I was asked if I wanted to do a short term interesting contract at a place I worked before. Had plans already for the rest of the year but agreed to put my name forward.

Turns out that out of 30+ names I ened up giving as who I had worked there they had all left. They could confirm I worked there but no one could give me a personal reference.

They went back to the previous gig and I had given 20+ names and same story.

They then went back to the previous as they wanted references for last 3 contracts I had worked on, "the company has left the country".

I have some previous written references but turns out they are no good.

Moral of the tale: Always ask for a written reference when you leave...

Hindsight - wouldn't it be great to have it earlier?

A references always necessary here?

I worked for investment banks in the UK and they were only ever willing to provide length of service information as a reference. That wasn't a problem when applied for a job here though.

I do, in fact from each of them but they apparently are not good enough as they also require to speak to the person who wrote them.

I posted it to illustrate how fast changing the world of companies and employment had become lately.

In some places a reference is what you ask for when you hire a nanny, not when you hire a professional.

In the UK at least, references are a total waste of time. They can't write anything bad or you'll sue for libel, and they can't write anything good in case your new employer relies on their reference, and you turn out to be bad. All references do is give recruitment agents more leads.

Can you not get a personal email address for that person for longer-term follow-up?

Aye, agree with the nanny-reference part, but my experience of hiring in CH is that written references from all previous jobs and all certificates (from kindergarten through to professional qualifications) are de rigeur.

OK, maybe I'm exaggerating with the kindergarten part, but you know what I mean.