Referees question as a career changer

[Flutterbyx303]

Hi

I am a 27 year old looking to change careers into law. I have started applying for some vac schemes and the first one I began yesterday asked for two referees, one academic and one professional.

The issue on the academic side is I didn’t go to a traditional uni rather I have obtained a degree equivalent (level 6 diploma) through part time study over a number of years. This was several years ago now, and the classes were virtual plus the teacher had so many students she for sure wouldn’t remember me. Then I did have a tutor but again this was so long ago and we had very little contact. The only person I could list who would probably remember me is my old head of sixth form. But I wasn’t a particularly stand out student, he focused on the Oxbridge and law/medicine applicants.

Then on professional referees I am currently at a firm and have been there for five years. I really really don’t want them to know I am looking to move industries so would rather not give anyone there as a referee (for a move to a similar job I probably wouldn’t mind giving them as a referee but I don’t want people to know at this point I want to go into law, particularly as it is so competitive I am not even get a job offer any time soon). I could always list a manager who used to work at my company but moved a few years ago but again I wouldn’t want word to get around I’m looking to change careers. So the only other option is my former boss at my last company and I think she would give a good reference but wanted to hear your thoughts in case you think I am being too sensitive re asking someone closer to where I work now.

Advice is welcome particularly if I will need to supply referees for future applications.

Thanks

 

[Jessica Booker]

You will still need to provide an academic referee who can verify your results - most universities don’t know their students to be fair, and in more cases than not it’s just the admin office confirming the grades you have received rather than a character reference.

 

[Flutterbyx303]

You will still need to provide an academic referee who can verify your results - most universities don’t know their students to be fair, and in more cases than not it’s just the admin office confirming the grades you have received rather than a character reference.

Oh ok that’s fine then! I thought it was to talk about your character etc

 

[prospectiveswitcher]

Hi

I am a 27 year old looking to change careers into law. I have started applying for some vac schemes and the first one I began yesterday asked for two referees, one academic and one professional.

The issue on the academic side is I didn’t go to a traditional uni rather I have obtained a degree equivalent (level 6 diploma) through part time study over a number of years. This was several years ago now, and the classes were virtual plus the teacher had so many students she for sure wouldn’t remember me. Then I did have a tutor but again this was so long ago and we had very little contact. The only person I could list who would probably remember me is my old head of sixth form. But I wasn’t a particularly stand out student, he focused on the Oxbridge and law/medicine applicants.

Then on professional referees I am currently at a firm and have been there for five years. I really really don’t want them to know I am looking to move industries so would rather not give anyone there as a referee (for a move to a similar job I probably wouldn’t mind giving them as a referee but I don’t want people to know at this point I want to go into law, particularly as it is so competitive I am not even get a job offer any time soon). I could always list a manager who used to work at my company but moved a few years ago but again I wouldn’t want word to get around I’m looking to change careers. So the only other option is my former boss at my last company and I think she would give a good reference but wanted to hear your thoughts in case you think I am being too sensitive re asking someone closer to where I work now.

Advice is welcome particularly if I will need to supply referees for future applications.

Thanks

I am also a career changer and finished uni about 7 years ago. My uni was a traditional one but I was in quite a large degree cohort and it is highly unlikely any of my lecturers remember me. I have just been giving the name of the course director who could verify I was on the degree program, like Jessica said this person is essentially admin (although they did teach me a class in second year I doubt they remember).