This really short post is for the person who commented about getting references. I read your post and it resonated with me – Live I think they were called. If you happen to come about this post, I hope you find this useful. And please reach out if you see this and have any questions. This is open to anyone who happens across this too.
Finding a reference for work can be a nightmare at the best of times. Trust me I have been there, I have actively had a previous line manager and supervisor sabotage my chances of finding a job – and they did so successfully for about a year of my job hunting.
But when I decided that I was pursuing my overemployment journey, I had finally found one person who I completely trusted and confided in. They are not my immediate line manager, but I have worked very closely with them for a number of years, they are in J1 and are fully aware of my other jobs. They are my reference.
For my entire working life, this is how references have worked for me, but am very aware that this is certainly not the norm. They ask me what to write in my references for the job that I am applying to. This may not come across as too honest for the new employer, but I work hard and I always deliver, and they have seen it first-hand themselves. They know I am more than capable and so are willing to help me out. They are very senior in their position and have a brilliant reputation, so that works for me. It also means that they often do not have the time to write me a formal reference and so will rely on me to formulate the body of the reference.
Often times, whenever I have gotten to the position that I need references and the new employer has reached out to my referee; my referee will get in touch with me. They will ask me what to put in the reference and will ask me what start and end dates they should put down. Once they send the reference to the new employer, they will also email me a copy, so that I can see exactly what they put in it.
I realize the majority of people do not have that one person that they can trust and confide in like this and I also realize I am in a privileged position to be able to have this person.
This is only my experience of how I get a reference while being overemployed. I’m sure there’s other ways of doing it too.
Love & Laissez-faire x