References before interview??

[t0bytoo]

I got an agent asking me for two job references before I go to an interview that is set up for tomorrow.

Never had this before - but then again, I haven't looked for work for a while.

Is this normal / acceptable / an extended phishing trip??

[Flubster]

No / no / yes

[sparklelard]

I would bring my references to the interview. The agent doesn't need to see them.

[t0bytoo]

Just set up an email address for this purpose, and look forward to his "reference request"


Agency name does appear a little too frequently in this forum.

Wednesday fun !

[expat]

Is this normal / acceptable / an extended phishing trip??

No / no / yes

Yes / no / yes.

[hyperD]

I got an agent asking me for two job references before I go to an interview that is set up for tomorrow.

Never had this before - but then again, I haven't looked for work for a while.

Is this normal / acceptable / an extended phishing trip??

I don't think this is particularly unreasonable IF you have a written confirmation of a genuine interview with a client for a definite role that they've told you.

I mean that in the sense of "greasing the wheels of business" rather than some legal/client/agency requirement.

[HankWangford]

I don't think this is particularly unreasonable IF you have a written confirmation of a genuine interview with a client for a definite role that they've told you.

I mean that in the sense of "greasing the wheels of business" rather than some legal/client/agency requirement.

I think any decent agency will understand your right to either a) give refs direct to company or b) wait untill an offer has been emailed to your inbox.

A contract normally has a "on condition of acceptable refs" clause.

The process of a client offering a role is not dependent on suitable ref's.

[Lockhouse]

I got an agent asking me for two job references before I go to an interview that is set up for tomorrow.

Never had this before - but then again, I haven't looked for work for a while.

Is this normal / acceptable / an extended phishing trip??

Just give him the names and addresses of the last two agents you contracted through.....

[Denny]

Alternatively, just provide two older but not too old written references on headed client paper and say that follow up orals of the same plus your most recent role refereee will only be granted once the role has been offered.

Tell your EB that both referees have been informed about this arrangement and have requested of you not encourage orals before roles are offered as this can waste their time if the role is then not offered leading to a potential time wasting effort a couple of weeks later when you are being interviewed for other potential opportunities.

Tell the EB that once an oral is to be taken up now the role is offered, the you alone will contact the referee to set up a particular time and date for the EB to call, and for this purpose alone. A genuine EB will or should accept this arrangement as reasonable because they know that business representatives are busy and can't spend all their time waiting for so called unsolicited referee requests that could come at any time (which probably do turn out to be little more than sales calls, if unsolicited). Of course, a phishing EB won't understand or agree to these arrangements at all.

Make sure you e-mail these referees and the EB explaining what you have done and tell them what negotiations you have put in place. That way, if the EB does make a sales call to them even at the schedule time alonside a reference take up, the client should inform you that they have abused your trust because they were warned what arrangements were in place.

This has worked for me in the past.

The problem with refusing references outright can result in a lost opportunity if the client does genuinely want these taken before interview - and some do, unfortunately.

[Dundeegeorge]

Alternatively

offer to supply them directly to the client