Hi everyone

I will be moving very soon to NZ, and would like to hear your suggestions regarding getting employer references etc in order to seek jobs.

I am still doing job search from outside NZ currently.

For some reasons, I do not want to get or give my direct line manager as my reference( I am in IT).

Can I give contacts of my business users/customers in other departments who are managers and are directly working with me? I have plenty of people ( managers are non managers ) who are willing to be a reference for me.

Are employers asking for references of managers who managed me? or can it be my colleagues with whom I worked directly?

I can get a reference letter from my HR too.

Please share your thoughts and experiences on this topic. So that before I leave the company, I can make sure to talk to specific people who can support me with a reference.

Thank you.