What do I do when I get asked for references and I'm not ready?

The scramble you feel means you have left something to chance that you can shape. References are not a lottery. They are relationships you tend before you need them, so that when the moment comes you are not guessing what someone will say. Start today, before anyone asks. Pick three or four people who have seen your work up close and think well of it. Reach out, not to beg a favor, but to reconnect. Tell them what you are aiming for now. People speak best about you when they understand where you are headed. Then keep a short list ready and current. When you ask, ask plainly and give them what they need: the role, the dates, a reminder of what you did together. You are not hoping anymore. You are prepared, and that steadiness will show.