On the subject of references

[original PM]

Have a query for you lot!

I attended an interview yesterday - not with an agency I must add! and although I had not put any reference contacts on my CV some of the comments and questions asked made it quite clear the interviewer had spoken to one of my previous employers.

Are they allowed to do this without asking me?

Cheers!

[themistry]

Have a query for you lot!

I attended an interview yesterday - not with an agency I must add! and although I had not put any reference contacts on my CV some of the comments and questions asked made it quite clear the interviewer had spoken to one of my previous employers.

Are they allowed to do this without asking me?

Cheers!

How did they speak to a previous employer if you had no references on your CV?

TM

[original PM]

The names of the company were on it but no actual reference contacts.

[Spacecadet]

Is this a business to business contract or are you going on someone else payroll

If its B2B then there's probably not a lot you can do

[DodgyAgent]

Have a query for you lot!

I attended an interview yesterday - not with an agency I must add! and although I had not put any reference contacts on my CV some of the comments and questions asked made it quite clear the interviewer had spoken to one of my previous employers.

Are they allowed to do this without asking me?

Cheers!

It's a small world

[BolshieBastard]

Unless you have expressly given them permission then they have been a bit naughty imo by contacting a previous employer.

That said, what's the beef? You must have disclosed sufficient info on your cv to allow them to contact previous employers.

Lesson learned. Either make sure your cv states previous clients shouldnt be contacted without your expressed permission or, remove company identifiers when you submit a cv.

[Gonzo]

It is possibly a bit sneaky if they have cold called your previous clients, but it is a surprisingly small world out there and it is possible that your interviewer has contacts at your previous clients and had an informal chat with them.

I know that I would in that position.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

It's a small world

Exactly. Had it today, 3 candidate's requested for interview by client, 15 mins later email comes through saying they want to pull one of the interviews. I knew exactly at that point that someone internally had heard they were interviewing said candidate and for whatever reason put the knife in.

Often (within industry) your work situ can become quite incestuous in that everyone knows everyone else and on that basis it is always worth leaving contracts and working relationships within contracts as best as possible.

Your never know when your current equivalent on assignment will later on be a hiring manager/decision maker.

[thunderlizard]

There's no law against it. Call it due diligence.

[Spacecadet]

Often (within industry) your work situ can become quite incestuous in that everyone knows everyone else and on that basis it is always worth leaving contracts and working relationships within contracts as best as possible.

er why?
So that we have to use agents cause we don't know anybody else in the industry?