Job applications requiring past supervisor references
Many employers require supervisor references that applicants cannot provide because they lack current contact numbers or fear retaliation from current administration. This leaves job seekers stuck or rejected from opportunities simply for failing to meet an impossible contact requirement.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1asking a friend or coworker to pretend to be a manager
- 2trying harder to stay in touch with former supervisors
- 3subbing for a while to build new references
- 4using recent positive formal evaluations instead of administrative references
- 5sharing state testing scores and teaching a model lesson during interviews
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“she insisted I needed to provide a supervisor/manager reference and I couldn't because I never added supervisors/managers before on LinkedIn, don't have their numbers.”source ↗
“So anyway I was basically rejected because I couldn't provide that.”source ↗
“I’m kinda just stuck on the reference part because I’m sure I can’t ask admin for one.”source ↗
“The worst part about being in education is the reference requirements for sure.”source ↗
“I’m just scared of putting admin on my application and it going south with me having to deal with it until they non renew me.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why is keeping a professional network CRM updated so tedious?
- 3How to decline a bad referral from a good client
- 2How do I find a management mentor outside my company?
- 5How to stop juggling bookmarks for admin tools and reference sites
- 2Why do I have to train my new manager?
- 3How do I find a job when my network is tapped out?