The Importance of Reference Checking
Throughout my 20+ years in the recruitment industry, I have been told numerous times that there is no value in reference checking. I totally disagree. Reference checking is a tool we use in the recruitment process to obtain information about the candidate and determine job fit. They also enable us to verify candidate details and at times, raise red flags that we need to investigate. Reference checks are not the final decision-making tool in the recruitment process, they are one of the many tools we use to determine best fit for the role.
To complete reference checks properly, you need to:
Set aside enough time: If you are completing verbal reference checks, this can be time consuming. Make sure you have enough time to not only verify the candidates information but also to ask questions relevant to the role the candidate has applied for.
Ask direct, open-ended questions: Make sure the questions you ask are open ended rather than those needing yes or no responses. This will give the referee a chance to give you a good overview of how the candidate works.
Request work-related references: Ask the candidate for a work-based referee, preferably someone they have reported to in the last two years. You would be surprised how many candidates list friends, family and coworkers as their referees.
Understand your legal responsibilities: In Australia employers cannot request personal information about the candidate, such as their age, if they are married or have children. These legalities apply to the references as well. In addition, you must ask the questions required by the Privacy Act prior to completing the reference check.
Prepare the questions: Be organised and prepare your questions. A reference check should also reflect the position the candidate has applied for. If you ask the candidate questions in the screening process, ask the referee to confirm that their answers are correct.
Be strategic with your reference checking: Due to the time involved, I tend to only complete reference checks on the shortlisted applicants who are offered an interview and prefer to complete one check prior to the interview and one following. The reason I like to leave the final reference check until after the interview is that there may be questions that come up in the interview that you would like to confirm.
I cannot recommend more highly that you take the time to complete at least one reference check, preferably two. There have been many times that red flags have been raised when I have completed checks which is one of the many reasons I debate with those who class reference checks as useless in the recruitment process.