HOW TO DO A PRERFECT
REFERENCE CHECK
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Table of Contents
Introduction
1
Requesting a Candidate’s References
2
Developing a Reference Check Questions Guide
4 and 5
Dos & Donts of Conducting a Reference Check
6
Reference Check Technology
8,9,10
Conclusion
12
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
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“I love doing reference checks.”
Said no one ever!
Between the hours you spend nagging the candidate to give you their references along
with (heaven forbid!) working number and then tracking down the references to get some
sort of quote out of them, you might as well have just burned your day’s salary.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN INSIDE THIS GUIDE
How to request a candidate’s references
Creating a reference check guide
Instructions on how to conduct a reference check
What technology you should use
This ebook will give you the tips and steps
you need to take your reference check
process to new heights. Get ready to stop
suffering through reference checks and
instead conquer them like a pro!
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
80% OF EMPLOYERS SAY THEY
CONTACT REFERENCES WHEN
EVALUATING POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES
- 2012 C AREER BUILDER SURVEY
Requesting a Candidate’s References
So you decided you want to hire a new employee! After several interviews you are ready
to begin checking the references of your potential hire. If they didn’t include their
reference information on their resume or application, you are going to have to ask them
for it.
This is where things get tricky. In a perfect world, the candidate gives you accurate phone
numbers and email addresses in a timely manner. Unfortunately, that happens about 1%
of the time.
Question: How do you get your candidate to give you accurate references?
Answer:
You have them set up the meeting for you
In order to conduct the perfect reference check you must have the candidate set up all
the meetings with references for you. This works when you give the candidate the times
you are available to talk and then the candidate contacts their references and coordinates
times between the two parties.
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Requesting a Candidate’s References
continued
This puts the ball into the candidate’s court which results in less time spent searching for
correct numbers and tracking down references who don’t respond. Candidates will be
more motivated to find the best references, set up the correct times, and provide you
with all the information you need to make the right decision.
After the reference check meetings have been scheduled, you must decide what to ask the
references, in the next section we will explore how to develop a questions guide for your
reference checks.
NEARLY 3 in 10 EMPLOYERS HAVE
C AUGHT A FAKE REFERENCE ON
A JOB APPLIC ATION
- 2012 C AREERBUILDER SURVEY
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Developing a Reference Check Questions
Guide
The most important part of completing a reference check is utilizing a questions guide.
This way you can ask every reference the same question and eliminate the possibility of
Googling reference check questions before you call a reference.
THE FIRST SET of questions should ask something about the employment
of your candidate.
Have the reference confirm that the candidate did indeed work at Company X and then
have them verify the dates of employment.
THE SECOND SET of questions should ask about the candidates
responsibilities and job requirements.
You want to double check the candidate mentioned these responsibilities on their resume.
If their resume contains information not stated by the reference, ensure you ask the
reference if these responsibilities were part of the candidate’s job.
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Developing a Reference Check Questions
Guide continued
THE THIRD SET of questions should focus on the candidate’s behavior.
Was the candidate punctual and timely? How did the candidate handle deadlines and
stress? Can you speak about the candidates strong points and weak points?
A good wrap up question can be:
“Given the chance, would you re-hire this candidate?”
This should give you a good idea on how the candidate left the company and their overall
performance during their time there.
When you have developed your reference check questions guide, save it in a cloud doc
so all of your hiring managers have access to it.
Don’t forget to use it every time you do a reference check!
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Dos and Donts of Conducting
a Reference Check
DO...
Get right to the point! Reference checks are awkward as it is, don’t spend time
chit-chatting with the busy manager, let them know you want this to be as painless as
possible.
DON’T...
Check more than 5 references. 1 is too little and 6 is way too many.
DO...
Be on-time for the reference check. As everyone knows, reference checks are a pain and
you want to make it as easy as possible. If you need to reschedule, do so within 24 hours.
DON’T...
6
Ask questions about a candidate’s religion, sex, marital status and ethnic heritage. These
are illegal interview questions and can cost you your job or business!
HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Dos and Donts of Conducting
a Reference Check continued
DO...
Inquire if the candidate was a culture fit in the company.
DON’T...
Ask closed-questions like yes & no. You want the reference to divulge as much information
as possible about your candidate.
DO...
Ask the reference if you or another hiring manager can follow up if they have any
additional questions.
62% SAID A REFERENCE DIDN’T
GIVE POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT A
JOB C ANDIDATE
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- 2012 C AREERBUILDER SURVEY
HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Reference Check Technology
Since you have this handy guide to help you through reference checks, you have plenty of
time to run reference checks on all your new hires right? Generally, this isn’t the case.
Which is why using technology to check references is the best thing since applicant
tracking systems were invented.
Luckily, our friends over at SkillSurvey have developed “automated” reference checks that
rely upon industrial/organizational psychology principles and verified data to guide their
pre-hire assessment process. Which ensures you get automated reference checks and a
full report without doing the hours of work.
SkillSurvey’s Pre-Hire 360® is a web-based reference-checking solution that allows
recruiters and hiring managers to collect behavioral-based feedback from a candidate’s
references, including former managers and peers, in less than two days.
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Reference Check Technology
continued
Here’s how it works:
1. You enter a candidates name and email into a form and hit submit.
2. The specified candidate receives an email asking them to please enter in the names,
email addresses and relationship to a number of previous references (You decide how many!)
3. References will immediately receive an email from the candidate asking them to click a
link to anonymously rate different aspects of their observed performance.
4. The form asks references to first verify that the information the candidate entered
about the relationship was accurate. Then, reference rates the candidate on several
competencies (about 20 questions) that relate to the job for which they're being
considered.
5. The final portion asks for qualitative comments on the candidate's strengths versus
areas for improvement (in total, the reference takes about 10 minutes, depending on
how much they want to write)
6. After designated number of references are completed, a report is generated and
emailed to the hiring manager who ordered the report.
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Reference Check Technology
continued
How are the questions generated?
The questions are automatically generated based on the job you are hiring for. SkillSurvey
has extensively researched and validated the questions for more than 3,000 job titles.
See below for a snippet of the questions asked for a financial position.
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Reference Check Technology
continued
How many questions are there?
There are appox 20-questions that varies by job family.
How long does it take for a person to complete?
Average time of completion is 48-hours.
What does the report look like?
See below for a snippet
11% OF C ANDIDATES ARE DEEMED
HIGH RISK BY SKILLSURVEY
TECHNOLOGY
- 2012 C AREERBUILDER SURVEY
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HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
HOW TO DO A PRERFECT
POWERED BY
REFERENCE CHECK
Your perfect reference check is now closer than ever!
We hoped this guide inspires you to complete better reference checks and hire better
employees. Before you go, use the checklist below to determine if you are ready to nail the
perfect reference check!
1. Have you requested enough references from a candidate?
2. Has the candidate set up all of the reference check meetings for you?
3. Have you developed a reference check questions guide?
4. Have you given a reference at least 24-hours in advance before a reschedule?
5. Have you looked into reference check technology?
Yes to all the above? It’s time to start checking references!
Want to select the right people and check their references with ease?
Schedule a demo with Hireology to learn how you can make the best possible hiring decisions.
click here
12
SCHEDULE A DEMO
HOW TO DO A PRERFECT REFERENCE CHECK
Hireology’s award-winning Selection Management System helps companies organize their
hiring process and leverage data to make better hiring decisions. Franchise systems,
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operators use Hireology’s web-based Selection ManagerTM to deliver consistent and repeatable
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For more information, please visit www.Hireology.com.
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