Do you know the importance of reference checks? Current statistics indicate that about 20% of employers do not check references for incoming employees. Of the 80% who do, the vast majority indicate that they have changed their mind on a potential employee from talking to their references? And an incredible 30% have caught fake references during this process. If you’re among the 20% of employers who don’t do references you may want to change your mind.
6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Reference Checks
Ask the candidate for their help.
It is in the candidate’s best interest to provide valid reference information during the interview process. Talk to them about their list. Ask how recently they’ve spoken to these individuals. Ask them if they have permission to contact them. If not, as the candidate to call them first and let them know they’ll be expecting a reference check. If they refuse this could be the first indicator of a problem. Do not under any circumstance make the candidate feel unwanted and try to ease their concerns regarding providing you with more information.
Beyond dates of employment.
One of the reasons companies cite for not checking references is that HR policies are restrictive. They often don’t allow managers to provide information beyond dates of employment. A good interviewer can manage to get beyond this gate. At the very least, end the questions by asking if they would consider rehiring this person.
Pay attention to etiquette.
You need information so don’t act like this phone call is an imposition to your time and don’t let the other person feel like it is either. Be polite. Thank them for taking the time to speak with you. You can even ask about their business in general. You never know when you can make an important professional contact. All of this will help you get better information on your candidate.
Don’t accept letters of recommendation.
Candidates sometimes provide letters of recommendation and while these are a nice touch they don’t mean much when it comes to getting a verifiable reference. Tell the candidate that you appreciate the letter but you at least need to verify the information. If the employee no longer has the contact information make sure they can provide you with more recent reference information.
Watch out for red flags.
When listening to what a former manager has to say about an employee pay attention to the things they’re not saying or what they may be implying. They may avoid saying too many negative things, which can be a red flag all its own. Without making too many assumptions listen as much to what they’re not saying.
Are you conducting references checks on all your potential hires?
If not, our final tip to make sure you are hiring the best candidates across the country is to contact the experienced team that will guide you through the vetting process of all candidates.
Contact the NexusCW Team today for your workforce needs.
