Reply to: 5 years worth of references

[LondonManc]

If directly asked, yes.

Ah right, well most screening processes flag up these things, along with a DBS check. It's up to their operational risk policy as to what crimes can be accepted as risks - you getting in a fight as a student vs drink driving two years ago for example.

[Old Greg]

I'm not sure where you're going with this?

It's only billy. Don't spend too much thought or energy on it.

[billybiro]

I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Do you mean declaring that you have been at one of HMP's chain of hotels?

If directly asked, yes.

[LondonManc]

Yes, of course, misrepresenting where you've been is indeed a no-no as you rightly point out.

But if you've not claimed anything that is untrue?

I'm not sure where you're going with this?

Do you mean declaring that you have been at one of HMP's chain of hotels?

[Lance]

Client for my latest gig want 5 years worth of references. I know this is uncommon, but given the role, it's a legitimate request. I feel uncomfortable about it, but am going to have to do it.

What is best practice for approaching this?

Best practise for providing references when you know you have to do it, is to ...... errr...... do it.

Not really sure what advice you're after here. What makes you think that companies will still have your details that long anyway? GDPR has put paid to that so just give the agency what they want and if they draw a blank when chasing there's sod all you can do anyway.

[uk contractor]

Hi,

Client for my latest gig want 5 years worth of references. I know this is uncommon, but given the role, it's a legitimate request. I feel uncomfortable about it, but am going to have to do it.

What is best practice for approaching this?

Thanks,
Untouchable1

Its not remotely uncommon at all for many years now. Not sure why your uncomfortable about it this is pretty standard practice.

[billybiro]

If you've claimed you were on a six month gig with a client rather than residing at Strangeways Hotel, Sherborne St, Manchester, then you're committing an act of fraud, punishable, ironically enough, by a 12-stretch, potentially at the establishment just mentioned.

Yes, of course, misrepresenting where you've been is indeed a no-no as you rightly point out.

But if you've not claimed anything that is untrue?

[LondonManc]

And if you were? It's quite possible it could be a spent conviction, and does having spent time "holidaying in HMP Manchester" prevent you from doing the job they'd be paying you for?

If you've claimed you were on a six month gig with a client rather than residing at Strangeways Hotel, Sherborne St, Manchester, then you're committing an act of fraud, punishable, ironically enough, by a 12-stretch, potentially at the establishment just mentioned.

[MattFromEarth]

You'll find in this thread some of the monkey business agencies with regards to references.

If you are going for SC with MoD or the banking sector then different story, I'd personally and sternly ask why they want such a detailed reference of 5 years. My personal favourite: Point them to the agencies you gigged with and watch and they stop dead on the bat on references (Agencies hate speaking to each other ).

I wouldn't bet your life on that. I've just had to supply 5 years of references and put down the various agencies I have used in that time. Current agent got in touch with the lot who all complied apart from one who wouldn't release any information until they had my explicit consent due to GDPR

[billybiro]

For references, they want to confirm that you weren't holidaying in HMP Manchester or another of her maj's chain of hotels.

And if you were? It's quite possible it could be a spent conviction, and does having spent time "holidaying in HMP Manchester" prevent you from doing the job they'd be paying you for?

[VirtualMonkey]

I reckon you should only worry if your previous clients refuse to even acknowledge you worked there...like one of mine did. Apparently they didn't like the fact that I handed them a 5 figure bill for late payment fees and interest. Not sure what they expected after 2.5 years of not a single payment on time for a fixed price 2 year contract worth 7 figures!
Even then it wasn't the end of my new contract

[Untouchable1]

Oh dear.

You don't need to give references like the old sense of "was he any good".

References these days are simply to prove that you were there. Just give the agency details. They deal with these sort of things every day.

Yup, got that

[LondonManc]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses. Given the contract this is a legitimate request.

I decided just to send a note to all my contacts asking them if they would be happy to provide references. They all were, so I just sent their email addresses to the recruiter.

All good in the hood.

Untouchable1

Oh dear.

You don't need to give references like the old sense of "was he any good".

References these days are simply to prove that you were there. Just give the agency details. They deal with these sort of things every day.

[Untouchable1]

Why do you feel uncomfortable?

Because I've built great relationships with these people and I'm sure a bad recruiter could find things to say to them that would on some level be weird / damaging!

To be fair, in this case the recruiter is a sound chap and v. professional.

[Untouchable1]

Hi All,

Thanks for your responses. Given the contract this is a legitimate request.

I decided just to send a note to all my contacts asking them if they would be happy to provide references. They all were, so I just sent their email addresses to the recruiter.

All good in the hood.

Untouchable1