A cracking idea for a plan B

[Durbs]

But isn't it often the case that the employer wishes to check on a certain skillset whilst asking for the reference i.e. "can you confirm that Joe Workshy has indeed worked with Oracle 10G". How would this be addressed without a call to the line manager?

[cojak]

I suspect that Malvolio will appear shortly and say the the PCG are already doing it..

[Scary]

Alright, 180 quid for two; that's a 10% discount.

Business brain? That's a 20% discount (on the second reference).

[expat]

But isn't it often the case that the employer wishes to check on a certain skillset whilst asking for the reference i.e. "can you confirm that Joe Workshy has indeed worked with Oracle 10G". How would this be addressed without a call to the line manager?

Not to mention the bigger problem that that will get you Joe Workshy who has worked with Oracle 10g but not done very much of it, but it will pass over Jane Cleverclogs who has not worked with 10g but has done varied work with 3 other versions of Oracle and 2 other databases and can start fast on 10g, and has a theoretical understanding of the data model, a practical bent to tuning the performance, and sound experience of resolving and documenting issues under fire from her time in support.

She can do the job; but he has the right version number on his CV.

[DodgyAgent]

But isn't it often the case that the employer wishes to check on a certain skillset whilst asking for the reference i.e. "can you confirm that Joe Workshy has indeed worked with Oracle 10G". How would this be addressed without a call to the line manager?

The reference needs only to establish that you were there when you said you were there and a job title, such as "Project manager", "developer" it is illegal to ask for an opinion on someone or an evaluation of a persons technical skills.
The line manager does not need to be involved. If the contractor submits a small form that is signed at the end of the contract by the line manager and handed in to HR who then put it onto "the" system, to be verified by a simple phone call.

[zara_backdog]

Look at your Linkedin profile and check out you ' recommendations' they are basically references.

[TimberWolf]

There is a simpler and less labour intensive solution. The client digitally signs the reference and then never has to be contacted again. Anyone can verify a reference given access to the (preferably electronic) document. It just needs either the client to publish a public key, or have a public key server created. In the event the employer does not want to create keys pairs, this could be managed by a trusted third party. The client doesn't ever have to see the reference again or be contacted.