I was hired (W2) by a staffing firm to fill a role. I interviewed with the client where I would be doing the work, and was offered the contract position. As part of the onboarding process with the staffing firm, I was then asked for references which they checked.
I wonder what would have happened if my references didn't check out. Would they then inform the customer that I wasn't available? Would they turn their back on almost a $100,000 in revenue (the portion they would take from my contract)?
Makes no sense.
Related question: is it considered bad form to give a recruiter reference contacts, without first asking those contacts for permission?
Also, what should one do, when one's previous employers (and thus potential references) are also employers from whom we are currently evaluating competing job offers?
Yes, but it's only one source of information among many. I don't assume they sources of the references are telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but I do consider what they say.
Hiring is a complex game, and I want all the information I can get.
Our general policy as a company is to ask for references and also to ask permission to get other references from within our network (obviously excluding anyone who works at current employer).
Twice.
Once when I was still practicing law - references are really common in that industry (as is your law school and whether you did law review mattering 5-10 years later!)
The other time when I worked in higher education. It was a technical role, but it's really common in higher ed.
Both times, those references got phone calls. As a matter of my own process, I won't submit references until we're close to the offer stage.
When I have interviewed for a job, yes I was asked for references. When I hire individuals I always ask for references as well.
No. I had "references available upon request" listed on my CV and did not get a request.
I'm on my fourth full-time job. I've been asked for references 2 out of 4 times. My references have been contacted from just one of my past employers.
As an aside, it seems to me like it's always worth asking for and contacting someone's references (but only as the final step before giving an offer... as a candidate, I don't appreciate employers calling my references unless they are serious about hiring me). To me, it's a red flag if someone can't find 2 people to say good things about them. But in practice, many employers don't seem to put in the effort to call references.