Job references

As you may know from my previous thread, I have recently lost my job because I was overqualified (worked for 4-5 months after I graduated this year) and the manager decided to let me go. Manager also let some other people go because of limited budget and they don't need that many employees.

I have left the company yesterday and didn't ask my manager for a reference.

I don't know why. But, every time I see the manager, I didn't feel like asking or couldn't speak or couldn't think because they decided to let me go because I was overqualified. Every time I see my manager I feel so depressed and I have kept our conversation short. It wasn't like this before she told me...but I guess I loss a bit of motivation and the manager also knows that I am not feeling happy in a way. I was still doing work but it's not the usual myself with that 'big smile' on my face.

I will be applying for jobs next month.
Questions:
1) If a new employer asks for references, is it O.K. for me to tell the new employer that I need some time to contact my references?
2) Does the new employer expect me to have my references ready in place?
3) Should I contact my previous manager ASAP and let them know i will be using them as a reference? (I believe she is not working in the next couple of weeks until early January)

Thanks

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Comments

dynamik

You're probably not going to need to provide them on the spot, but you should be able to get a list together in a day or two. You should also have gotten permission from anyone you want to use as a reference, and as a courtesy, give them a heads-up, so they're not getting a random call out of the blue.

laidbackfreak

Do yourself a favour and drop your previous boss an email and ask if they would mind being a referee for you. Might not be a bad thing to say how much you enjoyed working there and are sorry to leave but understand how things are in the current climate.

Can't hurt to ask

Firemarshalbill.com

Laidbackfreak is right - send an email you will find it is a small world and never burn a bridge. Have references readily available I actually prefer to put them down on my resume, on the engineers I am currently hiring I like to see the names on the resumes to see if I know any of them - just my opinion but you don't ever want to say to someone that it will take a few days to pull them together - doesn't sound like you a prepared or have anyone that may recommend you

good luck

tpatt100

I have a network of references from previous jobs that I keep in contact with via email once in a while. When I am looking for a job I send out a group email saying "needing references, be prepared for a call from such and such company". The ones who reply in time are the ones I give. I also provide the same for them as well if they need a reference.

veritas_libertas

I use LinkedIn to keep in contact. It's nice to have it online.

laptop

thanks for the advice everyone