Reference check completed before 2nd round interviews....normal?

Hi

I have been called for a second round interview for a position and they have already checked my references is this the normal process before a second round interview?

I'm kinda getting my hopes up but also thinking maybe this is standard procedure so they are not wasting there time?

Don't want to sound pessemistic but I did an interview for public sector job and was given the impression (verbally) that it was in the bag. Was then told they would be doing the garda checks. No job offer!!!!!!! By the way no problems with Garda

I couldn't imagine why anyone would do Garda checks if they were not making an offer. Not sure what the norm. is with references

Here's hoping
Good luck

Forming what are called 'non vacany driven panles' is becoming the norm for large number comptitons in the public sector.

As part of the process Garda vetting may be done in advance as well as references checks and verifing qualifcations etc and medicals.

It is hoped that once a request is received to fill the post an offer can me made immediately.

The HR department should be able to clarify if they have vacancies and if you are being considered for a post.

The position is in the private sector and there is a job up for grabs, reference check was with previous employers etc. I'd be worried if they were doing a Garda check on me............not that i have anything to hide!

One of the big universities recently asked me for a reference for a past employee who had applied for a position there before a first-round interview had taken place. I gave the reference, as I didn't want the application to suffer, but I told them it was a fairly ridiculous approach, and creates a pile of unnecessary work.

There is a certain logic to it though...they could be discounting people with excellent references in favour of people with bad or non-existent ones. I'd imagine it can be quite difficult to go back to people who have been discounted as they may have found alternative employment or be a little disgruntled. Deciding on a candidate only for the references to create an issue would be far more troublesome surely?

John Rambo said:

There is a certain logic to it though...they could be discounting people with excellent references in favour of people with bad or non-existent ones. I'd imagine it can be quite difficult to go back to people who have been discounted as they may have found alternative employment or be a little disgruntled. Deciding on a candidate only for the references to create an issue would be far more troublesome surely?

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It may be less troublesome for that employer, but it is certainly more troublesome for the past employers of each of the candidates, most of whom will never get offered the job. It's dumping the work onto the past employers, instead of the potential current employers.