References - before or after interview?

[strudel]

My CV is due to be put forward today, but the recruitment consultant wants details of my references already. I was under the impression this was normally done after the interview. Is this unusual? - it's in the defence sector if that makes a difference.

[escargot]

strudel said:

My CV is due to be put forward today, but the recruitment consultant wants details of my references already. I was under the impression this was normally done after the interview. Is this unusual? - it's in the defence sector if that makes a difference.

We do it to satisfy our own internal due diligence procedures prior to submitting a candidate for a position.

Others do it to gain senior contacts within other organisations.

Depends on the quality of the consultant/consultancy really.

[Engineer1]

cynically you are going to give your boss as a reference, the fact you are looking to leave means the recruiter knows a vacancy may well be coming up soon.

[john_p]

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

[bonsai]

It would be fine if you were not currently working, or were in some bizarre situation where your current employer knew you were job hunting, but aside from that, no fking way.

[itsnotarace]

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

[escargot]

bonsai said:

It would be fine if you were not currently working, or were in some bizarre situation where your current employer knew you were job hunting, but aside from that, no fking way.

Which is precisely why my consultants will never ask for your current employer as a reference at that stage.

[strudel]

I've double checked the email and they're actually asking for two "testimonials". They sound like character references to me? I've asked for clarification.

Regarding the other points, my boss is aware I'm leaving as I'm moving 150 miles, and secondly the consultancy found my cv on a jobsite.

Thanks so far.

[A.Wang]

strudel said:

I've double checked the email and they're actually asking for two "testimonials". They sound like character references to me?

Priest and dealer then...

[amir_j]

itsnotarace said:

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

+1, they are often looking for leads. Its not normal for refs to be first- no offer no refs in my book.

[escargot]

amir_j said:

itsnotarace said:

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

+1, they are often looking for leads. Its not normal for refs to be first- no offer no refs in my book.

From our point of view, if we don't get two references, you aren't being submitted to our client at all.

[deckster]

escargot said:

amir_j said:

itsnotarace said:

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

+1, they are often looking for leads. Its not normal for refs to be first- no offer no refs in my book.

From our point of view, if we don't get two references, you aren't being submitted to our client at all.

In which case you are missing out on a very large percentage of candidates on the market. Like it or not, recruitment agents have a bad reputation for a reason and I'm only giving out references after the job offer's been made.

[northandy]

escargot said:

amir_j said:

itsnotarace said:

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

+1, they are often looking for leads. Its not normal for refs to be first- no offer no refs in my book.

From our point of view, if we don't get two references, you aren't being submitted to our client at all.

Never heard that before, i have just moved jobs and was placed by consultant, references were only taken after i had accepted, obviously my offer was conditional on ok references.

[Romanymagic]

Had to check whether I was on ContractorUK or PH for a minute there!

Look, you (collectively) have to provide references at some point, although you hate the consultant practice of pitching to your referees nevertheless references have to be taken, because you may have taken some liberties with your experience on your CV.

On the collecting references as a possible means to easy contacts for the recruitment agent things have moved on a bit, largely with the help of LinkedIn (if you are IT based), a simple search of the LinkedIn DB around any/current contacts will produce numerous managers within support, testing, development, PMO and so on, so your savvy agent will not be so reliant on your references any longer as a source of new business.

[escargot]

deckster said:

escargot said:

amir_j said:

itsnotarace said:

john_p said:

Definitely don't give them out. Who knows if the job even exists..

^^ This

+1, they are often looking for leads. Its not normal for refs to be first- no offer no refs in my book.

From our point of view, if we don't get two references, you aren't being submitted to our client at all.

In which case you are missing out on a very large percentage of candidates on the market. Like it or not, recruitment agents have a bad reputation for a reason and I'm only giving out references after the job offer's been made.

Not at all. We have never had an issue with any candidates once the reasons have been properly explained.