Can you still contact any of your old managers? If so, do that and ask them if you can include their name and contact details as potential referees. Also, if you do volunteer work, ask people in the organisation (especially if there’s a “supervisor” type role) if they would act as referees for you.

I have found it a good idea to always do an annual update of a CV. I add any courses completed to the CV. It is good to keep skills updated and add these to a CV and it helps employers to know that knowledge is still be gained during times away from a workplace.

Id just don’t your resume up and say references on request. Then if they ask you for them you can explain that the managers you worked for etc are not there anymore and hopefully they will be happy with personal references. Most places are fairly understanding to parents who’ve been out of the game for a while.

If you receive any Patenting payment from Centrelink then they can put you in the Parent Pathways Program. This provides support to do study or get back into work with guidance, financial, etc. It’s also the right time of year to enrol in a free tafe course. There’s plenty of exciting options!

All the best with getting back into the workforce. It’s hard when you’ve been out for so long. Depending on what type
Of work you did, you might also be able to do a free refresher course to brush up your skills. A character reference is also a good thing to have on there as well. Wishing you all the very best!

It is always a good idea to keep a resume updated with current skills and abilities and ready to use when required for positions. Referees do change and they can be supplied when requested. I have never found the need to supply them until it has been requested by a potential employer.

Keep the information of your previous work places on your resume and cover letter. If you maintained contact with anyone you worked with you could have them as a referee. In your cover letter include that you’re entering back into the work force so they will know there is a bit of a gap. Best of luck!!

I would contact a job agency like Seek, Jora, or Indeed and ask them for advice. They will have resources and information to help you get back into the workforce. Best wishes.

If your old managers are unavailable, consider using colleagues or mentors as references. You can also highlight any relevant volunteer work or personal projects to show your growth.

Good luck getting back into the workforce. I would never include references on my resume as you don’t want your referees to be called un-necessarily. You can offer these and the contact details once you get to that stage of the process. Most companies will ask for them if you make it to a certain stage in the process.

I’d still include the details of the businesses you worked at just to show where you were. In your cover letter state that it has been 8 years. I am sure there are often many people in this predicament. Good luck with your job hunt and hoping you find something you love.