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Is this normal?

I've been job searching for a couple of weeks now as I left my previous job because I was very unhappy there. This afternoon a girl from a recruitment agency (SF Group) phoned me asking me what type of job am I looking for, about the previous jobs I've had etc and she has asked me to go into their office next week to talk, she also said she would like to contact my previous employers for references but I really don't see why she needs to do this as I haven't even been offered a job interview yet. It's made me a little uncomfortable but is it normal for job agencies to do this and what's their reason for doing so?

Comments

  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sofee_x wrote: »
    I've been job searching for a couple of weeks now as I left my previous job because I was very unhappy there. This afternoon a girl from a recruitment agency (SF Group) phoned me asking me what type of job am I looking for, about the previous jobs I've had etc and she has asked me to go into their office next week to talk, she also said she would like to contact my previous employers for references but I really don't see why she needs to do this as I haven't even been offered a job interview yet. It's made me a little uncomfortable but is it normal for job agencies to do this and what's their reason for doing so?
    Agencies do call the references you supply rather than the client.

    So yes that's normal.

    They want to present a pre-qualified candidate to the client. The client doesn't want to do too much work in selecting a worker they just want the agency to present around 3 people and they'll select from them. Some clients don't even want to choose between any people at all they just trust the agency to provide the best worker they can and allow the agency to do all the interviewing and reference checking and then ask you to turn up at the client's site on a certain day to start work. That's quite normal for low-skilled temporary workers.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • Sofee_x
    Sofee_x Posts: 3 Newbie
    Ah right ok. Thank you, I've never dealt with agencies before you see.
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