I just need to get two references ...

[NDawg]

Was just rudely woken up by a pimp that has contracts now now now! and is just dying to put me forward for them. Obscure company fields, spent most of the call attempting to find people that could "verify" my skills and just absolutely wanted to be my best friend on LinkedIn. Considering the football game just ended about 5 hours back and I'd just gotten to sleep, I was tempted to just slam the phone down and cut his bulltulip short but instead folks, enjoy this lovely gem.

It was a pleasure speaking to you earlier and I look forward to helping you towards finding your next role. I have added you as a contact on LinkedIn, and further to our conversation would you be able to provide me with some contacts that would be able to verify the skills that you have? This helps me to be pro-active for you and move onto the next stage in terms of finding your next role.

Thank you once again and I look forward to speaking to you again soon.

Something of note, this guy was insistent that I add him on LinkedIn after i mentioned I had written recommendations from prior management/colleagues on the site. I can only assume this would have been a quick way of gathering useful lead names.

And on that note, it's back off to bed for me.

[Darksider]

Was just rudely woken up by a pimp that has contracts now now now! and is just dying to put me forward for them. Obscure company fields, spent most of the call attempting to find people that could "verify" my skills and just absolutely wanted to be my best friend on LinkedIn. Considering the football game just ended about 5 hours back and I'd just gotten to sleep, I was tempted to just slam the phone down and cut his bulltulip short but instead folks, enjoy this lovely gem.

It was a pleasure speaking to you earlier and I look forward to helping you towards finding your next role. I have added you as a contact on LinkedIn, and further to our conversation would you be able to provide me with some contacts that would be able to verify the skills that you have? This helps me to be pro-active for you and move onto the next stage in terms of finding your next role.

Thank you once again and I look forward to speaking to you again soon.

Something of note, this guy was insistent that I add him on LinkedIn after i mentioned I had written recommendations from prior management/colleagues on the site. I can only assume this would have been a quick way of gathering useful lead names.

And on that note, it's back off to bed for me.

All the more reason to keep LinkedIn profiles locked down. Just make sure connections and references aren't visible

[LongTMPermie]

As a newbie contractor (still looking for 1st contract, so very green! Years of permie behind me) I've found it difficult to draw a clean conclusion from this thread – as helpful and interesting as it is. It seems like a double-edged sword:

Agencies calling just for “references” seems to be more than common – I've experienced this multiple times in just 3 short months of looking – and is arguably necessary, to a point. But while some are obviously just trying it on, it seems that others really do have genuine roles but hold them to ransom for references.

This leaves the dilema – do I hand out my references and possibly score a gig/really annoy my references. Or by outright refusing to hand over my references, I am potentially missing out on some roles (that I desperately want)....

….. seems to my inexperienced eye, that initially the agencies have the power. I would imagine, however, that once a client has expressed interest in a candidate the tables would turn somewhat.

Worth while to note that I do not have handy contractor buddies to act as a reference, or previous agencies to palm them off to. Only my current (permie) line manager, who will not take kindly to being called and figuring out I am looking to leave.

[BolshieBastard]

As a newbie contractor (still looking for 1st contract, so very green! Years of permie behind me) I've found it difficult to draw a clean conclusion from this thread – as helpful and interesting as it is. It seems like a double-edged sword:

Agencies calling just for “references” seems to be more than common – I've experienced this multiple times in just 3 short months of looking – and is arguably necessary, to a point. But while some are obviously just trying it on, it seems that others really do have genuine roles but hold them to ransom for references.

This leaves the dilema – do I hand out my references and possibly score a gig/really annoy my references. Or by outright refusing to hand over my references, I am potentially missing out on some roles (that I desperately want)....

….. seems to my inexperienced eye, that initially the agencies have the power. I would imagine, however, that once a client has expressed interest in a candidate the tables would turn somewhat.

