Ok, so I am filling out job applications. They always ask for professional references, and it can't be friends or family. What do you do when you don't HAVE any professional references?? BESIDES lie, that is. I don't want to lie. It's not that I haven't worked. I have worked at several places, but each one was for only a short amount of time so my job history already looks bad. But the point is, I don't have any job references because I don't know any one from any of those places. All I've got as far as references go is family and a couple of friends. What do you do? Just put "N/A"?
I've had the same problem. I tried putting N/A on a few... and no job. When I see those portions of applications, I begin to think... "Hey, face it... I have no friends and no acquaintences at work. Thanks so much for reminding me." I don't know what to tell you, other than to list some hipforum people as references... (not recommended!!!)
I hate when they want proffesional references, I don't keep in contact with anyone one from places I used to work.
so just tell them the best places you've worked at that you didn't get fired from. also i think individual proffessors would count as professional referances even if the schools you met them at can only be used as educational ones. i guess if you haven't any post secondary credits and the best job you never got fired from was frying hamburgers and you don't want to do that for the rest of your life you could try leaving that blank or the old stadard proffessional dodge is to write in "available on request" (which is obvious bull shit of course because the blank is after all a request, but that's what they told me and that's what people used to do, and it was generaly taken as code for please don't ask, you don't really want to know. this of course works best if you can get a 'proffessional reference' to write a cover letter for you). it deffinately pays to have/make friends who can put in a good word for you who are already doing whatever it is you would like to get into. my own problem is that i'm just not usualy all that social to begin with. but maybe among people who share other intrests with you there might be someone or some several who can put in a good proffessional word. what i'm talking about is like say you go to concerts or train clubs or whathaveyou, for all you know there might be someone else in that group who thinks highly of you who IS a proffessional whateveritis you're applying for and could put in a good word for you and you don't even know it. might not hurt to try and find out. (a good reason to not limit your friends to your own age group, especialy if you're relatively young but also sometimes even if you're not. and when you get to be an old fart like me there is the same tendency to overlook potential proffessional referances that are younger often much younger then yourself too) =^^= .../\...
Thanks for the responses! That's exactly what I am afraid of. Also my problem. I didn't really think anyone did. But now in the future, if I ever get a job again, I am going to try to do this for the very purpose of professional references. Themnax, thanks for the long response, I like "available on request" but unfortunately if they did request it, I'd not have any! LOL The professors at school is also a really good idea, but again, I haven't been back to college in a few years, and I didn't really get to know any of my professors to begin with, like they'd remember me anyway. *sigh* I guess the best I can really do is put N/A or leave it blank and hope for the best.
I have put N/A for that on an application before and when I got an interview they made me put down professional references before we could start the interview they said it was required.
Well I had only had one other job before and it was for like 2 weeks and then I had moved...so I just put down the name of my previous boss and 2 co workers. I highly doubt any of my co workers would have even remembered me but hey, I tried atleast. lol
Did you ever babysit for someone or mow their lawn during the summer? Anything like this can be used. Even if they are friends/relatives. Generally, most people don't check those references anyway. They just call the previous employers you listed and verify that you worked there when you said you did. In the US, they can't legally say anything other than that. They can't even say whether you were fired or quit.
When I was ready to get a 'real' job I had a decent amount of education but not a lot of work experience. I put down my volunteer work and even a few professors and than instead of the professional achivements lists I have on my resume now I put down academin and community acheivements and awards. Also if you could get a letter of reccomendation that helps out a lot.
