References before final offer

**Ripley** · 23 December 2009, 14:10

An update - just got a message from my current client that they had been contacted by the company HR people for a reference. So I must be fair to the agent - they were not blowing smoke and the insistence was on the company's part. I had been tempted to refuse to give my current client on principle prior to a formal offer, now I'm pretty pleased that I let it go.

Having said that, I think a company could put off good contractors with this insistence as it could be very awkward depending on the situation.

**lje** · 23 December 2009, 15:34

I think when people advise you not to give references too early it's because agents are often only after your references so that they can get the contact names of managers who they could sell their services too. It doesn't sound like that's the case for you so I'd go ahead and give them my reference details.

Having said that it sounds like they're mucking you about a bit. How serious do you think the client is?

**badger7579** · 23 December 2009, 15:36

The agent is trying to scare you into sending him references.

Tell him he can have them after the contract is signed.

**TheBigD** · 23 December 2009, 15:38

My current gig (public sector), I had to provide references before a written offer would be sent out. Didn't realyl want to do this after reading many of the posts on here. However, I did send the references and a few days later, got my contract. I queried it with the end client and they confirmed it was there policy to check references before making a formal offer. Is your potential client local government? If it is, it may be a genuine request.

**Mehmeh** · 23 December 2009, 15:44

I would say sure, but to forward the reference details to the end client only.

No reason that the recruiter should see these IMHO.

**minestrone** · 23 December 2009, 16:22

There is a good chance they are trying it on but a resonable chance that they are telling the truth. I would ask for an HR/Line manager contact at the client and say you will send them on. If they are genuine then I would say they will probably be OK with that. And also the client may be genuine but the most agents will not pass up the chance to get info from the references you provide.

**darmstadt** · 23 December 2009, 16:26

For the upcoming contract they said they couldn't put me forward without references (yeah right) but I quite fancied the project so I said I would see what I could dig up (they did promise not to contact them without asking me first and that they would not make any 'sales' talk!) I got back and said that I couldn't give my last project as it was government and I signed documents to that fact, the previous one to that they don't give references so I gave them a couple of guys in the USA that I had worked with and guess what...they never contacted them and I still got the contract.

**nomadd** · 23 December 2009, 17:57

Originally posted by Ripley View Post

Agent is now saying the company has "shown great interest"...

Sorry, but that is the agent realising you haven't got the job. And then raping you for contacts before telling you the obvious in a couple of days time.

Nomadd

**Olly** · 23 December 2009, 18:53

I had a lovely one from Square One like this...
From the get go the repeatedly said things as fact when they didn't actually know or were deliberatley untruthful.

Anyway...interview was complete waste of time. Surprised to hear from Square One that the client had asked the agent to run a CRB check and there were some forms to fill in.

Forms duly emailed, refs, originals of degree certs etc etc....CRB just requires proof of identity...so got suspicious.

Called client, they'd told agent not interested the day before. Called agent, "so when did client request CRB check?", "oh this morning, it's a good sign isn't it?"

References before final offer