Any ideas for suitable references for job application?

Molly56

I am currently filling  in an application form for a job within a local care home (not a carer) and it asks for two references. It states a minimum of two references to include current employer and that referees are/ were your direct line manager or above.
In my current job I am effectively self employed providing a service for a local hospital….I am not on the payroll but just invoice them on a monthly basis …it was set up this way years ago when funding for position came from another organisation with lottery funding and was transferred to NHS when they agreed to carry on funding the project…my point of contact (not really my manager) is only so that they can access and authorise funding and invoices I send. Not sure if this counts as direct line manager and I never actually see him only occasionally in passing as we work on different sites. 

My previous role was in market research (about five years ago) where I was employed under PAYE and there again I never saw a manager, only spoke on telephone to arrange work and effectively worked independently in local area….saw manager once a year at obligatory annual training! 

My role prior to that was for a company (conservation work) that is no longer in existence in this area so my direct manager there is unobtainable….as is the company….previous ‘employments’ were about fifteen to twenty years before that as had time at home as ‘mum’ with a smattering of volunteering roles thrown in…and some part time self employed accountancy too. 

Any suggestions as to which of above may qualify as a suitable referee?

Will probably give the organisation a call to see what they suggest but wondered if anyone had any thoughts or previous experience of applying for a job when effectively out of “employment” market for so long…

Marcon

Molly56 said:

I am currently filling  in an application form for a job within a local care home (not a carer) and it asks for two references. It states a minimum of two references to include current employer and that referees are/ were your direct line manager or above.
In my current job I am effectively self employed providing a service for a local hospital….I am not on the payroll but just invoice them on a monthly basis …it was set up this way years ago when funding for position came from another organisation with lottery funding and was transferred to NHS when they agreed to carry on funding the project…my point of contact (not really my manager) is only so that they can access and authorise funding and invoices I send. Not sure if this counts as direct line manager and I never actually see him only occasionally in passing as we work on different sites. 

My previous role was in market research (about five years ago) where I was employed under PAYE and there again I never saw a manager, only spoke on telephone to arrange work and effectively worked independently in local area….saw manager once a year at obligatory annual training! 

My role prior to that was for a company (conservation work) that is no longer in existence in this area so my direct manager there is unobtainable….as is the company….previous ‘employments’ were about fifteen to twenty years before that as had time at home as ‘mum’ with a smattering of volunteering roles thrown in…and some part time self employed accountancy too. 

Any suggestions as to which of above may qualify as a suitable referee?

Will probably give the organisation a call to see what they suggest but wondered if anyone had any thoughts or previous experience of applying for a job when effectively out of “employment” market for so long…

If you're otherwise a strong candidate, not being able to provide 'standard' source references won't bar you from being offered the job. I think your first thought - contact them and ask what they'd accept in your situation - is the best one. Just make sure you don't ramble at length when describing the issue. Summarise it quickly and neatly and give them some options - would they prefer a, b, c or d? 

theoretica

My organisation uses references after interview and offer and mainly to check the candidate was indeed working in the job they said they were, so I expect the point of contact/ last manager you mention would be fine. 

[Deleted User]

I've been in similar positions and I've just used admin/HR people who don't know me personally but manage my contract as the reference. For instance, I once emailed the generic email address at the HR department at a place where I used to work and asked if I could put a contact down as a basic reference to prove I worked there - they gave me a name and that was that.

Outside of some specific industries where they matter a lot (e.g. academia) references are just a box ticking exercise. If we didn't have references at all then anyone could theoretically make up an entire work history and there'd be no way to check.

TBagpuss

In your current role, is there anyone you work directly with? Even if they are not your manager? If so, I'd ask them whether you can use them.