I'm unemployed and looking for work. The problem is that I can't use my past workplace were I did the majority of my work as a reference my old boss (which is a relative of mine) is vindictive and I've been using her but just found out that even though to my face she said shes going to be a good reference when potential employers have contacted her she has not been flattering of my past performance. I live in a country were I have no legal recourse so I can't sue her or nothing just have to find a workaround.
I worked at her firm for the past 5 years and I may have like one reference I can use that's an old work colleague but that's pretty much it.
I work as a data scientist so the job market it good for me but this former employer of mine is really making things difficult. The bulk of my relevant work experience is from her firm, but she literally has a personality disorder.
Now what can I do? Im thinking if maybe I spend like a year freelancing I can start building my resume away from my old work and find new references. Since I'm afraid that it's very difficult to land a permanent position as long as future employers want to check with my past work place.
I had a job offer through my cousin but then I slipped up and told my old boss about it (who again is a relative of mine so I used to talked to regularly) and then I found out she'd called him and bad mouthed me so now that's gone as well.