submit ex-clients references to agents

[NotAllThere]

I was team lead on a contract, and toward the end of the project, we let some of the contractors go. One of them went for a contract with Progressive, who asked for references, so I volunteered. I was somewhat stunned when a few days later I got a call from them, asking for that reference, but without doing any fishing for leads!

[TheFaQQer]

I was team lead on a contract, and toward the end of the project, we let some of the contractors go. One of them went for a contract with Progressive, who asked for references, so I volunteered. I was somewhat stunned when a few days later I got a call from them, asking for that reference, but without doing any fishing for leads!

Blimey - Aggressive must be slipping!

[NotAllThere]

Not the behaviour I'd have expected from them.

What was quite entertaining was the that subject of the reference and I were sharing a taxi to the airport at the time of the phone call. I threw in as many buzz words and management bs as I could. I think I even used the words synergy and paradigm... *hangs head in shame*

[hugebrain]

Tell them that you'll give the references to the client. If they won't agree to this, then there is no position in the first place.

Never give references to the client. If you get a bad reference you can rely on agents to lie to the client and say everything was fine, if the client contacts them directly then you could be in trouble!

[TheFaQQer]

Never give references to the client. If you get a bad reference you can rely on agents to lie to the client and say everything was fine, if the client contacts them directly then you could be in trouble!

Oh you cynic!

Why would you give the name of someone who might give you a bad reference though?

[clwd]

Interesting! an agent requested me to provide the references even before fordwarding my CV to the client because she needs to check my references. She also commented that she makes sure I was good at my work based on my ex-clients comments. Otherwise, she can't forward my CV to her clients. The main reason is that I also represent her.
Did you guys get any interviews after providing the references to the agents?

[bobsyouruncle]

Interesting! an agent requested me to provide the references even before fordwarding my CV to the client because she needs to check my references. She also commented that she makes sure I was good at my work based on my ex-clients comments. Otherwise, she can't forward my CV to her clients. The main reason is that I also represent her.
Did you guys get any interviews after providing the references to the agents?

yeah, I was asked to provide a reference before my CV was forwarded, and I got an interview, and got the contract (they mentioned in the interview that the reference was a factor)...

i think maybe other people on here are being overly cynical...or maybe not

[TheFaQQer]

Interesting! an agent requested me to provide the references even before fordwarding my CV to the client because she needs to check my references. She also commented that she makes sure I was good at my work based on my ex-clients comments. Otherwise, she can't forward my CV to her clients. The main reason is that I also represent her.
Did you guys get any interviews after providing the references to the agents?

I know of one agency like that, but they will sound out other contractors rather than needing a client reference. If they don't get a good word, then they won't represent you.

I would work with them any day, though.

[clwd]

Does it mean that 95% of agents are fishing if they ask for references before forwarding your CV to the clients? Actually, how can I really know they have real jobs?

[TheFaQQer]

Does it mean that 95% of agents are fishing if they ask for references before forwarding your CV to the clients?

Probably

Actually, how can I really know they have real jobs?

You don't.


HTH