Best Practices for Conducting Reference Checks

City Personnel

As a hiring manager, one of the most important steps in the hiring process is conducting reference checks on potential hires. Reference checks can provide valuable insight into a candidate’s work history, skills, and character, helping you make informed decisions about who to hire. However, it’s important to conduct reference checks properly to get accurate and valuable information.

A well-planned and organized approach to the reference-checking process can ensure that all relevant information is collected and that the references are given an opportunity to provide an accurate description of their experiences working with a candidate. Moreover, creating such an action plan allows time to be prioritized efficiently so that all references can be contacted within a reasonable time frame.

Start With A Plan

When it comes to asking references for important information related to job candidates, it is vital to ask open-ended questions—asking detailed questions that require more than simply a “yes” or “no” answer will dramatically increase the value of the reference. This type of questioning can yield insightful answers about a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses that traditional interviews cannot discover.

Ask Open-Ended Questions To References

When calling references, ensure you have a pen, notepad, and a list of key questions ready for your conversation. While on the call, you should note down any points and quotes that could be useful for your hiring decision. That way, nothing significant will be missed, and you can review them afterward to make sure each key point was addressed. Taking notes during calls with references is a great way to avoid any mistakes.

Be Prepared To Take Notes When Calling References

Whenever one is asked to provide references, it is important to verify the information provided by those references. First and foremost, confirm details such as job titles, dates of employment, and responsibilities with each reference. If this information comes back inaccurate, it could be a red flag.

Verify Information When Calling References

Completing thorough reference checks is a critical part of the hiring process, and paying attention to patterns in the responses you receive can be particularly informative. It’s important to note if multiple references mention the same strengths or weaknesses in the candidate’s work performance or personality traits. Take into account that these reference checks are coming from people with different perspectives, so encountering consistency among the responses can often provide invaluable insight into whether this person would make a suitable hire.

Look For Patterns

When conducting reference checks on job applicants, it’s key to remember that there are legal considerations that must be considered. You want to ensure that the questions you’re asking about a particular candidate are related to the job and its requirements. Furthermore, it’s important to ensure none of the questions violate any local, state, or federal laws regarding discrimination.

Keep It Legal

It is essential to ensure that potential employers obtain valuable information on a job candidate while maintaining complete respect for personal privacy and confidentiality. You must not ask any irrelevant questions that may lead to the divulgence of confidential details or the breaching of privacy in any capacity.

Respect Confidentiality

Once you have conducted a reference check, it is important to follow up with any further questions or resolve any ambiguities. Follow-up inquiries help build a complete picture of the candidate and equip you with the understanding to make an educated decision when hiring.

Follow Up

Keep in mind that 69% of employers have reported that they have changed their minds about a candidate after speaking with their references; if you are unable to get in touch with a reference, keep trying because it can help you with your final hiring decision!

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