So I’ve been working the same job for about 5 years or so now. In that time I’ve received good performance reviews and small pay bumps!
My first boss at this company had pretty bad ethic issues with the company and was let go. I wouldn’t use him as a reference. From there my next boss was great but now works closely in a freelance position with the company, so I would have concerns that he would “spill the beans” or gossip to my current company. My next few bosses after that didn’t really know me or what I did too well, they left shortly after becoming my boss. I do have a current boss as well but obviously cannot use him.
At my current company, there have been only a few others whom departed the company that I worked directly with. While we were successful in our projects, I just don’t know how highly they would speak of me either or if they would gossip to someone who is at my current company.
So is it going to look odd or bad if I don’t have a reference person from the past 5 years at my current company?
Going back to my previous company, sadly, my original boss passed away (I heard through Facebook). There was maybe one person I could think of using as a reference that was beneath him but left pretty early on. Furthermore, there was another boss I had there who I don’t think liked me.
So any way, how long back is it okay to use references? I can think of some from 6-10 years ago lol. Like is a boss from 2013 just too old to use as a reference?