References before interview??

[t0bytoo]

Maybe the aforementioned recruiter lurks here. Never called back for the appointed "pre-interview preparation" and, sadly, no email to the "referee".

[lws]

Sounded like a phising exercise to me. If they did lurk on here they wouldn't really care what you said if there was money to be made.

[oraclesmith]

I think it depends on the style of agency. For the more hats 'n spurs oriented ones, it's a blatant effort to get more names for their outgoing telecanvassing effort.

However, there are a few agencies who are used to placing temps and permies, who sometimes dabble in proper contracts. These tend to have a blanket policy of checking passport details and references prior to sending to the client simply because it's what they do for permies and temps on PAYE. The agency recruiters often don't seem able to bypass the policy even if it doesn't make sense in terms of B2B contracts. I have come across this in the past and I have tended to send in the names of references with a proviso that they aren't to be contacted until an offer is made, simply because I don't want them to be called for every contract I put myself up for. If the agency is a good one, then they'll respect it.

[Denny]

offer to supply them directly to the client

That only works if the client is willing to interview first. Not much good if they want references as a pointer to set up interview in the first place.

[t0bytoo]

What a nice man:

"I not sure what your game is, but you will not be placed via pathway in
the future. Un Referenced and secretive candidates are not what we are
about, especially those lie about where they are currently living at ad
response stage.

Do not contact any of our employees in future."

[hyperD]

What a nice man:

"I not sure what your game is, but you will not be placed via pathway in
the future. Un Referenced and secretive candidates are not what we are
about, especially those lie about where they are currently living at ad
response stage.

Do not contact any of our employees in future."

Whoops!

Now, did you have a confirmed interview or not?

If not then no harm done. If you did and Pathway cancelled it, then not so good.

[t0bytoo]

I had a word doc with a job spec. No contact info about the client, though. Frankly didn't trust the agent from the start.

Apparently an interview was pencilled in for tomorrow afternoon, but I wasn't allowed to attend without 2 verifiable references. Which I declined to give.

"How am I supposed to find you work if you don't give me references?".

"I don't want you to find me work. I don't want to work with you," I replied.

Then he got pissy because my "resume had been written by another company" and "what kind of game are you playing". (a company name of mine was the "author" in the doc preferences).

And this bit: "lie about where they are currently living at ad
response stage". For f*cks sake. I live somewhere, but I might actually be *staying*, and therefore travelling from, somewhere else.

Other than bullying newbies, how do people like this ever place contractors? Most of the agents I've been talking to this week have sensible adults, but this guy..grrrrrrr.

[Mordac]

Sensible reply: I have no objection to supplying genuine references, I have every objection to supplying you with free sales leads. Pay me and I'll (possibly) reconsider.

I've never heard of an interview being subject to references. Name & shame these cowboys. S3?

[HankWangford]

Sensible reply: I have no objection to supplying genuine references, I have every objection to supplying you with free sales leads. Pay me and I'll (possibly) reconsider.

I've never heard of an interview being subject to references. Name & shame these cowboys. S3?

yup - Pathway

[Mordac]

yup - Pathway

You know the answer then. Feck 'em.