old managers? Can you look them up on Facebook/LinkedIn and ask them for references?

Best not to tell your new employer that 3 of the last 4 companies you have worked for are now bust...They might see an connection

scooby088

I would say use your current part time employer and the one that is still trading, I have faced this problem before and no I never keep in touch with ex managers or supervisors. Can't you use one professional reference and say a personal reference.

LutonGirl

I had to get a letter from my tax office to prove I'd worked at a particular company for 6 years after it closed its UK office and made us all redundant.

It was easy to get and was at least proof that I'd worked there. My new (and now current) employer accepted that I wasn't going to get an actual reference from the company as it no longer existed.

AP007

Not telling an employer that your previous ones have gone bust is pointless as they could check if they have a PC! LOL

In certain industries some firms may go bust. I have worked for 2 that are no longer there anymore and they went bust a long time after I left and when they outsourced the accts team. Not related to me at all.