Agent requesting "references"

[chicane]

I've just had a call from a agent at an XX agency, who was responding to an Jobserve application I made earlier today for a contract that probably doesn't exist (he was able to provide no details at all about the project other than the skillset).

In what seems to be an increasingly common practice, he was keen to wring 2 "references" from me. I asked him to get feedback from the client on my CV before asking me for references, which he grudgingly accepted. The problem with this is that there will become a point at which I will have to provide references to the agent before I can continue with the application.

Next time this happens I'm thinking of suggesting to the agent that I provide references directly to the client during interview to avoid the agent harvesting leads. Has anyone ever tried this, and if so, how frosty was the response from the pimp?

[Not So Wise]

If agent is "frosty" or "refuses to put you forward without the references supplied in advance" it generally means the position never existed in the first place

[Dundeegeorge]

The agent wants leads

Tell him you'll provide references to the client during the interview....

[XLMonkey]

If the agents any good/experienced, then they are fine with that (in my experience).

Generally, I tell them that I'll give them references once the client has asked for an interview. Never had anyone get shirty about it. Have occasionally had the agent insist, but this was because the client required the agent to check references before submitting CVs (this is particularly common for public sector roles).

[Lockhouse]

References...

Just give them the names of the last two agents you worked through....sorted.

[Mordac]

Do you really want the agro of dealing with S3 - sorry XX - ?
Anyway, it's a blatant lead trawl, as others have already confirmed.

[chicane]

Do you really want the agro of dealing with S3 - sorry XX - ?
Anyway, it's a blatant lead trawl, as others have already confirmed.

Not really, but it seems to be the case that the majority of roles within my area of expertise lie with the XX agencies. I mean, some of those contracts must be genuine.... right?

Thanks everybody else for your feedback.

[expat]

Not really, but it seems to be the case that the majority of roles within my area of expertise lie with the XX agencies. I mean, some of those contracts must be genuine.... right?

Thanks everybody else for your feedback.

No. Sorry. Don't despair, you only need one. But you won't get it from XX.

[VectraMan]

In my long experience (three contracts), the agents that have got me work have never asked for any kind of reference. Only the timewasters have (and I'm embaressed to say the first time I did actually give some names ).

Last time round I was talking to an agent about a role, which sounded a perfect match for me and I was really confident I was going to get this one and was just waiting to arrange an interview. But then the agent started telling me about how they only put one person forward for the role, and because of that they check references beforehand and even promised they'd never be used for sales leads, honest.

As it happened I was then offered a 1 month extension to my current contract, which I took mainly because I was so depressed at the thought of entering the market again and having to deal with agents.

Presuambly XX do have a fair few genuine clients, so I can only assume those clients are completely unaware of the reputation XX have amongst contractors otherwise they wouldn't use them. And I'd be they're not the cheapest of agents.

[tim123]

Not really, but it seems to be the case that the majority of roles within my area of expertise lie with the XX agencies. I mean, some of those contracts must be genuine.... right?

In my experience not. I don't reply to their mails any more.

tim