Finding work without sufficient references...is it possible?

MarkAlexander18

I've been searching for work for a good while now, but the problem I am experiencing is my lack of references. I have worked with a family member sporadically for a for years, but he is the only reference I have. Any references before that time have now left the companies or retired. I phoned into a recruitment agency the other day and asked about jobs available (warehouse/factory) and they told me to come in and register.

I asked what I needed and they said the usual documents, i.e. couple forms of ID, bank details, NI number. They also said two references contactable by email would be beneficial too. I literally know nobody else who I have worked for or could vouch for me. I don't even know if a family member (even though I worked for them) would count, because from the prospective job and agency's POV, the family member could lie about me being a good worker.

The agency have jobs available, so it's a bit frustrating that the last hurdle to overcome is getting two references.

Anybody experienced similar and can provide some advice? Is it worth phoning them up again tomorrow and explaining my situation, then see what they say?

Gavin83

Honestly it's not important if they know you or not, the vast majority of references will just confirm your employment. Just give them the contact details of companies you've worked with previously, they'll get what they need.

Les79

I have, in the past, also put 1x personal reference of someone who knows me but not a friend.


Agencies are not always *too* bothered about who the 2nd reference is, as long as at least 1 is the most relevant/recent employer.

xapprenticex

Previous employer plus character reference (not from your mom etc) should be fine if you explain the circumstances.

Savvy_Sue

If the companies you've worked for other than your relative still exist, then a reference confirming the dates you worked there ought to be available, and that's a start. Plus a reference from your relative would cover your most recent employment, so explain that it's a relative.

Definitely worth going in to explain the circumstances.

pmduk

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Definitely worth going in to explain the circumstances.

I agree, Don't forget agencies are hoping to get cash for placing you in jobs, so can be constructive in situations like this.

trailingspouse

I would be in the same position as you if I needed to look for work - OH and I have run our own business for years. Anyone I worked for previously is probably long gone (and would be irrelevant as I wouldn't be going back into that line of work anyway). In my situation I would be asking clients if I could them as referees - is that something you could do?

Exodi

I know this is bad advice, but I'll post it anyway. I have embellished my CV for around the last 3 years - this includes changing of title (Sales Assistant > Sales Executive, Sales Administrator > National & Trade Account Executive, Sales Representative > Sales & Marketing Manager, Territory Manager > Area Sales Manager, you get the jist), the inflation of responsibilities, dates and salary. Whilst I have been asked to provide references on each occasion; to date, not a single reference has been called up upon (4 times). Many times, I'm aware my reference doesn't work there anymore, or HR wouldn't allow a personal reference but it's not my problem. Doing so has meant I've been able to increase my salary from 14k to 48k in less than 3 years...

TL;DR I wouldn't worry about references, the most they'll ask for is to confirm you've worked there.

/badadviceover

Savvy_Sue

Note that the above IS really bad advice, and just because it's 'worked' so far for that poster, doesn't mean it would work for the OP. Plus it may 'work' in their field of work, but in some fields of work it most definitely would NOT work.

We always take up references and have taken action when things didn't add up.

MarkAlexander18

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

If the companies you've worked for other than your relative still exist, then a reference confirming the dates you worked there ought to be available, and that's a start. Plus a reference from your relative would cover your most recent employment, so explain that it's a relative.

Definitely worth going in to explain the circumstances.

The problem is, one of them doesn't, it went into liquidation. The other was Sainsburys where I worked many years ago, but I worked in the bakery and the bakery manager has since retired. Between that time and working with my relative, I was out of work due to health issues so this is why it's difficult to get any other work reference.

Even personal references are hard to come by as I am not sure who I could put down to be honest. It's frustrating because most recruitment agencies or application forms for jobs usually require at least two references.

If I wanted to continue working in the same job that I've been working in with a family member (labouring) I could, but I want to switch to something different as physically it's becoming difficult to work that kind of work due to lower back and knee issues. I have been looking at warehouse/factory, but generally the work that involves is a lot less strenuous.

There's literally only one or two recruitment agencies who have vacancies available for what I'm looking for, and they pay weekly which is ideal. My CV gaps make it a bit difficult to find jobs with some other companies.

Les79

Exodi wrote: »

I know this is bad advice, but I'll post it anyway. I have embellished my CV for around the last 3 years - this includes changing of title (Sales Assistant > Sales Executive, Sales Administrator > National & Trade Account Executive, Sales Representative > Sales & Marketing Manager, Territory Manager > Area Sales Manager, you get the jist), the inflation of responsibilities, dates and salary. Whilst I have been asked to provide references on each occasion; to date, not a single reference has been called up upon (4 times). Many times, I'm aware my reference doesn't work there anymore, or HR wouldn't allow a personal reference but it's not my problem. Doing so has meant I've been able to increase my salary from 14k to 48k in less than 3 years...

TL;DR I wouldn't worry about references, the most they'll ask for is to confirm you've worked there.

/badadviceover

It's funny, but I got an internal promotion many years ago. My CV literally said "call center monkey" and my main opponent had a long list of fancy job titles (my immediate thought, which the manager overlooked, was "what the fk are you doing in this role to begin with?!"). The employer decided to take us both on which encouraged some "healthy competition" (he was acting like a tit).


Fast forward 6 months and do you know what the employer had found out? I was a hard worker who added value to the business and he was a piker, much more limited in ability and less motivated. A "blag artist" one may say...


It is one thing if you've got the ability to live up to your blag, but quite another if you are blagging for the sake of it. "Truth will out" is a very apt phrase.


And I'll let you in on a secret; a lot of half intelligent people know precisely what your job titles mean!! You probably spend half the day blagging in your core job role so it is a bit naïve to think that people don't make that connection. In reality, you probably get jobs mainly based on the fact that you've got the CORE SKILLS required. Not because of the blag!