First time hearing job not requiring interview (admin)

amazingcookie

I was applying to jobs and Reed contacted me, saying they saw my CV and liked it. They offered me an admin job at a well known bank on a 12 months contract. No interviews required, only a background check. I'm guaranteed to pass that since I have no criminal record and I don't have a bad credit rating as I've never borrowed money or used a credit card before.

Does this happen a lot? Are they just making up a job to collect my info and later pretend the job's gone? They told me it takes approx 3 weeks for the background check and it's past 2 weeks already.

They said full training is provided. What happens if I'm sacked before the 12 months? Do I end up paying the company back for training fees?

LittleVoice

Was it Reed who phoned you or just someone able to see your application?
How are they doing the background check?
What personal data have you provided that would allow them to do this?
What are you supposed to do during the three weeks or thereabouts while the checks are done?
Did they say what these checks were?
Did you ask if you could see the person who phoned?
Do they have a location which you could find on Google StreetView?

gibson123

It may be taking ages to check because you have never borrowed money or used a credit card, hopefully you will have some credit record. it may be worthwhile getting in touch with Reed to let them know you have NO credit record to check, as otherwise the checking agency is looking for something that doesn't exist.

LadyMissA

Was it a branch of Reed? It's very unusual to not have an interview. What forms or info have you supplied to the agency? Do you know the name of the place where you are going to be working? It does sound a bit odd to me. Normally only very very short term contracts have no actaul interview at the company but you have one at the agency.

amazingcookie

LittleVoice wrote: »

Was it Reed who phoned you or just someone able to see your application?
How are they doing the background check?
What personal data have you provided that would allow them to do this?
What are you supposed to do during the three weeks or thereabouts while the checks are done?
Did they say what these checks were?
Did you ask if you could see the person who phoned?
Do they have a location which you could find on Google StreetView?

It was Reed who phoned me.
I think it'll be the police who does background checks?
They have my CV. I gave them my address, and just signed some papers saying they can do a background check on me. Maybe they check on my national insurance number or something?
I'm working for a different employer and planning to ditch them once the background check results are back and the offer is official.
Didn't say exactly what the checks were but I'll assume it's stuff like criminal record, if I've seen a psychiatrist, on any medication, bad credit ratings etc.
I already been to that Reed branch. I was phoned up and asked to go to the branch to register with them and sign some papers consenting to a background check and that was it.
It's for Lloyds Banking Group so I think it shouldn't be a scam if the job's legit.

The forms I filled in did have a section asking for bank details. I was told at this stage they didn't need this info so I left it blank.

LadyMissA

amazingcookie wrote: »

It was Reed who phoned me.
I think it'll be the police who does background checks?
They have my CV. I gave them my address, and just signed some papers saying they can do a background check on me. Maybe they check on my national insurance number or something?
I'm working for a different employer and planning to ditch them once the background check results are back and the offer is official.
Didn't say exactly what the checks were but I'll assume it's stuff like criminal record, if I've seen a psychiatrist, on any medication, bad credit ratings etc.
I already been to that Reed branch. I was phoned up and asked to go to the branch to register with them and sign some papers consenting to a background check and that was it.
It's for Lloyds Banking Group so I think it shouldn't be a scam if the job's legit.

The forms I filled in did have a section asking for bank details. I was told at this stage they didn't need this info so I left it blank.

So you HAVE had an interview at Reed?

duckandcover

For certain types of agency jobs, a job-specific interview isn't always necessary. For example, when I temped one summer at a prison through Brook Street, I didn't have an interview apart from registering with the agency. But for my current job, this was a perm job through Brook Street, which I had an actual interview for with the company.

Evilm

Lloyds do interviews. And they do them pre-background checks. At least they did when I applied for an office/call centre position there! This sounds a bit squiffy to me!

They also do team building exercises in the interview and because I pulled people together and stopped them just randomly chatting and got them to get on with the task (building an weirdly shaped CD rack from only a picture and the parts- unlabelled) I was called "not a team player" and "too assertive". Note: We were the only group ever to have completed the task!

amazingcookie

LadyMissA wrote: »

So you HAVE had an interview at Reed?

Nope. Walking into the branch to sign some papers isn't an interview. On the phone I was only asked for my qualifications and what work experience I have. That was it. No competency questions, no numeracy tests, no phone or in person interview. I was told it's only a background check I need to go through. There's no interview with Lloyds afterwards.

Maybe it's because this job is easy and I have a masters degree so I'm exempt from interview/assessment centre? Doesn't say how many hours but it's £12ph, better than my current minimum wage in retail lol.

amazingcookie

!!!!. Now they're asking me to supply references. Bit of problem. First employer details can't be given because the branch I worked at closed down. The employer I'm with now doesn't know I'm planning to change job so I don't want to put them down.

I'm being asked for a reference for each employment and academic period, as well as personal reference from a referee who's known me 5+ years. And I'm also suppose to remember the periods I claimed JSA and even every address I've lived in for the past 5 years. I also need to give evidence of living in those addresses. -__________- And I'm expected to upload my passport, birth certificate, and all that evidence to the internet.

patchi

I have had this before for an agency job - No interview, just provided referee information and an in-date CRB certificate. It was for a local show that lasted for a few days. First and only time though - All other jobs have required an interview.