I'm leaving a job I have had for 5 1/2 years. I posted my resume on a couple of job sites and now I have recruiters calling me.
They all seem to want to call my references before sending me to interview with their clients. I've discussed this with my references and have a mixed reaction of "that's what they do, it's OK" and "no way they don't know what they are doing stay away from them".
I don't want anyone calling my references until I'm sure I want a particular position and it looks like I'm in the top two candidates or so with the hiring manager.
I don't want the recruiter to think that there is a problem with my references, but I just think it's the wrong time to call them, particularly when I've only spoken with the recruiters, many of whom do not seem to understand the skills that they are looking for in the first place.
Am I being over sensitive to this or is this how they really work now? What do you all think of this practice?
Thank you
V