Former manager won't provide a reference

[CalamityJane]

Ask the new organization what references they provide to ex contractors.

Most clients will never ever give references except to permies via HR which will state dates worked, job title and salary.

Agencies will only state dates worked.

At current clientco the agency just asked for HR and agency contacts. Then contacted them all. Then highlighted differences with my CV and asked me to explain them!

As an example, at the hedge fund I worked for I was a developer/RAD developer/support/BA. My job title said BA! I did not think anything of it at the time.

I miss the days of 30 years ago when it was a 10 minute face to face interview. Then you started. And you did the job or got sacked. Personnel department were nobodies. Since they became HR they run the company.

You are lucky to have known those days! In my experience, I've never not been asked for references!

That's why I see this as a huge problem. Also, I've always been offered them in the past. I work ridiculously hard when I have a contract - late nights, no holidays. I don't recommend it, but I guess it means that people go beyond policy to help me. Until now!

If my situation is so usual (as a few people have said) then why are agencies still asking for references? Presumably they come across this all the time....

Well, if I lose the offer, they are going to have to find a new candidate very quickly indeed, get them in for two rounds of interviews and hope that they preform well, and haven't also been stung by the no reference rule. And do all that before another agency beats them to it...

It's kind of a lose/lose situation for everyone. The interviewers were so happy, they called up the agency right away to offer me the role even though my understanding is that they had more candidates to see.

Frustrating.

[LondonManc]

They don't give references for perms either these days, just dates and reason for leaving - redundancy, dismissal or resignation is the most you'll get in the majority of places too.

[JRCT]

The interviewers were so happy

I like that bit.

I think you're missing the point here, and getting annoyed by something that is out of your control. The hiring agency have asked you for a reference. They are allowed to do that. Maybe they aren't as happy as the interviewers, maybe it's a box-ticking exercise, maybe they don't know what they're doing, who knows.

The issue (for you), isn't that they are asking, it's that your previous client is refusing.

Here are your options.

a. Ask previous client if you can pass on his contact details as a referee and then act on his response (yes or no).
b. Just give the hiring agency your previous client's contact details, without asking him, and leave it for them to sort out. I wouldn't recommend this, but there's nothing physically stopping you doing this if you don't mind potentially annoying previous client.
c. Send them the email that your previous client sent to you, recommending you to his mates and ask if there's anything else you can provide that will give them what they need (maybe a fellow contractor that worked alongside you can testify to your work).
d. Walk away.

[psychocandy]

References = waste of time.
LOADS of places will just say no.

I really don't know why they bother. Even if you shat on the MDs desk and nobbed his secretary at your last place they aren't going to give you a bad reference because they dont want any legal issues.

Most places just make it easy for themselves and avoid ANY hassle by saying no references no exceptions.

I've the only way is to get something via linked in so it becomes more of a personal reference rather than an official company reference.

[uk contractor]

Happened to me a few times had firm well paid offers in banking subject to several references some ex-clients were awkward would not provide anything not even a simple yes/no for contractors even though I could prove the dates I worked onsite for years was not good enough apparently!

Just suck it up & move onto something else. References are hit or miss you will always find someone willing to speak off record on your behalf if you left on good terms but even then they might tell you that face to face then when it comes to it months later your a distant memory they have no use for you so no need to stick to their empty promise(s) do they!

[LondonManc]

I like that bit.

I think you're missing the point here, and getting annoyed by something that is out of your control. The hiring agency have asked you for a reference. They are allowed to do that. Maybe they aren't as happy as the interviewers, maybe it's a box-ticking exercise, maybe they don't know what they're doing, who knows.

The issue (for you), isn't that they are asking, it's that your previous client is refusing.

Here are your options.

a. Ask previous client if you can pass on his contact details as a referee and then act on his response (yes or no).
b. Just give the hiring agency your previous client's contact details, without asking him, and leave it for them to sort out. I wouldn't recommend this, but there's nothing physically stopping you doing this if you don't mind potentially annoying previous client.
c. Send them the email that your previous client sent to you, recommending you to his mates and ask if there's anything else you can provide that will give them what they need (maybe a fellow contractor that worked alongside you can testify to your work).
d. Walk away.

e. Advise that previous ClientCo/PermCo only give generic references via HR - it's common practice - and offer to furnish them with the company's main switchboard number

[NotAllThere]

For one permie job quite a few years ago, I told the recruiters that I wouldn't ask for a reference from one former employer as we'd parted on bad terms. It wasn't an issue.

[Cirrus]

I don't understand how you explained the lack of reference from your manager, when getting a reference from the IT Director sort of underlines the fact that people do give references!

You seem to be raising multiple issues. With regard to choosing someone other than the person they asked for - my example showed that probably won't cause concerns.

The main issue is you are frettting over something that hasn't happened. Nobody has withdrawn the offer.

(I don't like to point this out but as a contractor you are supposed to be resourceful. If you can't get your boss to give you a reference, do what everyone else does. Get a friend to pretend to have been your boss. I've had that done for me and done it for other people)

[MrMarkyMark]

Even if you shat on the MDs desk and nobbed his secretary at your last place they aren't going to give you a bad reference.

Sounds like the voice of experience

[CalamityJane]

You seem to be raising multiple issues. With regard to choosing someone other than the person they asked for - my example showed that probably won't cause concerns.

The main issue is you are frettting over something that hasn't happened. Nobody has withdrawn the offer.

(I don't like to point this out but as a contractor you are supposed to be resourceful. If you can't get your boss to give you a reference, do what everyone else does. Get a friend to pretend to have been your boss. I've had that done for me and done it for other people)

I am resourceful as a contractor. I measure this by my contracts being renewed and always being asked back.

I am not dishonest though. I wouldn't want to get this illegally. And - I shouldn't have to.

Thanks though, it does explain to me how contractors get round this. I just...can't do it.