Losing potential contact with work references?

[ShadowArmy]

I got this problem:

when it comes to providing references for jobs, one of them is my former employer. Only problem is: the company/building that I used to work at is now vacant/for-rent. So obviously the business contact information is no longer valid. Everybody I used to work with there has moved on to work whatever jobs elsewhere, presumably (god knows where). So now, I don't know how to contact my old boss, or anybody else that would know, for that matter. Am I just going to have to find other people to provide as references??

 

[Remus]

I guess the only solution to something like this is to keep personal contact info, like an email address, so that they could potantialy still vouch for you even if the company no longer exists. In my case, I've only worked freelance jobs with obscure, small indie companies, and I have only the company contact information. It's higly likely that these companies would be short lived, so I would end up in the same position you're in.

 

[Sulkdodds]

You could try looking up the company in the local directory, or talking to whoever is renting the property. Is there really nobody you can get hold of?

 

[Hectic Glenn]

You don't necessarily need a specific person as your reference if that individual may have left the company. As Sulk said, if you can find the company name from a business directory, internet, your local library or local council (or equivalent) you can contact them and find out who is in charge of human resources, saying your correspondence is regarding obtaining a reference or how that individual can be reached for someone to contact them. A written reference isn't allowed to reflect any detail on your ability, it can only confirm you did indeed work for company X from date Y till date Z, so any individual in HR can do that. Even if the company has relocated, they should have the records still.

 

[Raziaar]

I got this problem:

when it comes to providing references for jobs, one of them is my former employer. Only problem is: the company/building that I used to work at is now vacant/for-rent. So obviously the business contact information is no longer valid. Everybody I used to work with there has moved on to work whatever jobs elsewhere, presumably (god knows where). So now, I don't know how to contact my old boss, or anybody else that would know, for that matter. Am I just going to have to find other people to provide as references??

Yeah I have the same thing with my very first job experience. Company was bought out, the parent company went bankrupt and just disintegrated. People moved on to other companies in the business.