Agency and References

[Not So Wise]

Have you ever stopped to think the reasons why the agents want to get the references from you. I know you will all say yes we know so that they can contact the hiring managers and pull the jobs. But I wonder how many of you guys are working in contracts at the moment that have been produced by another contractor giving an agent a lead!! Just food for thought!

Not really an issue for me, but it's probably because i have seen agencys abuse "references" so much. Either by asking for them when they have not got a position for you at all (fake job posting) or when client is not interested in you (aka no interview or offer)

And then look at it from point of your own interests, say you apply for 5 contracts per week, gave each agency your references and their contact details. Over a two week period thats minimum of 10 calls to them (ignoring likely possibility of extra calls purely for sales). How long do you think it will before they turn around and say "don't give out my name anymore for references"?

And never mind the agencys who get your references details, call the person and start the convo with "hi we have been given you name as a referer for XXX, could we interest you in our services?" then give them 10 mins of the hard sell without once asking for any details about the person the call is meant to be about.

If the client wants a contractor the position will "get out there" no matter what, it is not in my benefit to give any particular agency a better chance if they have not done something for me.

[Reccon]

i can totally so your point! We only take up references at interview stage and that is so that we can make sure the contractor can get started in time if offered (with EAA and all that!!)

I am sure many have abused the situation in the past but i suppose it is a case of finding some good agencies and sticking with them!! We are out there!!

[BlasterBates]

....sh*t you can judge the market by the number of Agents asking for references.

In fact there seems to be a correlation between being asked for references and the number of out-of-work/bankrupt agents 6 months later.