Technical recruiters and reference checks

Gorby

I had a technical recruiter ask me for my references before even setting up an interview. I didn't do it though because I didn't want to waste time with a managerial reference check for a job I didn't even interview for yet, especially if I find something else in the near future and would need that managerial reference called again. Is it normal for some recruiter agencies to ask for references before setting up an interview with the client?

kohr-ah

TekSystems did this with me because they wanted to ask my previous references about my experience there and day to day duties to make sure I was a fit for that job.

sheckler

kohr-ah wrote: »

TekSystems did this with me because they wanted to ask my previous references about my experience there and day to day duties to make sure I was a fit for that job.

Did you give them to them?

pram

I also find this to be annoying. I don't want my references being constantly badgered and I feel great reluctance at letting anyone call them for this reason. I think it would be more reasonable as you said for the reference check to be conducted after some interviews and with the serious intention of hiring. Just to get in the door? Not cool imo

kohr-ah

sheckler wrote: »

Did you give them to them?

I did but it was a recruiter I knew not one that just called me and this was after I had a meeting with her.
I then called my references after she was done and asked if she had asked them anything outside of that and they said no.

sheckler

pram wrote: »

I also find this to be annoying. I don't want my references being constantly badgered and I feel great reluctance at letting anyone call them for this reason. I think it would be more reasonable as you said for the reference check to be conducted after some interviews and with the serious intention of hiring. Just to get in the door? Not cool imo

Yeah that's ridiculous, when looking for a job people can apply to like 10+ jobs a week, imagine if all of those wanted references before even interviewing.

I applied to a job listed by Robert Half and the recruiter emailed me asking to come meet with him and the email said it was required to turn over 3 references. Felt like just giving them my friends numbers.

roch_greg

Rather odd, I've never had a recruiter ask for references out of the gate. Usually it comes after the second or maybe first interview.

The Technomancer

Congrats, you just handed that recruiter more leads!

Given that I search for a new gig every year or two, let me tell you how you can tell if you're working with a gawd-awful third-party recruiting firm:

1. They require you to come meet them face to face before they ever submit you for a job. I'm not working for them, and they get commission for getting me a gig. Sorry, their ability to get that commission is at my convenience, not theirs.

2. They want to "check your references". They want leads for more people to call to try to make more commission. Recruiters don't do the background check, and really, any reference a candidate provides is worthless. Hi, you just picked 2 coworkers and manager who are willing to blow smoke up my nether regions to get you out of their hair. Given how close knit this industry is, I probably know a "backchannel reference" that'll shoot me straight about you. But yeah, there's no reason to ever give a third-party recruiting firm your references.

3. They want to pass you around to everyone on the team every time you call in case someone else has something to pitch you. Again, they're making a commission off of your talent. Don't waste my time and lower the employer offer to me because they have to pay you anywhere from 10% to 15% of my first year's salary because you hit me up over LinkedIn before them.

4. They ignore your desires and salary requirements, and pitch you a bunch of gigs that "come close, you can negotiate with them". This means they or the firm is desperate and aren't filling positions fast enough.

5. They don't bother to actually fill out the form letter they contact you with. Seriously, I've gotten recruiter contacts that say:

"Hi ! (that space was where my name was supposed to go...) I was looking over you LinkedIn profile and was very impressed! I really think that your experience at ... (no, really, there were three dots there) would make you a perfect fit for a role with a client I work very closely with (translated: I scraped this job posting off of their site and nowhere on their site does it say "no third-party recruiters")."

6. They have "sister companies".

7. If you do actually show up to their face-to-face, there's a waiting room full of geeks sitting around by the receptionist like it's a cattle call.

8. They ignore your contact instructions, such as "Please email me during business hours, as I don't take personal calls during that time unless I've previously scheduled them." and instead call you EVERY GODFORSAKEN DAY at least once to check up on "how your job search is going". Yeah, nothing says "I'm looking to leave this @#$%hole for a new gig" like getting called in the middle of the day, every day, and having to go outside or into a conference room to take the call. Thanks for trying to get me fired before I get the new gig, jack@$$.

Most recruiters will do one or two of these things. Nobody's perfect. But yeah, you'll notice how fast the really crappy (and prolific) firms check in a ton of those boxes. And if they ask for your references up front, yeah. Tell 'em to go to hell.

Gorby

Very informative Technomancer, I was contacted by TekSystems and they fit the bill for 1 and 2.

sj4088

There is one staffing agency that I know for a fact uses your references to try to contact companies/hiring managers not to inquire about you per se but to try to convince them to use their staffing service as an resource. I tell everyone up front I WON'T provide anyone with any references until I been offered a job(in writing...an offer letter).

Danielm7

I had my first recruiter contact a few weeks ago. There was a job posted I was interested in, the only contact was the recruiter. As per their instructions I filled out their form and attached my resume, it went to one specific person. Within literally 90 seconds of hitting submit on the form I got a call from someone else at their office that "just came across my resume" and was wondering if I was still looking for a new job. Oh, you mean since 3 minutes ago, yes, yes I am, actually I'm looking for the job that I specifically responded to...

ledywhite

who know TekSystems ?

Gorby

ledywhite wrote: »

who know TekSystems ?

What about TekSystems?