Seeking Part time with no reference

pitza

Hi

I have a friend who has been living abroad but has now come back to the UK for good.

They retired early for health reasons and have been living off savings.

They now would like to find some part time office work probably only one or two days a week but have no reference, what would be the best way to go about finding suitable office work please?

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6673867/seeking-part-time-with-no-reference

Write an honest cv with clear details of what jobs they've had and where, and any periods of unemployment/retirement noted. Then start applying for jobs.

pitza

Thanks for your help

Woodstok2000

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82047623#Comment_82047623

no problem. Ive edited the post as it should have said CV, not 'conversation'!!

caffeinated_human

To be fair, I'd be honest about the unemployment gap when writing a CV. Also, regarding references, is there a way for them to reach out to their former manager, or maybe start volunteering somewhere and use that experience as a reference?

itsthelittlethings

Try employment agencies.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6673867/seeking-part-time-with-no-reference

Why do they have no references?

How long have they been retired?

We routinely take references from overseas and when dealing with school leavers or returning retirees you look to do personal references rather than work.

In our industry we have little choice, there is a whole list of stuff we have to do for any break of employment more than 28 days in duration in the last 5 years… had a terrible time trying to bring a post grad in who'd spent 6 months backpacking around India; HR wanted evidence like receipts or bank statements and she said she was staying in $2 a night beach huts etc that were cash only so HR asked for the details of every nights stay and the address of the location so they could write to them to ask them to confirm she'd stayed. Thankfully managed to get HR to be more sensible but shows they are perfectly comfortable trying to cross the international and language borders

Marcon

They retired early for health reasons and have been living off savings.

They now would like to find some part time office work probably only one or two days a week but have no reference, what would be the best way to go about finding suitable office work please?

Quite apart from references, has your friend given any thought to how employable they might be in a hugely competitive market, where a part-time office job is likely to have dozens - possibly hundreds - of applicants? Someone who retired early for health reasons and hasn't worked in the UK for many years isn't going to be top of the list. They could increase their chances by ensuring their skills and knowledge are up to date - plenty of free online courses to help towards that - and as already suggested, getting some relevant volunteering on their cv could be very valuable.

Maybe suggest they have a look at

https://www.reed.co.uk/courses/free?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Courses+%7C+Search+%7C+Generics+%7C+Free+Courses+%7C+Google&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=19182905983&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=%7Bcourses%7D&utm_term=free%20online%20courses&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19182905983&gbraid=0AAAAAD1VT5PlSSjr-ZU0FYDvzyky864Hx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI18GfkoGllQMVQ51oCR0vRCd5EAAYAiAAEgLhwfD_BwE

https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/free-courses-for-jobs