Allow potential employer to contact referees before interview?

Andy_L

SueC wrote: »

I agree. In the private sector it would be highly unusual for references to be taken up prior to job offer. I think the NHS works similarly to education though. Do what's accepted in your industry.

When I had my interview with the NHS (as an "outsider") they didn't want references in advance but the job offer was "subject to references", which itself cause a whole lot of hassle as my previous employers would only provide "dates of employment and reason for leaving" type references

doodoot

I've just started a job in education and my referees were contacted by email and post.

I doubt very much if your referees would get mad/fed up of being contacted to give you a glowing reference...I imagine they will be pleased to help you on your career path!

wantsajob

Apologies for any lack of clarity. By Academic I meant Project Supervisors from my University Studies - although from a couple of years ago now - and the job is in a Technical Support role at a University.

The next big step would be if offered the job (unlikely based on past experience, but I can only try), would need to uproot with my partner and move 100 miles away and find somewhere to live etc. Really enjoy the place I live currently, the area is great, and it's a good price for the size of the property. Can't find anything close in the area the job would be, then again I'd struggle to find somewhere similar here too. Hopefully that hurdle might come next.

I chose to allow them to contact the referees. One of them I know was very positive when I applied for an identical job at the University in which I studied and he worked, and said he thought I would have been good at the job. It was clear from talking to him about 4/5 years ago he put some thought into the reference.

Andy_L wrote: »

When I had my interview with the NHS (as an "outsider") they didn't want references in advance but the job offer was "subject to references", which itself cause a whole lot of hassle as my previous employers would only provide "dates of employment and reason for leaving" type references

Reminds me of this case http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-14549404

Murphymycat

Hi

I have sat on University recruitment panels and applied for non academic University jobs before. It is standard practice for academic/academic related posts but not for secretarial/clerical posts to require references before being called for interview. If you refuse this you may find you don't get interviews anyway because these type of jobs are popular and they often get inundated with applications.