Do referees get contacted?

**Wilmslow** · 29 January 2008, 08:05

Originally posted by BrowneIssue View Post

While listening to an agent (yet again) saying how they ALWAYS follow up references I realised:

In my last six gigs, none of my referees were contacted. Each gig needed two references.

To your knowledge, how often do references get followed up for agency gigs? Ever?

(Yeah, yeah, employment businesses. Yadda, yadda. Agents.)

None of mine.

However, they chased up references BEFORE a gig once which was really bad - especially as I did not get the gig and existing work found out!! to be honest, I think they were just database fishing. LArge agent as well. (One of the Computer ones)

**threaded** · 29 January 2008, 08:35

I know one of the other posters on this board has a couple of spare cell-phones, the number of which they give out as if for referees. They have worked like this for many years. They have never been asked for references, always fishing calls.

**shelby68** · 29 January 2008, 08:42

3 out of my last 4 jobs have checked references but in all fairness one of them was for Security clearance and the other was for a CRB check so I suppose only 1 real reference check,

**Ardesco** · 29 January 2008, 08:52

I've never had a reference checked, I have had a reference asked if he wanted any contractors though

**Denny** · 29 January 2008, 09:02

Yes, nearly every time. I make sure I set up the arrangement though, not the EB and inform the EB that I have told the referee what to expect from the call, along with likely questions (which I get from the EB) and how long it is likely to last. These formalities usually deter any sales calls.

**TheFaQQer** · 29 January 2008, 09:19

Past couple have been checked, but they were for roles where I opted in / didn't opt out.

**NotAllThere** · 29 January 2008, 09:38

In 2005, Progressive called me to take up a reference. There was no fishing for contacts at all. I was somewhat stunned.

Do referees get contacted?