does a reference have to come from your most recent employment

timetogetfit

Im planning to go to aus in the summer and Im worried because I left my last job in autumn 2007 and I have been in college ever since, The last place I worked for were the most unprofessional crowd ever as I hightlighted some pretty awful health and safety and envionmental hazards.Needless to say they didnt appreciate this and they didnt want to pay the cost to fix these problems so I just decided to leave and I reported them to the HSA as what they were allowing to happen was not on, now they know it was me and I have had plenty of arguments from them in the past about health and safety and the thing is im completely in the right but if I put someone from there down as a ref I will get slated big time and get a crap reference.I have had other jobs before this one that I would get a glorious ref from no problem, what do you think I should do,I cant start slated this compnay to new employers even though im right, its an unwritten rule isnt it?would it be ok to give refs from jobs before this one, wouldnt new employers smell a rat?

Avns1s

You needn't necessarily include a reference from your most recent employer, but the new employer will likely wonder why not.

Having said that, if you cant include it, thats the end of that. If the others are glowing enough, it should be fine.

MIN2511

Tricky one here... Put them on your CV as your most recent employer and put refs from previous jobs.
BTW you don't need to put your refs on your CV, you can always "available on request" and its Australia i don’t think they would be ringing Ireland to check your refs

TestTransmission

well,just back from Australia from 2 months.i worked with quite a lot of agencies and i know for a fact that they never contacted any of my referees.they did say they would take any referees so having ur last job is not a necessity.