I’ve applied for jobs a few times and this has always been a problem. Now that I’ve been out of college for a while it’s even more of a problem. I don’t have anyone from college that would even remember me. I can’t use my current coworkers because I don’t want my current employer to know I’m leaving until I have a new job lined up. I don’t keep in touch with old coworkers. I don’t do anything outside of work as far as volunteering or anything. I know I’m not supposed to use friends or family. Who is even left after that? The only people I have the contact info for are friends, family, and my current boss.
My man
Your new employer will be looking for references who can provide information and context around how you are to work with, how you have dealt with complexity and how you show initiative.
They will ideally want to understand how you work and how you behave.
You NEED someone you have worked with directly or who has managed you.
Highly suggest you find someone at your current workplace ideally someone at a more senior level to you. Or someone at same level that can vouch that you can rely on.
What is the worst case at your current place if they know you are interviewing?
The problem with my current place is that we’re overstaffed. I haven’t had any work to do in months and it’s not showing any signs of getting better. It’s only a matter of time until there are layoffs. Considering I’m the highest paid person in my department, I’m a likely candidate. If they know I’m looking for another job then they have no reason to not just can me on the spot. I can’t afford to not have income hence why I’m trying to find a new job before I get layed off. I can’t risk losing my job without having another one lined up. Yes if I got laid off I could get unemployment but that takes time and durring that time I would have no money. Unemployment also isn’t exactly enough to live off of.
Piggybacking off this, I wouldn’t just ask a direct manager whether he would vouch for you, I’d also ask for feedback on areas needing improvement too. You don’t have to go into your next job with that same blind spot. Imagine being in a job interview and when they ask you about your “weak areas” you can respond, “I talked with my previous supervisor about this exact issue!” For the last half decade I’ve made a habit of asking for corrective feedback and taking performance reviews seriously. It’s like the opposite of burning a bridge! My current and previous boss are happy to vouch for me!