Who writes a reference for someone who has been Freelancing?
I have been working on my own for a year and have been spectacularly unsuccessful having made absolutely no money and spending all my savings! Now I have a conventional permanent job offer and need to have a reference written. I haven't used the services of an accountant. The only possible reference could come from my Bank where I have paid a "salary" into my account for the last 12 months. Would a bank referenece be ok? If not, what could I do?
Other - Careers & Employment - 8 Answers
People Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
Depends what you have been doing as freelancing. Use any references you have prior to that. Then, depending on what work you have done with your freelancing, could you get a reference from one of your customers? Or if you can't get one, then try just providing an overview yourself of what you have done for the past year, plus references from previous. If nothing else, maybe you need to claim you have been 'travelling' for the past year.
Answer 2 :
get a reference from where you used to work before, or did you do one job freelance if so get a ref from them if they are offering you a job why do they want a reference?
Answer 3 :
depends on what you've been doing, most freelancers keep a portfolio of work they have done and the clients they have done them for containing samples, pictures brief outlines, maybe you could ask someone who was very pleased with the work you had done to be a reference for you, or get a statement from them and put it into your portfolio. what you had tried to achieve was probably different to most people and i would ask your prospective employers to take this into consideration, sometimes all that is required is a character reference from someone in the community who knows you well.
Answer 4 :
Could you get a reference from one of your customers
Answer 5 :
Well you must have worked before that? Have you got a portolio also of your freelance work. And could not you provide personal referees.Most employers are not so unreasonable that they don't understand that sometimes we don't all have references. Maybe you should just explain to them the situation.
Answer 6 :
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Answer 7 :
I dont really understand your explanation. Why would having an accountant help as a reference.? Do you mean to show that you were employed and not in prison or something? Because your bank would not provide a reference. What were you freelancing as? If you were a freelance journalist or photographer then just show them some of your work. If you were a freelance decorator etc , just get some testimonials from customers. A reference from a company basically just confirms that you were employed by them between certain dates. They are not allowed to put negative stuff on it. If it is just a personal character reference then just get someone you have known for 5+ years and who has a steady semi professional job - works in a bank etc to confirm what you like.
Answer 8 :
if you explain you predicament to a potential employer they will generally allow you to have two personal references from people who have known you for over two years.
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