No References? Here’s What to Do: 5 Tips
Follow these failsafe tips when you don’t have references
You’ve applied for some jobs and nailed a few interviews, giving you just the right amount of confidence you need to surge forward on your journey to achieving that elusive job. One of the positions you went for is looking more and more likely.
If staff at the company are as keen on you as you are on them, the next stage is that the potential employer will probably ask you for references… which can make or break your job application.
But what to do if you don’t have any? No need to panic. We have 5 expert tips when you don’t have references.
What are references?
First, though, let’s nail exactly what we mean by references. A reference is a written testimonial regarding your character and your work capabilities. It’s normally compiled by someone senior from a previous place of work, and those who provide the references are known as referees.
It’s now regarded as old school to include the names and contact details of referees on your resume in 2024. It’s not even necessary to put the line “References are available upon request” at the end of your resume, as it’s only further down the line in the recruitment process that they’ll be required. Plus, potential employers will ask for references whether they’re “available upon request” or not.
Why do employers ask for references?
References are requested because people in the know at the organization you’re hopefully about to join want to create a broader picture of you as a possible employee but also as a person in your own right.
References are requested for the following reasons:
1. To confirm your background
Some jobs apply a rigorous process, wanting to prove your qualifications and identity by checking with references, before moving on to the next step of the hiring process.
2. To verify your work history/education
Everyone knows prospective employers often perform background checks to verify the validity of the information on your resume. They also use references to confirm that you’re telling the truth about your history, experience, qualifications, achievements, and skills.
3. To check to see if you’d be a good fit for the business
Contacting a reference will enlighten an employer as to how your qualifications and personality would fit into the workplace.
4. To discover your character
You’re only likely to provide details of references that you’ve built a rapport with, so their take on you will give a prospective employer a different slant of your work ethic and personality that they weren’t able to access during an interview.
Why you might have no references for a job
There are a few different reasons why you might not have any references to offer. If you’re new to the workforce, you probably haven’t had time to establish work relationships that lead to being able to ask for a reference. Or maybe you’re new to the country, so your references are hard to contact, either because of a language barrier or time zone difficulties. Alternatively, you may have left under a cloud from your last place of employment and would never have anything to do with them again!
Let’s look at these, and more, in detail…
You’re a recent graduate
If you’ve just graduated, your only experience of work is probably part-time, summer jobs, or internships. That’s not much to go on, but is fairly standard for entry-level positions.
Tips when you don’t have references as a recent grad:
Here, your choice is to pick your professor, favorite teacher, or another academic contact.
You could also choose someone as a character reference from outside the professional setting.
You’re freelance or self-employed
If you’ve been self-employed or worked freelance for a long time and then decided to become a staff member at a new company, this might present a challenge when seeking a professional reference.
Tip when you don’t have references because of being self-employed
Using a trusted client or vendor to vouch for you is perfectly feasible, as it would be someone you’ve done business with who can write about your expertise and work ethic.
You recently moved to a new country
If you’ve recently relocated, it might be difficult to find professional contacts for your first job. Don’t panic, though.
Tip when you don’t have references after relocating to a new country:
It’s fine to use contacts, colleagues, or managers from where you were previously based. Make sure, though, that the potential employer can easily contact the references you provide and that they can communicate in English or another appropriate language.
You aren’t part of an organization or club
We all come across people every day, forging relationships as we go, whether that’s at the local bowling club or a chess night.
Tip when you don’t have references because if you’re a loner:
Ask a trusted contact to speak positively about you so you can use them for a reference. Neither do you need to have known them for years or have to have constant contact with them.
Expert Tip
Compile a list of all the people you interact with, besides family, to work out who would be the best choice.
Some people ask, “Can I use a friend as a reference?”. Generally, it’s not a good idea as friends are seen as biased and will give you a glowing review without knowing much about your work or achievements.
If you need to choose someone as a character reference, pick someone who has seen you in a more serious or work-related capacity, such as working alongside you in a volunteering post or within an academic setting.
What to do if you don’t have any professional references
Whatever the reason for not having references for a job, our team of career experts and former hiring managers can help you out when you need it.
