withdrawing from interview and references question

[sphil]

I have just withdrawn from an interview next week because a job has come up which is much more appealing, suited to my qualifications etc.The problem is that my references have already been asked for and written. Will the company let my referees know that I've withdrawn? I'm worried that my referee ( a scary woman at the best of times) will be really annoyed, especially as it's the second time I've withdrawn from an interview recently.

Have you been offered the new job that's come up? If not, why withdraw from an interview?

Because the closing date for the second job isn't until after the interview date for the first - so if I was offered the first job I'd either have to give up on the second, or turn down a post I'd already accepted, which I thought was unfair.

I see. Well the company probably wouldn't bother actively contacting references to say you've withdrawn once they've been received, but in a situation where they haven't had them yet they may contact them and say not to worry, and I don't think there's a lot you can do about that.

Why are they contacting references before you've even been interviewed?

It's a job working with children so I guess they have to make absolutely sure you are above board!