How do make up some believable references in my cv? I'm

References aren't even really a thing anymore. If the company is not well known and they don't know someone over there, your reference is not even useful to them.

>>1836574
maybe with major companies,
but all I can aim for is small business and the like.

I just need to cover my back from the "what the hell did you do for 5 years?" question

No one will ever call your references unless it's a gov job. Very rare that corps will. Small companies.. never.

Just lie and stop whining.

>>1836642
lie about your past experience by finding a closed business in a relevant field (can be out of state) and say you did X there. where X is the job you're trying to get.