 There’s a right way and a wrong way to do everything—including reference checks. In this current candidates’ market, the demand for high-quality candidates is great and the margin for error is small. As a result, any mistake could result in the loss of a top candidate for your organization’s open position.
So that’s why doing things the right way is so important. Different employers conduct reference checks in different ways. Some don’t conduct any at all. On the other hand, some employers go completely in the other direction. They ask for as many references as possible and attempt to contact them all. While it’s certainly good to vet candidates in your company’s hiring process, time is a precious commodity. So if the ultimate goal is to fill the position with the best candidate possible and reference checking plays a role in reaching that goal, then what are the best practices for checking them? The first step—and perhaps the most important—is that of preparation. You must have a process by which your organization checks references. This will allow you to streamline the process and save time during it. Specifically, you should know the following information:
One of the most important aspects of reference checking is who you call about candidates you’re considering for your organization’s open position. Ideally, you want to speak with the most unbiased people possible. Yes, the candidate submitted certain references because they believe those individuals will say positive things about them. Regardless, obtaining objective information should be a top priority. Below are some of the people you may be speaking with as references:
So what’s the key to obtaining balanced information during your reference checks? Asking the right questions, of course. Below is a list of such questions:
At the end of the conversation, you can also ask if there is anybody else with whom you can speak about the candidate who might provide additional insights. This is a great way to uncover more balanced and less biased information. While this process may seem comprehensive, remember that it should be done in an efficient manner. As mentioned above, time is of the essence during the hiring process. The longer it takes to check references, the longer the process will take overall, and the longer it takes overall, the more likely that candidates will drop out of the process. It just goes to show that not only must employers do things the right way in this current market, but they must also do things the right way quickly. Last year, Time Staffing won ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards for providing superior service to their clients and candidates. ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Award is the only award in the United States and Canada that recognizes staffing agencies that have proven superior service and quality based entirely upon ratings provided by their clients and job candidates. Time Staffing received satisfaction scores of 9 out of 10 or 10 out of 10 from 75.4% of their placed talent, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 45%. Contact Time Staffing today to find out more about our placement services for employers! Comments are closed.
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