u/FriendlyFondant5317

Question: Would hiring talent managers ask candidates for references, location preferences, etc if they’re not guaranteed to be hired?

**More context below

I applied for a City of Toronto mass hiring position (200+ positions available) back in December 2025. I’m at the stage where my interview and assessments were successful, I picked my top location preferences, and my references were provided.

I know that it the hiring process has been split into three cohorts

1. April cohort - internal candidates
2. May cohort - external candidates
3. August cohort - external candidates, tho not guaranteed to be called for hiring

I am an external candidate so I haven’t been called yet. Though I’m just finding out from someone who got hired that the August cohort is not guaranteed to be hired.

I’m just getting a bit anxious about the situation. Especially since i just crossed the 1 year anniversary of being out of school and being unemployed. So for those who know, would hiring talent managers ask candidates for references, location preferences, etc if they’re not guaranteed to be hired?

I finished school and have been unemployed since. I have been pretty isolated for months. I want to hang out, without spending much $ because of no current income. I’m in the Markham/Scarborough area and willing to hangout in nearby areas in York region and Toronto

(I have a bf so pls don’t send any messages with non-platonic intentions)