I got an interview comin' up for an internship, and was pre-emptively given an official "job application" form. On it, it wanted me to list 3 professional references. The thing is, I practically have none and only have one academic reference that I can call on. I did list 2 previous jobs from 2-3 years ago on resume, but I don't honestly know anyone from there anymore. I also don't want to list my current employer, as I'd rather not jeopardize my current employment. What can I do? Am I doomed without listing references? I see people faking references, but I'd rather not be unethical.
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You put down friends. Then they bullshit the referral call if they do get called.
Lmao and how often does this work? If I'm found frauding I'll probably get terminated immediately
All of your friends' parents work don't they? Assumedly, you have had at least one job. Between those two things, you ought to be able to get three references. It is extremely important to notify them and explain what is going on though so that they are ready.
Nah I don't have suitable friends for this. My one job I literally don't know anyone in, and the supervisor was hostile to everyone.
I'm just asking if it's OK to just not have those references, or of anyways to circumvent having to have references. Don't tell me to go find some more please, if I really "ought to be able to get three references" then I wouldn't be posting here.
You misunderstood me, but I am not going to help you and correct your misunderstanding because of your attitude. Good luck.
I'm pretty sure that I did not misunderstand you. Sorry if I came off with a cocky attitude though, I am just extremely frustrated.
I appreciate you having taken the time to reply anyway. I understand if you don't want to help though, you are not obligated at all.
I was telling you to use your friends parents as a reference, that is why I assumed you misunderstood because you said you couldn't use them. If you are like me, they will have at least somewhat decent job titles, and they will actually (hopefully) speak passionately about you. Professors like people that get A's so you could ask a professor that you have gotten an A with. I see you say you have only one academic reference, but you'd be surprised at how open professors will be to people that they believe took them seriously. Technically, your dean could attest to your performance as well. That's a bit of a reach, but we do something similar to this in law school.
Because you are looking for an internship, I am assuming you are still in school. So, if that's not a valid assumption, let us know.
I put down my friend because he's a VP at JPM. We went to undergrad together and went to China for a study abroad and worked on 0 projects together. I told him I was going to put him down for a reference and he was fine with it. He got called and they asked what we did together and everything and he just made shit up. After he got off the phone with them he texted me and said that they called and what they said in case they asked about it.
You're overthinking this wayyyyyyyy too much.
Do you have any clubs or ec's in college where the adult in charge could be a reference? A fraternity alumni advisor? Any sort of leadership roles where someone could act as a reference? Think of things like that. It may just be me but I'd much rather see that as a reference than your grumpy manager at the grocery store summer job.
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes I do, but they'll be peers and not adults. It'd be the same thing as using a friend to pretend to be my supervisor.
Is it really THAT bad to leave 2/3 of the reference spaces blank?
List DickFuld as a reference. He's a baller with that Silver Banana cred.
+1.
I will have to be a dissenter from the popular opinion here...
do not use blatantly fake references like your friend's parents etc. if you worked under person A but had some contact with person B for a week or so (continuous or not) while working on a specific item, I would be fine with either of them begin a reference
You are in school. Unless you were sewing nikes in philipines before you got to school, folks would be fine with having academic references.
there is no upside to lying: its not like that is going to resolve a tie between you and your closest competitor; as long as they can say stuff like you don't have BO bad enough to knock everyone out in the office or that you can go into a meeting room and come out without having punched someone in the face, there shouldn't be a problem
the downside is significant.. nothing pisses off the hr more than blatant lies and they will take you to task so they can get to be a 'hero'.. mostly the rest of the company just ignores them
How beneficial are recommendation/reference letters for investment banking? Especially if you're coming from a non-finance background?
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