Are You Making These Job Reference Mistakes?

I have a couple strong professional references and one strong personal reference, the two being former managers and the latter being a long-time friend. I am a 20-something year old mother so my resume is not exactly detailed, to say the least but unfortunately my most recent and best employer of a year and a half (from 2005 to the end of 2006) has gone bankrupt and has no way of being contacted. Unfortunately I am not in regular contact with my direct managers, as many of them relocated out of town or state anyway after the company closed its doors.

The professional references I currently have I still see occasionally but I have been nearing working for the most recent one almost five years ago. At what point do my references become too aged and the other reference is no longer suitable (a volunteering position -- haven't seen her in over 6 months, before that a couple of years)?

Being a stay-at-home mom, I am currently trying to find some part time work, how are my previous references going to affect me if I am unable to produce newer ones as time progresses?

Thank you for your time and great articles! I have definitely already learned quite a bit from the advice you offer.

Brianna of CA 4:03PM May 18, 2009