Reply to: What To Say When Asked By Recruiter For References Before Interview?

[DodgyAgent]

The day that candidates learn how to generate contracts for themselves, we will die off - but will contractors start going to network events, meeting clients, asking for referrals, filling in tenders, engaging managers through social media, and doing good old fashioned cold calling?

Its soul destroying work, the only reason any of us do it is that its vastly overpaid when you get good at it - if you had to do the agent side of finding a contract to work, you would quickly wish us back into existence.

Now, about those 2 references...

I think you will find that most contractors accept that. it is the dishonesty they do not like. If you want leads and you are too lazy to work for them yourselves then why not say so. There are plenty of bleeding heart leftie contractors out to help the lazy and feckless.

[SlipTheJab]

The day that candidates learn how to generate contracts for themselves, we will die off - but will contractors start going to network events, meeting clients, asking for referrals, filling in tenders, engaging managers through social media, and doing good old fashioned cold calling?

Its soul destroying work, the only reason any of us do it is that its vastly overpaid when you get good at it - if you had to do the agent side of finding a contract to work, you would quickly wish us back into existence.

Now, about those 2 references...

Now into my 3rd year of direct contracts, its all about networking. Clients are increasingly using referrals from current contractors to bring new resource into projects (and balking at the fees agencies charge coupled with the poor standard of CVs being supplied). I've only been at my current place 2 weeks and have introduced a contractor mate as they were looking for more resource. Know of at least 2 other places where clients are looking and asking current contractors if they can recommend anyone.

No agency bull, lies, fakes roles, huge margins and better transparency.

Oh and not working through an agency is about to have even more benefits come April 2016!

[FatLazyContractor]

The day that candidates learn how to generate contracts for themselves, we will die off - but will contractors start going to network events, meeting clients, asking for referrals, filling in tenders, engaging managers through social media, and doing good old fashioned cold calling?

Its soul destroying work, the only reason any of us do it is that its vastly overpaid when you get good at it - if you had to do the agent side of finding a contract to work, you would quickly wish us back into existence.

Now, about those 2 references...

Thanks for that czakky. That really cracked me up

Now go to the pantry, make yourself a cuppa, relax and come back to reality

[czakky]

I'd say the agent should really die

The day that candidates learn how to generate contracts for themselves, we will die off - but will contractors start going to network events, meeting clients, asking for referrals, filling in tenders, engaging managers through social media, and doing good old fashioned cold calling?

Its soul destroying work, the only reason any of us do it is that its vastly overpaid when you get good at it - if you had to do the agent side of finding a contract to work, you would quickly wish us back into existence.

Now, about those 2 references...

[FatLazyContractor]

Just had another fishing trip from another pimp. This time it was so formulaic you could telegraph it a month off.

"This is so and so from so and so, we have spoken before at mm.dd.yy"

"Ah yes, hello"

"Suity I have a role based right on your doorstep for a 'dream role', working for a 'dream company', can I ask what your day rate is?"

"Sure it's 'an amount too high for Luton'"

"Oh that's perfect, that's exactly what they're looking to pay"

"Really?"

"Yeah, say listen, is there anything that's likely to take you off the market at the moment?"

"No, I am being put forward for roles, but they're all most likely just fishing trips as the agency wants 2 references up front"

"Yep they probably are, ok, well I'll put you forward and keep you posted"

"Yep, bye"

You should post this on the 'Two references thread in Business/Contracts', name and shame the agency

[FatLazyContractor]

Its another recruitment "trick" that just needs to die.

I'd say the agent should really die

[suityou01]

Just had another fishing trip from another pimp. This time it was so formulaic you could telegraph it a month off.

"This is so and so from so and so, we have spoken before at mm.dd.yy"

"Ah yes, hello"

"Suity I have a role based right on your doorstep for a 'dream role', working for a 'dream company', can I ask what your day rate is?"

"Sure it's 'an amount too high for Luton'"

"Oh that's perfect, that's exactly what they're looking to pay"

"Really?"

"Yeah, say listen, is there anything that's likely to take you off the market at the moment?"

"No, I am being put forward for roles, but they're all most likely just fishing trips as the agency wants 2 references up front"

"Yep they probably are, ok, well I'll put you forward and keep you posted"

"Yep, bye"

[czakky]

I have one client that wants references up front; they work in SC cleared defense, and they wont look at a candidate that does not have a reference from another SC cleared site.

Every other client I work with literally does not care, I take a reference at offer stage as I don't want to place a mental contractor who messes up gigs and will damage my client - I did this when I was new and just wanted to get a deal done, now I'd rather not fill a role; I have a very simple rule of only placing people I can trust.

95% of the time, the reference thing before offer is a scam, used to trawl for leads. And it works, a very large amount of the time.

For the record, using this as a sales strategy, its a damn bad idea - every client also knows how the reference game works, and I'm sure that they get a tome of these every day.

Its another recruitment "trick" that just needs to die.

[suityou01]

Tek Systems, Aston Mae(?) and any other agent part of the Allegis Group are the worst for this. And I wouldnt give any agency references before an offer even if they did tell me the name of the client. Given the dirty tricks they use, they could pluck any name out of the air when speaking to you just to get your referee details.

I always used to say Im happy to provide detail at interview or when being provided with an offer after interview. You quickly got to find who were 'good' agents and who were not.

Yep, at it again today. Except they say they don't want a reference, just a "verbal confirmation" from a former manager that can vouch for my skills. This is "to support my application" and "the other two candidates have already done this".

<click, bzzzzzzzzzzz>

[Jog On]

I say it's MyLTD's company policy not to give them out until an offer is accepted. Nothing personal to them but giving them earlier has resulted in abuse from previous so I've been forced to adopt this policy with no exceptions - sorry!

[DodgyAgent]

Hi All,

After reading around on here, I can see that a well known "scam" is that when called by a recruiter about a supposed position, they can/will ask for your references at this point, before your CV can be submitted. I understand that this information is then used by them to generate leads...

I'm wondering what the right response to this is... I'm sure that calling them out and saying "I know your game, and won't give them until after I have an interview" is one potential option, but in a business where relationships with recruiters is important, could this be a little heavy-handed?

On the other hand, I don't want to lumber my references with countless calls from agencies, as they certainly won't like that...

What should I be saying?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Point them at your previous agencies

[Techforcer]

Very helpful guys, thanks.

[quackhandle]

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...eferences.html

Three pages in, and no one posted it? 2015 just started, standards are slipping, where's NLUK?

qh

[GlenW]

Knowing the pimp was just fishing for leads and no real job existed. I gave myself as a reference once,(using a different name) the agent swore on his mother's grave he would not call the reference until the client was prepared to make an offer.
After hanging up it took only 5 minutes until he called

I'm going to do this next time, great idea.

[Eirikur]

Knowing the pimp was just fishing for leads and no real job existed. I gave myself as a reference once,(using a different name) the agent swore on his mother's grave he would not call the reference until the client was prepared to make an offer.
After hanging up it took only 5 minutes until he called