Reference letters in contractors (as opposed to permie world)

[Ltd]

In permiedom world reference letters are normally provided by the HR department and include only name, job title and start and finish dates. Contractors are business to business relations so usual HR rules do not apply (or do they?)
1. So, do you normally ask your client to provide a two-page testimonial letter at the end?
2. Are your former clients allowed to provide more information than just dates and job title to your new client?
3. Is it regulated somehow?
4. What are the best practices?

[jmo21]

In permiedom world reference letters are normally provided by the HR department and include only name, job title and start and finish dates. Contractors are business to business relations so usual HR rules do not apply (or do they?)
1. So, do you normally ask your client to provide a two-page testimonial letter at the end?
2. Are your former clients allowed to provide more information than just dates and job title to your new client?
3. Is it regulated somehow?
4. What are the best practices?

Friday lols!

[northernladuk]

Friday lols!

Am struggling to even find this funny. It actually makes me want to cry.

[Ltd]

Can I have any sensible answers please?

[Batcher]

Can I have any sensible answers please?

Depends. Do you have any sensible questions?

[TheFaQQer]

1. So, do you normally ask your client to provide a two-page testimonial letter at the end?

No

2. Are your former clients allowed to provide more information than just dates and job title to your new client?

Probably

3. Is it regulated somehow?

I doubt it, although the laws of slander, libel and malicious falsehood would apply.

4. What are the best practices?

None that I'm aware of.

HTH

[tractor]

.....

I have written refs from all of my first 13 years contracts.

Lately though and for the latter 12 years of my contracting careeer, it seems people prefer to provide recommendations on Linked In readily enough although nowhere near as readily as they used to.

It helps if someone in the chain above you is also a contractor - they are usually disposed to be helpful - assuming of course that you are deserving.

[TopCat1802]

If I am requested by an agency for references I usually pass on the details of my line manager for the last few contracts I have completed.

[northernladuk]

If I am requested by an agency for references I usually pass on the details of my line manager for the last few contracts I have completed.

Bet the client managers love you for doing that when they start getting spammed by the agents. Give them you last agents details. Giving them client managers is exactly what they want so never stop with the references thing. Don't do it anymore.

[rob s]

LinkedIn or in rare cases a testimonial I can use for my website.

I've often been tempted* to set up a premium rate number for references and use that to capture the request for a reference before asking a friendly former manager to reply by email.



*This is understated humour before northernlad chides me for not knowing the regulations around premium rate numbers.