References

[fido]

I've just come off the phone after a heated conversation with so-called 'headhunter'.
They have put me forwards for an interview and now want a couple of references from former employees. I've said 'No' as i don't want these people bothered, especially by headhunters, in case i do genuinely need them for a reference after a job offer. Headhunter said he needs these names to protect his client in case i have lied about my job history - which is the most spurious excuse i've heard yet. So a question to the recruitment bods - are they just trying it on to get names .. and if they did require references shouldn't they have asked before arranging an interview .. or am i being unreasonable by refusing to provide names?

[zippy3x]

If your previous contracts were worked through an agency, then supply him/her with your "headhunter" at that agency.

If you worked direct, or he/she insits on verification from the client, ring your contact and ask them for the name of some admin clerk who can provide the verification the new pimp wants

[NoNeed]

They want to offer your previous employer a replacement for you before somebody else does..

[fido]

zippy3x said:

If you worked direct, or he/she insits on verification from the client, ring your contact and ask them for the name of some admin clerk who can provide the verification the new pimp wants

That's what i suggested (and said i would authorise any request of information) and his/her reply was "HR won't give us that information" - which is when i started to smell b*s*t! Also he/she didn't seem interested in my last employer, but all the previous ones.

[c8bof]

The Equality Act 2010 prohibits reference checks being made now before the offer of a job is made (although the job offer can be conditional on satisfactory references, blah, blah..) Ask your headhunter chappy if he's aware of the new regs?

[omniflow]

Were they an IT contract recruitment firm whose name ends in Systems?

If so, they're notorious for it. Fictious jobs, when all they want are the names of the hiring managers at your previous firm, and a possible "in" by mentioning your name.

[TIGA84]

What sort of role is it?

Seems a little odd to ask now, you either ask up front (for a particularly technical role to accompany your CV) or after you've got an offer to sort out the contracts, SLA's for the agency etc.

Do you know how many other interviews there are? If its basically a done deal and you're the only guy interviewing then they simply might be pre-empting an offer so they can close it easily and have paperwork ready to go.

I could be wrong but it seems to be a strange stage to ask for them.

Can you not refer them to a previous agency you worked through as a referee (fairly standard) if all they want to do is check dates etc then that should be sufficient enough.

Or it could be they are trying to backfill your current role (or at least lining it up to fill) should they be one of the more unscrupulously trained consultants.

So its probably the last one.










purely to appease the PH masses that have a certain vitriol for Recruitment Agents........

[RemainAllHoof]

Wasn't a certain Mr Han, was it?