[auxym]

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?

[dtnewman]

> is it considered bad form to give a recruiter reference contacts, without first asking those contacts for permission?

When I was last looking for work, I called up my references and told them that I'm applying to jobs over the next few months and asked if it would be okay to list them as references. One of them said "no problem". The other said also said no problem, but "it would be helpful if you shoot me a warning when I should expect a call, if possible".

Basically, just ask your references. It's bad form on the part of recruiters/employers to contact your references without telling you explicitly first, but it happens, so it's good to have your references on board.

[SmellTheGlove]

You should let them know. Ask if it's okay, but more importantly, get them your resume and let them know what you're interviewing for so that they can speak to the relevant parts of your experience.

That said, I'm an open reference for a few folks, meaning I've told them to list me as needed and I'll pick up the phone. I know these folks pretty well, and they know me well enough to know that I don't need to prep for something like that.