What to do if I have limited work references?

Question

I'm re-doing my resume after years of using it to apply to retail jobs. It worked very well for those jobs, and I'm proud of it, but I don't think it's suitable now that I'm in university (3rd-yr), hoping to look for retail manager positions (and later entry-level jobs when I graduate). Up to now I've never included references on my resume, and only been asked once for some, however when I made a follow-up phone call they told me they hadn't had a chance to call them but offered me the job right then.

For many reasons, which I'm happy to explain, I don't have any reliable/good work references that I could provide, today, if asked. I've been told that at the university-level, personal and family references are unacceptable, though for me these are the most reliable (long-term, know me well).

Should I provide references regardless of the old job's situation? Should I provide personal anyway, until I can provide work ones?

(I apologise if this is written incorrectly for this site. I can re-write/word it, if necessary.)

Answer 1

References are there not only to give an indication of your skill, but also your work ethic. Regardless of the new field you are moving into your prior colleagues and managers could easily speak to your general work skills:

For example working retail, a prior manager could speak to on things such as:

• Trustworthiness: "Georgienne worked a register for X years, and I never found a discrepancy. This allowed me to trust them with additional tasks.",
• Punctuality: "They were always on-time and available for work",
• Presentation: "In a client facing retail role, they were always well presented and respectful to clients",
• Performance : "Georgienne showed initiative, performing tasks such as stacking shelfs without asking, ensuring their station was always clean and tidy for clients and staff"

When you are first applying for jobs, especially straight out of university, its often understood that you won't have extensive references in the skills for that new role. However, a demonstratable positive work ethic, along with a good academic record will likely be enough to get you in the door.

If you are concerned about having a referee for that specific skill, I'd recommend approaching a lecturer/professor about your work and seeing if they can speak to your skills in the new role.

The term "reference" can mean two different things depending on where you are in the recruitment process.

• A reference can be a verbal or written indication from a trusted third-party that gives an indication of your skills relevant to the position.
• On a resume a reference can be a synonym for a referee, that is the actual third-party who could provide the above reference defined above.

When discussing a resume, if people ask for "references" they generally mean the latter, a list of referees who could give a reference for you, not a collection of written reports for your skills.

If I were asked in an interview for references for a position, I would point to the list of contacts towards the end of my resume that includes a name, contact detail and relationships to that person. For example, my references section might include:

References:

• Max Burger (Shift Manager at Burger joint): (03) 555-3901
• Jane Smith (Manager at Widget Co.): j.smith@widgetco.com
• Prof. Professorson (Lecurer/Supervisor for Consipracy Theories): prof.professorson@greendale.edu

This allows the hiring manager to call my references/referees to get an actual reference if required.

An exception to providing just names as "references" often comes into play when applying for senior management positions, where a more comprehensive dossier may be required.

Answer 2

Great references are becoming harder and harder to come across but remain hugely valuable when available. Your references should be people with whom you've actually worked on a daily basis. We gain experience and skill over time, but if you are starting your career, you may lack these things. Be honest and add transparency to the process.

Answer 3

Smart employers use other resources such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles (especially) to look for any positive comments from other people.

LinkedIn has recommendations. This is a big plus, so if you have limited reference resources see what you can do around the social/business social side of things. It helps to establish character - which is what a standard reference would do anyway.

A bonus point, employers can only really say that you worked at a place for XXX long. They can't say negative things but only positive. in the UK that is law anyway.

Answer 4

In short, any reference is (usually) a good reference. I've never really heard about a company writing a negative reference, instead of writing none at all. The only exception, as mentioned, is any reference where family (or friends) is involved in a significant way, such as working at your fathers workshop, or in your mothers flower shop.

A reference is more to show who you are, so if you've been on time, tidy, kind to customers, respecting coworkers and been actively taking part in various tasks, you're already in a good position.

General knowledge about what you work with will usually be expected, but it's rare to just enter a work space and instantly mastering its rules. Something that is perfectly accepted one place, might be frowned upon somewhere else.

So yes, use your references, it's better than going blank. In the end, the worst thing that can happen is to get a 'no', and it's not uncommon knowledge that one will have to work for that one 'yes'.

Answer 5

You can never use family and friends as references, it will immediately raise red flags with your new job. From the manager's perspective, if the only person who will say something nice about you is mom, you probably were the school bully.

I would get an internship or a seasonal temp job that doesn't require a reference check first, then be sure to perform well and use your manager their as a reference.