What do I put if I have no references?
If you do not have any professional references, offer to provide twice as many personal references if you can. A personal reference can be from someone who knows you, but has never worked with you in a professional environment. For example, they could be a friend, a classmate, a teammate, a coach, a teacher, etc.
Is it OK to not have references on a resume?
As a rule of thumb, you don’t need to include references in your resume. However, if the employer explicitly says within the job listing that they’ll want to speak with your references, it would be appropriate to include them on your resume.
Can you refuse to provide a reference?
Busted. Unless your business is regulated by the Financial Services Authority, generally there is no legal obligation on an employer to provide a reference for an employee or ex-employee and you are entitled to refuse to provide one.
Can a former employee bad mouth you?
A lot of people think a former employer can’t say anything bad about an ex-employee. That’s not true. They can legally tell a hiring manager almost anything about your job performance except confidential stuff. If you hear that a former employer is bad-mouthing you during your job hunt, you can take legal action.
What happens if I get a bad reference?
If you’ve lost out on a job because your employer gave you an unfair reference, you might be able to take them to court. Going to court can take a long time, and you might not win your case. For many people, it’s quicker to look for another job or ask someone else to give a reference instead.