As I applied for jobs these past few years, most didn't ask for references. I assume that if they were interested, they would ask for them. Now, most of them are asking for references (non-relative) when I fill out the application. Unfortunately, I have none. I have no friends and my last employer is now dead. I have no contact with any former co-workers and if I did, I'd trust them as far as I could throw myself. I have to ask, how many employers even bother contacting those references and believe what is told them? Who would give a bad reference to an employer? What's to prevent me from giving a false reference and having someone pretend to be someone they're not when they answer the phone? I've been told by my family to actually try this or to delete certain information from my applications. However, I can't make myself do it. "You're too honest," my father has told me and not as a compliment.

It seems some positions should bypass the reference and interview portion and be demonstrative. One teaching position I applied for a few years back in now entrenched somewhat. The current teacher was able to dazzle them at the interivew and in the classroom, for a while in the latter. I was told by one of his fellow teachers who worked there that the kids were getting frustrated by his apparent lack of knowledge and inability to answer their questions. Questions that I could answer or knew where I could find them. However, he has tenure now, so there's little hope for being rid of him.

Now, I just want a job where I show up, do what I have to do and leave. Unless I really have to do it, I want as little interaction with co-workers as possible. I go to work to work, not make friends. Everything is teamwork now. If I'm needed to help someone with a task, help out during an accident or drag someone's unconscious body out of a burning building, I'm there. Why is more asked of me when I don't have more to give?