Agent needs references for new contract

[kellycell]

Hi all,

I am in the process of signing a contract, and the agent wants a list of work references from the past 5 years. I have no problem submitting those, although some of the people I will give him (such as the HR co-ordinator of 1 company) have left my past companies.
Does that matter? Do they actually check the references?

Can I give past colleagues as references or does it have to be HR or ex manager?

Many thanks.

[cojak]

Is this your first contract?

I know that I might give them 2 names once I'd got the job (quid pro quo) but 5 years?

Unless it's for the MOD or government contracts, they're taking the p1ss...

[kellycell]

Yes it is my first one.
Not sure what kind of references to give..
Does the client or the agency contact them?

[wendigo100]

Yes, unless there is a serious security element, 5 years is bullsh1t.

Have you got the offer?

[DaveB]

Just give them the contact details of the HR departments where you worked.

[ThisAndThat]

kellycell, are you new to all this? Only on these boards the general advice to any request for references from agents (except as said above for defence/security work) you should just say no. Time and again people have proven that the agents only want your back catalogue of contacts to milk for leads, it is nothing to do with you or your abilities.

As you say some of those from that far back have left anyway and what would the HR people know about you? I would happily give reference details to the client but as for the agent....?

So in a sense they do check past references but not in the way you imagine.

[kellycell]

Thank you for your replies.

Yes I have got the offer, after reading the forums, I am a lot more aware on the phishing that agents do, the things they come up with to try and get you some names....

[Bright Spark]

If your contract is with a bank or other financial instituition then they
will check five years references.

Current client is a large bank, and they outsource all the
checking to riskadvisory.net, and they did check all the references
/ contracts I did over the past 5 years.

[SueEllen]

Just give them the contact details of the HR departments where you worked.

Seconded.

HR people actually work for client companies don't need the names of people to get references on you from previous clients/employers so agents don't.

Just tell the agent that you know all the people have left and that's who you can guarantee they can get a reference from.

If the agent is fishing they will tell you to bugger off.

[PorkPie]

Giving agents other agent's names as references is always good for a laugh... though tbh I wouldn't give any until you have a contract signed, and then only when they get really insistent.