References

[BOBJ]

I start a new contract on Monday, at a place I've worked twice before. The agent insists I get a reference from my last place of work. So I contacted them....turns out they have a policy of not doing references for contractors! Okay, so I tried the previous place whihc was HMRC guess what...they have a policy which stops them from doing references for anyone. The place I worked before HMRC is the place I'm going to on Monday.

So, I have ended up completing the reference form myself, mailing it to the agent who setup my last role and he'll send it on. The agency for the new contract (Hays) are perfectly happy with that, even though I told them I've filled the form in myself because the agent won't have a clue.

Why does it have to be so hard

[Swamp Thing]

I start a new contract on Monday, at a place I've worked twice before. The agent insists I get a reference from my last place of work. So I contacted them....turns out they have a policy of not doing references for contractors! Okay, so I tried the previous place whihc was HMRC guess what...they have a policy which stops them from doing references for anyone. The place I worked before HMRC is the place I'm going to on Monday.

So, I have ended up completing the reference form myself, mailing it to the agent who setup my last role and he'll send it on. The agency for the new contract (Hays) are perfectly happy with that, even though I told them I've filled the form in myself because the agent won't have a clue.

Why does it have to be so hard

Because UK Plc/Ltd has caught up with the Yanks, realising that references can so easily be taken the wrong way, and then they get their a55es sued. The brave organisations just give a boring 2 –line non-committal reference. The clever ones just say it’s not policy.

[BOBJ]

Because UK Plc/Ltd has caught up with the Yanks, realising that references can so easily be taken the wrong way, and then they get their a55es sued. The brave organisations just give a boring 2 –line non-committal reference. The clever ones just say it’s not policy.

If thats the case, why do these same employers ask for references? Its all too much for a Friday...

[hyperD]

In all the interviews, in all the contract roles I used to get, I have always been asked by the agencies (never the client) to give references (after getting the job) and not once has any of these references been phoned. Even when I gave my friends as references.

Still, desperate times mean desperate measures...

No, I tell a lie - once, and the agent was simply fishing for contact/perm work after validating I worked there...

[Mordac]

If thats the case, why do these same employers ask for references? Its all too much for a Friday...

Because HR people aren't very bright.

[lukemg]

References are a joke these days, recently back into contracting,
hassled by the agent for:
copy of my degree cert (from 15+ years ago, obviously relevant) took some finding !
Over and over asking for contact numbers for refs (after supplied address details - they wont take calls).
Insistence on agreeing inside IR35,use umbrella company (WHAT business is this of the agency ?)
Anyway, contract starts, revenue flows, agency doesn't care about any of this anymore.

[Mordac]

Insistence on agreeing inside IR35,use umbrella company (WHAT business is this of the agency ?)

Exactly. Only an idiot would agree to this. If you let muppet agencies (btw please name and shame) walk all over you like this they'll just think it's acceptable behaviour. Personally I'd tell them to royally feck off.

[lukemg]

In former times I would have advised them to pleasure themselves, however, after my amazement at being offered the contract after a bad 2nd interview (strangely one of the interviewers thought I did really well) and a couple of rough work years, I was being Mr reasonable. They took advantage of course, it's what they do ! Plan is, co want me to extend and I get the leverage on the back of that. In the old days I played very hard ball, especially when prepared to walk. Will only be able to play medium hard this time.

[Badgers Armpit]

Just signed a contract & had to supply reference details from my last job (permie). They were contacted by the agency who requested 2 bits of info about my last role:

My start date
My finish date

That was it!