Changing agencies - any advice on how to make it less painful?

NeedSomeHRadvice

Hi,

I joined an agency a while back and worked through them for a while. This original agency hasn't got any further roles in my area but I have seen a few jobs I am interested in with another agency. 

I went through a rather long "compliance" process with the first agency where they ask for proofs of education, right to work and REFERENCES for the last 5 years. I can supply the former (education/right to work etc) quite easily  but I really don't want to ask my FOUR referees to fill in all these references again for the new agency. 

Is there any way I manage this in a less painful way for my referees? Could I ask the old agency to send my original references they obtained to the new agency under GDPR or some other way? 

Thanks for you advice.

Savvy_Sue

I'd ask the 'new' agency what their procedures are.

It may be that they don't take up 4 references. 

And it may be that the 'old' agency will give a reference, so if they do want 4 then you've only got to ask for 3. Or you may be able to ask the companies you've actually worked for. 

Whether one agency will send references to another seems to me unlikely, because the whole point is that the agency asks for, and is responsible for, obtaining references. If they don't get them direct from the actual referees, there is a possibility of fraud / collusion creeping in. It's why they ask the referees to provide references, and you providing copies of previous references (should you have them) wouldn't cut it. 

I don't know if you also need a DBS check. In theory, these can be ported from one organisation to another, but in my experience many won't use this service, because a) the level of check needs to be the same - if you've previously had a simple check and now need an enhanced check, it needs to be re-done; b) there needs to be a strong line of traceability in these things; and c) a 'clean' DBS check only establishes what was found that day - who knows what you might have done since then! 

Saver73

NeedSomeHRadvice said:

Hi,

I joined an agency a while back and worked through them for a while. This original agency hasn't got any further roles in my area but I have seen a few jobs I am interested in with another agency. 

I went through a rather long "compliance" process with the first agency where they ask for proofs of education, right to work and REFERENCES for the last 5 years. I can supply the former (education/right to work etc) quite easily  but I really don't want to ask my FOUR referees to fill in all these references again for the new agency. 

Is there any way I manage this in a less painful way for my referees? Could I ask the old agency to send my original references they obtained to the new agency under GDPR or some other way? 

Thanks for you advice.

As an alternative to using an agency, you could apply to companies directly.  I have much more success with direct applications than via the agencies.  Then you only go through the referencing/background checks if you are successful after interview.  Not sure if this would apply to your area of work. 

I have used agencies for temp or contract work but I don't think it was worth it ...

In my area of work, employers are open to direct applicants as it saves them a fee!  Also, on the company website careers page you can usually find contact details to make informal contact and ask questions.

Grumpy_chap

NeedSomeHRadvice said:

Hi,

I joined an agency a while back and worked through them for a while. This original agency hasn't got any further roles in my area but I have seen a few jobs I am interested in with another agency. 

I went through a rather long "compliance" process with the first agency where they ask for proofs of education, right to work and REFERENCES for the last 5 years. I can supply the former (education/right to work etc) quite easily  but I really don't want to ask my FOUR referees to fill in all these references again for the new agency. 

Is there any way I manage this in a less painful way for my referees? Could I ask the old agency to send my original references they obtained to the new agency under GDPR or some other way? 

Thanks for you advice.

It sounds like the agency you were working through had some stringent compliance requirements.  Is that typical for your line of work?  (Is your work sensitive - such as with vulnerable adults or with children?)

For all the "sell" about agencies saying they'll just find you another job when the current one ends, I have never seen anyone that actually got that consecutive assignments.

I would just go for the work with the next agency and hope it works out simpler than pursuing loads of references.

anniecave

Depending on the sort of work you do, in some cases you can apply for roles without fully registering. An agency will take some details from you (work history, basic right to work details etc) and only when you actually are offered a role will the references be actually needed.  Depends on level of clearance needed for the agency I work for. 

DullGreyGuy

NeedSomeHRadvice said:

I joined an agency a while back and worked through them for a while. This original agency hasn't got any further roles in my area but I have seen a few jobs I am interested in with another agency. 

I went through a rather long "compliance" process with the first agency where they ask for proofs of education, right to work and REFERENCES for the last 5 years. I can supply the former (education/right to work etc) quite easily  but I really don't want to ask my FOUR referees to fill in all these references again for the new agency. 

Is there any way I manage this in a less painful way for my referees? Could I ask the old agency to send my original references they obtained to the new agency under GDPR or some other way? 

How long is a while?

5 years of references is normal in my industry, as a contractor I probably switch client every year on average, so yes those providing references have to do it 4 times on average. It's just the nature of the beast and no one has ever had an issue doing it. 

I've worked for the same agency before they will use the ones they hold on file and just get references from those I've worked with since. Never asked them to pass the references on to the next agency, in principle you could but I suspect they won't agree to do so. 

Thankfully no one asks about my education certificates from 25 years ago any more.