Had a little (and possibly very lucrative) opportunity arise... now what do I do, I need two references, and have one already arranged, however I have been self-employed for the past 6 years, and have no work references from the past 4 years...

What can I do in this case? Should I get a reference off a partner company instead, or should I look for a character reference instead, and if so, what type of person would be a goodun? What weight does a character reference have in relation to a work reference?

Am not 100% sure as to how important the reference is tbh, as its via a good contact I have in a very high place, but I would like to get the best possible line of attack sorted incase I decide to pursue the opportunity.

I want to give myself a reference since I am the current employer of myself, but obviously I cant haha!

reference: Wheels from WikiWirral

Matty aka MattLFC Is amazing! he can do things that i can only dream of. i often turn to him for computer help. i am surprised his head is not huuuge with all that knowledge that is inside of it. he can work all week as he never sleeps. If i was you i'd snap him up right now before Billy G from Microsoft gets the word on the street that Matt is looking for a job. P.s he knows Ghostdog!.

luv wikiwirralwheels.

(just copy & paste that )

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I was a character reference for my mate and all they done was send me a multiple choice question sheet to my house, i ticked all the good boxes and he was sorted.

Lmao Wheels, i might use that haha! Seriously though, the character reference idea is beginning to sound quite promising; im not sure if I want to take the opportunity just yet, and I have plenty of time to decide anyway, but working for yourself isnt the best scenario when it comes to moving towards working for someone else I guess lol.

Cheers mate!

May the power of Ghostdog be with me!

Btw, did your mate get the job?

Try and get a glowing customer testimony?

Thats something I have thought about, would be easy to get, especially from any of the corps I server as I have a more personal relationship with them, but how much weight would it have do you think, in job terms?

Bear in mind that most of my corporate customers are outside of the UK in fact a lot are outside of the EU. Would it still be applicable as I have never actually met most of them.

If you're self employed you don't have many other options. I'm sure they don't want a character reference, they'll want to know what a fantastically competent worker you are.

It needs to be glowing report of work you've undertaken, from somebody who's happy to give it. Contact some of your old customers and explain the situation... fire off a few emails and see what they say. If you done work for a 'blue chip' type of buisness, try and ask them first obviously. Doesn't matter if you've never met face to face, or they're not UK based so long as it's checkable.

ps. Good Luck!

Cheers mate, much appreciated for the tips; taking some serious consideration into this, but it may mean me getting out of the server industry... something I have thought about in the past couple of years but never really wanted to as a result of being too "comfortable" with the way my life works lol.

yep

Heh nice one mate