If you are pursuing a job with a firm through a recruitment agency, who follows up the references? The firm or the recruitment agency?

it depends. if the job is permanent it is certainly the company. If temporary most of the times it is the agency however in case of public sector/ security clearance it could the firm/govt.

How do you get references if the company policy is that only HR can give them and they'll only confirm your job title and start/end dates?

I wouldn't worry, that is all that many companies give now as a reference in these litigious times!

Oh, I expect what will happen is you'll give your boss's details to the recruitment agent, who will phone him before you've handed in your notice and then pester him about finding a replacement for you. You'll return to work to find a boss who is furious that:1. You're looking for a new job2. You didn't tell him3. Some random recruiter is now hounding him with sales calls on the phoneThen, when you don't get offered the new job for whatever reason (not least because of the lack of a glowing reference), you'll be up the proverbial creek without a paddle. So, lesson of the day - don't let the agent take up the references!

Interesting. Recruiters are told to use this as a primary form of business development. Are you saying we are wasting our time with this route..

No, it's quite a good idea for recruiters I expect. But for the candidate it sucks! They're meant to be checking references, not hassling your trusted and precious contacts into giving them new business.

I've had a couple of permanent jobs via recruitment agencies. Both times it was the firm that did the followup reference requests, through their HR department.One Company used a third-party called CV Insight to vet by CV to make sure it was accurate, so be careful...!!Jimmiewww.itbodies.co.uk

We don't bother with traditional references. We go to Kroll who do a complete background check.Watch out, its thorough.