Just when I'd got myself organised...

There I was, thinking I had got the rest of the month well organised - I'd been waiting on a start date for the job I'd been offered, working my way through paperwork limbo for the sessional post as well, and had lined up a bunch of hours work doing exam invigilation for one of the local universities.

And then I get an email from my prospective full-time employers going 'we'll see you on Monday'. Yes, despite the fact my references haven't arrived yet, they want me to start work with them in 5 days time. Which is great as far as getting paid is concerned but has now totally thrown my other arrangements into the air.

Anyone else had this experience, of starting work pre-references? My background in the public sector means this is a new experience for me, but then given that they only have to give me a week's notice if something comes up, it's probably not as big a gamble for employers as all that?