An Agency not putting me forward for 2 Roles

[rb621]

Getting references is a hit and miss affair, but like agent bloke said, I don't mind giving them the names - they generally get close enough anyway by googling and using linked-in from the companies on my CV.

Ive worked for companies where it's policy not to give a reference. F&C had one where a reference could only be given via the HR department and not your line manager. Later, when I needed a reference, the HR department had no record of me ever working for F&C.

Of course while many may ask for a references, many do not check it.

Oddly, I interviewed someone once with a pre-filled in reference from his previous employer which read reasonably well but the employer had answered No to the question "Would you re-employ them?". Honest of him to show it to me.

[cojak]

I think if the agency is asking for references, the answer I always give if I think the agency hasn't properly read my CV or seems a bit rushed to get to that stage, then I always say that I'm happy to supply following an interview such that I don't inconvenience my current or former client. That always goes down well in that a good agency would realise that you do have referees but that you are doing the right thing by them to make them aware they may get called and about what role. However, in most cases agencies either don't bother or check with the recruitment agency in question. I've found that most clients, if they like your CV and also how you perform at interview, don't bother either.

To answer the other question as to whether you 'should' get references, I believe the answer is a resounding 'Yes'. If you want to be taken seriously and demonstrate to clients that your work is recognised and valued, then the best way is to have references and to proactively offer them to clients. If you are in business for yourself how can it be any other way ?

It's not 'if' you should give references, it's 'when'.

Either during the interview or if the agent has spent time developing the relationship.

If they ask during the initial 1st call, it's usually a good sign that you'll never hear from them again...

[Bright Spark]

Most large clients I have worked for do not provide references for contractors
and actually state that in the contract, therefore I tend to give names of
agents who put me through the last contract and they usually can confirm I worked for client between certain dates etc.

[The Agents View]

Yeah - and you'd feel obliged to give any jobs you got from my references to me, would you? Smashing!!

Try being honest and upfront and you might get somewhere...

Nope - I'd never speak to you about those roles.

There is a fairly simple reason behind this.

If you were any good for them, then the client would have called you about them. Why would they use me to find someone they could just call directly and save themselves a stack of margin?

On the basis that they're asking me to help, you're either not good enough, or not right.

Simple really.

[DodgyAgent]

How hard is this?

We don't NEED your references for names these days - LinkedIn, Internet intelligence, market reports - they'll all bring up the people we need to speak to in order to get business done - You might bypass a gatekeeper with a mobile number, but you're more likely to P someone off by calling them on that, than to provide a stable introductory base.

So.... Taking that out of the equation, you're down to not providing references because you don't want your referees "bothered". Well then ask them to type an in-depth reference for you (I can provide a template for this for anyone interested - just PM me). From there, all a recruiter should need to do, is speak to the referee and double confirm that it is their opinion, and has not been doctored.

I personally ask for references because I want to be double sure that the people I represent are what they tell me they are. No point in telling anyone that business doesn't sometimes come out of it, but thats more to do with the way in which I take a reference than anything else.

Contractors have a real hang up about the referencing side of things. Try thinking about yourselves for once - if one in ten of those fishing trips is actually a real job, then who cares? Do you want the bl00dy job or not?!?

You are a lying git. First of all you say that there are genuine reasons for wanting references and then you say "fishing" is good.

My own agency is on the PSL of the "large utility company" that this contractor is referring to and ROC are not on the PSL. Although references will be required they are NOT required until after the interview.

I have been in this business for over 20 yeras and only on 2 occasions have we been deceived in such a way that had we obtained references prior to interviews deceit would not have happened. Also the sheer time involved in checking out references on every contractor before you send the CV forward makes such an exercise a waste of valuable time. Whilst you are scrabbling about verifying the references of a candidate another agency has in the meantime filled the job-- that is how the industry works and you damn well know it- it hasnt got time to verify candidates.

You may argue that what you do is for the general good of the industry. If this is the case then why not simply say so? You do not because you are lazy and dishonest and you want the contractors to do your networking job for you.

All this guff about being thorough and professional is total utter nonsense. Next time why not say "look can you give me some help here, I cant feed the habit and a few leads would really help".......... At least its honest.

[Sausage Surprise]

You are a lying git. First of all you say that there are genuine reasons for wanting references and then you say "fishing" is good.

My own agency is on the PSL of the "large utility company" that this contractor is referring to and ROC are not on the PSL. Although references will be required they are NOT required until after the interview.

I have been in this business for over 20 yeras and only on 2 occasions have we been deceived in such a way that had we obtained references prior to interviews deceit would not have happened. Also the sheer time involved in checking out references on every contractor before you send the CV forward makes such an exercise a waste of valuable time. Whilst you are scrabbling about verifying the references of a candidate another agency has in the meantime filled the job-- that is how the industry works and you damn well know it- it hasnt got time to verify candidates.

You may argue that what you do is for the general good of the industry. If this is the case then why not simply say so? You do not because you are lazy and dishonest and you want the contractors to do your networking job for you.

All this guff about being thorough and professional is total utter nonsense. Next time why not say "look can you give me some help here, I cant feed the habit and a few leads would really help".......... At least its honest.

Tremendous - if I was a bird I'd have your babies

[thunderlizard]

I personally ask for references because I want to be double sure that the people I represent are what they tell me they are. No point in telling anyone that business doesn't sometimes come out of it, but thats more to do with the way in which I take a reference than anything else.

ooh...tell us more about your revolutionary unique way of magically converting a bona fide reference into a sales lead...

[cojak]

Nope - I'd never speak to you about those roles.

There is a fairly simple reason behind this.

If you were any good for them, then the client would have called you about them. Why would they use me to find someone they could just call directly and save themselves a stack of margin?

On the basis that they're asking me to help, you're either not good enough, or not right.

Simple really.

Then there's nothing in it for me - ta for that piece of info...

[The Agents View]

Then there's nothing in it for me - ta for that piece of info...

Just remember that what goes around comes around.

[DodgyAgent]

Just remember that what goes around comes around.

Dear Mr Self important

You are in no position of power. You/we simply mirror and execute the requests of our clients. We do not shape them. If a contractor is good at what he/she does there is nothing you or I can do to stop them getting work-they will simply come through another agent. That is the beauty of the market. So whether you like the contractor or not agents have to engage with them.