#022  Reference Checks in the Hiring Journey 

Conducting reference checks before extending a job offer is an important step in the hiring process, while some recruiters believe it’s a waste of time when they receive neutral feedback. 

In this article, I’ll talk about why conducting reference checks is valuable and how you can overcome the challenge of getting generic feedback to gain deep insights about your potential hires.

With that being said, let’s get started.

First things first, why conducting reference checks are valuable:

1.    To Verify Information:

       Reference checks help verify the accuracy of the info provided by the candidate on their resume or during interviews.

2.     To Predict Performance:

      As most of us know Past behavior is often a good indicator of future behavior. Understanding the candidate's past performance can help predict how they might perform in the new role.

3.    Most importantly, To Identify Red Flags: 

      Reference checks can uncover any potential issues that were not evident during the interview process.

But sometimes, the references do not open up  and you face the challenge of getting generic feedback. 

This could be because the references provided by candidates may be biased or they prefer to be like that until you dig them deeper. 

Let’s see how you can overcome this issue to gain deep insights about your potential hires.

1.     Ask for Examples:

Request specific examples or instances where the candidate showcased key competencies related to the skills and experiences that are crucial for success in the role. This may prompt the reference to provide more detailed info.

2.    Check with Multiple References:

I would suggest checking with ideally three references, especially those who have worked closely with the candidate. Obtaining different perspectives from various colleagues, bosses, or direct reports can provide a more well-rounded view. 

Make sure you ask each reference the same set of questions for a fair evaluation. This way, you can also identify common threads that every reference talked about.

3.    Trust Your Judgment:

While reference checks are important, trust your overall judgment based on the entire hiring process. 

If all other aspects of the candidate's evaluation are positive and reference checks are neutral but of course not negative, it may still be reasonable to extend an offer.

 I hope this helps.

Happy Recruiting!