Career Tips

References


I have been out of the workforce for the last 19 months, raising my son.  In that time, I have returned to school to get my second bachelor' s degree in a different field, and I have moved to a new state.  I am considering going back to work soon, perhaps part time.  Due to the fact that I haven' t worked in a while and that I have moved, I find myself without references.  How can I apply for a job with no one to verify my work experience?  I' ve thought about volunteering, but I would have to pay for daycare and without a paying job, that would be quite difficult.

They are really important because they act like a back up, or like a resort which enables you to go forward, if you know what I mean. It is true that you can write in your resume something like "references are available upon request", meaning you don' t have to actually place them, mention them literally in the resume, but if there' s one thing new employers like is their prospective employee' s past working history to be certified.
Now there are some things you can do, taking into account the fact that you' ve practically been "out" for 19 months, taking care of your son. And this is to get references from some place else than your former employer.
Volunteering is a good way of gathering references. And you don' t even have to do it for a long time.

Yes, you will need to have 3-5 references ready. Employers are more frequently checking references before offering a job, so you need to be prepared. Try to track down former colleagues -- it hasn' t been that long since you moved and I bet they would be happy to help you. Also, you don' t need to use supervisors only - how about professors from your school or your academic advisor? Anyone else in your community who can vouch for you?

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