Check out the 5 top tips when you don’t have references.
1. Start by looking at your professional network
If you’re on LinkedIn, there’s a good chance your network includes past co-workers, former college professors, or people you currently work with. Study your list of connections and identify those people who know you and would speak positively about you.
If you’re new to the world of employment, you obviously won’t have any connections who have supervised you at work. However, you might still be connected with one of your college professors who can speak highly about your skills and work ethic. If you’re a recent graduate, this is a perfectly valid option for a character reference.
If you have held a job before, you’re not limited to using your supervisor for a reference. Former or current colleagues can be worthwhile references, as they can talk about how you work as part of a team or perform similar job functions.
Expert Tip
Be careful about including current co-workers in a stealth job search; you don’t want to put them in an awkward position at the company you both work for.
Follow these tips on how to ask your network to be a reference.
2. Consider your internships, volunteer work, or freelancing
Job seekers often overlook internships, volunteer work, and freelancing gigs when it comes to work experience. But it does all count! Experiences where you learn and grow don’t have to be full-time, long-term, or even paid work. If you have these types of experience, you will have supervisors, volunteer coordinators, or clients that you can reach out to for a recommendation.
Ideally, people in this category will be relevant and credible. For example, if you’re trying to land an entry-level marketing job and, as a college intern, you reported to the Marketing Manager, it’s a no-brainer to choose that person as a great reference option.
On the other hand, the neighbor you did some yard work for two months won’t be quite as compelling a referee. Only use them for a personal reference as a last resort.
Most of the references should focus on your professional attributes. However, you don’t have to rule out references that can highlight your other abilities, such as teamwork, organization, and hard/soft skills.
Expert Tip
Have a professional reference page ready, just in case…
3. Apply for roles that don’t need references
There are certain situations that don’t require job references, such as:
Jobs you were referred to
Certain entry-level positions
Companies with limited hiring resources
When you get recommended for a job by someone at the company, you can sometimes bypass the reference requirement as you’ve already been vouched for. It might just be worth asking for a job referral. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Some companies hiring for entry-level jobs understand that these types of candidates may not have any useful references. You can identify these jobs by looking for a “no references required” note on the job description. Other times, you just won’t be asked for references at any point.
Finally, some companies simply don’t have the capacity to check references. It might be a start-up or a small business with just one person covering all hiring, HR, operations, and accounting responsibilities.
4. Ask people to recommend you on LinkedIn
The easiest way to get people to write you a recommendation on LinkedIn is to write them a great recommendation first! LinkedIn recommendations appear on your profile, both the ones you send and the ones you receive. You should reference specific group projects or skills to give your recommendation context (and credibility). Aim to write a few thoughtful recommendations for your co-workers or recent classmates, and then follow up with a message asking for one in return.
Most potential employers look at your online presence before inviting you for an interview, so LinkedIn is a great tool to leverage! LinkedIn recommendations are useful to employers because they give a greater insight into what other people think of you. That’s the basic idea of a professional reference, too! If you have several good recommendations on your LinkedIn page, employers may be satisfied with that information alone and not waste time seeking any more.
5. Answer questions proactively in your resume, cover letter, and during the interview
Although not guaranteed, having a well-written resume and cover letter could convince a hiring manager to offer you the job straight away. If you can wow them during the interview as well, asking for references may be redundant.
Go get that job!
Although it’s not easy for everyone to obtain professional references, utilize the above tips when you don’t have references to help. If you find that it’s impossible to come up with references, submit your application anyway. Then, be ready to explain why you can’t provide references (but only if the hiring manager asks first!).
Best of luck with your job search!
Take heart if you have no references for a job. As this article points out, there are ways in which to overcome this. Check out ZipJob’s free resume review and see where it takes you!
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Written by
Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer, Elizabeth Openshaw, Editor & Content Writer
Elizabeth Openshaw is an Elite CV Consultant with over 12 years of experience based in Brighton, UK, with an English degree and an addiction to Wordle! She is a former Journalist of 17 years with the claim to fame that she interviewed three times Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 tennis player, Andy Murray, when he was just 14 years old. You can connect with her at Elizabeth Openshaw | LinkedIn.
