Obtaining references from old job: 8-year time gap

Wester

Currently seeking a new job but when it comes to references, I'm not sure what to do. I left my previous employment in Nov. 2000 for the organisation I'm with now, where I've held 2 different posts in different departments, allbeit doing similar work. As my previous job, that I left in 2000, is the only other full-time employment I've had, it forms part of my cv. Unfotunately, the last person I worked under there appears to have left; I could ask his boss, who was effectively my boss, for a reference but 8 years is a long time. Perhaps I could contact the firm's HR department and ask for a general reference. What should I do? Should I use both managers I've worked under in my current employment as referees? Perhaps I could just obtain a reference from my old job confirming I worked there and leave it at that. Any help much appreciated.

How Strange

just let them contact HR for the reference and HR can confirm the dates you worked for them.

AARRRGH

They will still have your records of employment. Let HR know you are going to be using them as a reference. They'll be able to say you worked certain dates and you have no verbal or written warnings, or whatever.