Reference Check Guidelines

After many rounds of interviews and meeting different applicants, you finally find the perfect candidate for your team. However, before you can offer the position, you have to perform reference checks. Instead of viewing these as the last hurdle to your hiring goal, utilize references checks as an opportunity to get to know the candidate better from another professional’s point of view. Read on to see how to get the most out of reference calls.

Request a variety of references

Ask the candidate for a range of references, such as coworkers, staff, or managers. By doing this, you’ll get a much more rounded understanding of the candidate’s working habits, how the individual works in a team setting, etc. This will allow you to gain understanding about how the applicant is in different office settings.

Prepare customized reference check questions

Instead of asking generic questions, bring up specifics on the candidate’s resume. Focus on one or two concerns you may have about the potential hire and cater your questions to address those concerns. For example, if you believe the candidate embellished their involvement in a project, ask about the project and see what the reference has to say.

Ask open-ended questions

Make a list of open-ended questions you will ask every reference to establish a consistent basis for your hiring decision. By asking open-ended questions, you allow the reference to elaborate and gain insight from someone who has seen the potential hire in a similar setting.

Read between the lines

While listening to how the reference answers your questions, you must also pay attention to how things were said. Did the reference use a different tone? Were there any hesitations? What type of word choice did they use? Make note of these cues in addition to the answer the reference provides as these are significant indications about the candidate's prior performance.

More than “just” a hire

Ask the reference about how you can best motivate and inspire this candidate so you can provide a supportive environment that’ll allow the individual to hit the ground running. As a manager, you want this individual to help your company or team grow - while growing as an individual.

For more management tips, visit our blog. If you’re looking for new candidates but don't know how to get started, contact a Michael Page consultant.