Has anyone experienced recruitment agencies asking for refrrences up front before even presenting candidates?

Anonymous

January 4,2023 at 9:17PM UTC

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Has anyone experienced recruitment agencies asking for refrrences up front before even presenting candidates? I’m being asked for this and I’m very uncomfortable with it - what’s the deal?

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Rebecca A BrittJanuary 4,2023 at 9:26PM UTC
I work with recruiting/placement agencies all the time. I usually interview with them--references, work samples, the whole 9 yards, before they ever send me to an interview (I am a contractor, so get sent out to places and am not available as a FT employee).
The recruiter basically wants to make sure that they have a solid candidate in their pool before presenting you to a client. They don't want to present you and find out that you aren't what you represent.
My places usually interview me, look at my work and then ask for references--are they following that practice? I don't know if I'd provide references before the interview process, because remember, you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.
AnonymousJanuary 5,2023 at 2:06PM UTC
I don't think it's an obligation. normally you have the choice to give a reference details or wait until you have an offer from the company.
AnonymousJanuary 6,2023 at 2:19PM UTC
i think it’s super solid of them to vet candidates before presenting them. It’s their reputation on the line.
checking references, re-screening, etc
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 12:49AM UTC
yeah some companies do that.
AnonymousJanuary 7,2023 at 2:29PM UTC
When I worked at an agency we asked for (and called) references so that we could get potential job leads.
AyianJanuary 8,2023 at 4:47PM UTC
This is normal placement agency behavior. You'd be working for the agency, not their client. Since jobs can start as soon as the next day, many who do background checks and references prefer to do them in advance so there's no delay in placing someone on the jobsite.
Suzanne RonayneJanuary 9,2023 at 12:38AM UTC
I've only seen Robert Half/Office Team do this as part of their screening process. Maybe other agencies do it too, but I have not come across it. And the days of registering with the agency today and getting sent out to an assignment tomorrow, are long gone!
Most temp assignments now are at least 2-3 months in length, and in order to work with them, most companies will insist on 1-2 interviews with potential candidates. And rightly so, being as the temp will not only be part of a team and need to be a cultural fit, they also will have access to the company data etc.
AnonymousJanuary 8,2023 at 6:14PM UTC
If it's a contingency firm this is how they boost their connections and frankly it's not a place I would consider using. Definitely do not share any references until you are at an offer stage and with only the last company you are interested in.