Hi all,
I was searching “what to do if you don’t have a reference” and read somewhere that someone on r/antiwork might be able to help.
I have been in job search process for about 10 months after finishing a master degree program. I’m transitioning into a new career field in community development urban planning, and I have jumped through all the flaming hoops including salary negotiation and benefits during this interview process for a junior/entry level position. I am exhausted.
All that is left is references. I already provided references (a professor, and two colleagues from my internship I completed during my master program) AND letters of recommendation from my two previous unrelated work experiences in public relations/marketing and SEO (that I “enhanced” a bit), yet I just received an email from the hiring manager asking if I could provide one additional reference that she could speak with from one of these aforementioned jobs.
The most recent position of these two positions I worked in was almost 3.5 years ago!! it wasn’t that special for me and I don’t keep in contact with anyone really. I have been living abroad the last few years now back in the US, and my current references are all international, so that’s probably why she asked for an additional one.
It’s not even related to this current position I’m being considered for. Of course in the interview process I had to drum it up and it was good that I had some communications experience, writing blogs, working with clients, content curation, blah blah blah.
Anyways, I am hoping I can work some Reddit magic, and find someone willing to be a reference. Ideally someone in marketing/SEO/content who knows bullshit lingo, but anyone who is a good reference is fine.
I can provide my résumé and a letter of recommendation that outlines the position and some of the responsibilities that I had. I am so drained and exhausted from this interview process I can’t believe it has been this difficult to find an entry-level job.
Help SOS!