Worth while to note that I do not have handy contractor buddies to act as a reference, or previous agencies to palm them off to. Only my current (permie) line manager, who will not take kindly to being called and figuring out I am looking to leave.

You're right, its not cut and dried. Despite what some will tell you, some clients will take up references even for contract roles.

But, I've never known one take up references before an interview. This is why if an agents says 'references' you should say you'll provide them after a successful interview and offer.

The agent will come back and say 'Ah, but having them now means less delay,' to which your answer is, 'that's ok, I need to get any contract reviewed before I start.'

End of the day, you have to make a judgement on whether to give them upfront or not.

[norrahe]

Ring pimp about a role in cloggers.

Pimp: hello Rita
Norrahe: actually my name is Norrahe
Pimp: errr sorry, blah, blah, blah, general carp about fictitious role, who are you interviewing with at the moment?
Norrahe: I do not disclose that information
Pimp: I need to have that information, as I have a form in front of me that requires it
Norrahe: I do not disclose that information
Pimp: I need to have that information, as I have a form in front of me that requires it, and I cannot put you forward unless I have that info.
Norrahe: well given the role you have advertised which uncannily fits my profile, if there was a role you would be putting me forward for it irrespective of where I am interviewing.
Pimp: you're working at client x, you said ( completely skewing the name of a.n.other company that I didn't menion and blatantly not listening to me).
Norrahe: no that's not what I said
Pimp: ummmm, my computer seems to have crashed, can I call you back?

Needless to say I won't be hearing back from them

[MyUserName]

Phone call came in.

Queries whether I am looking for a new role. I say that my contract expires soon so I might be interested.
General chat about some generic finance role in London.

Him: "Do you still work at XXX?"
Me: "No, I left there over a year ago"
Him: "Oh, do you still speak to the guys there?"
Me: "Some of them yes"
Him: "Do you still speak to YYYY"?
Me: "Yes"
Him: "This role suits what they do there, isn't he their development manager?"
Me: "No " (he works in sales and is not technical)
Him: "Oh, who is the development manager then?"
Me: *sigh*

[AnonAgent]

If no one gave me references, then I would never ask for them at the first stage. But as it is, its the easiest way to gain market information and the easiest way to create a warm call with a manager who has been proven to "buy".

If the agent gets really pushy, it means they dont like you, so you shouldnt like them either.

Easy.

[petergriffin]

I wonder if I can leave an escort as a character reference: "Good client. The first to 'come', the last to go".

[NDawg]

More and more ghost contracts appearing on JS.

Just put in for one. Perfect fit for what I do. Spent 20 mins being fast-talked by a pimp on the phone. Refused to give me any info about industry or specific location because "client wishes to remain anonymous", then got this

Pimp: Please provide the names and contact details of 2-3 previous managers that have hired you that I can contact for an informal, verbal reference for your work. This is information that I will attach to your application in order to satisfy the service level that I have agreed with my clients. Please provide the name, current position, telephone number and e-mail address of 3 previous managers that have been responsible for hiring you and perhaps contact them to let them know that I will be in touch.

Me: Sorry, refs are high-ranking and won't appreciate a call from pimps looking for business. Happy to give details over once an offer's presented though. (paraphrased)

Pimp: Thanks for confirming that information. Unfortunately, in this case I won’t be able to represent you for this role. As part of the service levels I have agreed with my client, I am only sending candidates I have referenced with previous managers. I can appreciate your standpoint but in a competitive market, these levels separate my specialist service from other agents and this is why I am able to work exclusively with clients. It is a competitive market at the moment and again, references help to add weight and gravitas to the profiles of my candidates. All the best with finding a new contract.

Another spec, another pimp full of it.

And they wonder why we're not fans...

[northernladuk]

Kinda funny this thread... People are pushing to Opt In and part of Opt In the agent is obliged by the legislation to take, and check references properly... So we want that option we are going to have to start giving references without complaining. Agents can't win really lol...