Getting reliable reference checks is essential to making sure you are hiring the right person for the job. Reference checks are one of the best ways to assess a potential employee’s past performance and evaluate their suitability for the position.

Conducting a reference check is easy and straightforward, but there are a few tips that can help you get the most out of the process.

‍

‍

‍

‍

Determine which references to contact

The best references are usually a combination of current and past employers, colleagues, supervisors, and mentors. Ask the candidate for at least three references and make sure to contact each one.

‍

Ask permission to contact each reference

Before contacting each reference, it’s important to ask the candidate’s permission to do so. This is not only a courtesy to the candidate, but it’s also important to make sure that the reference is expecting your call.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

Prepare questions in advance

Before making the call, it’s helpful to have a list of questions prepared in advance. These questions should focus on the candidate’s work history, skills, and performance. Good questions to ask include:

- How long have you known the candidate?

- What were the candidate’s job responsibilities?

- In what areas did the candidate excel?

- In what areas did the candidate need to improve?

‍

Listen carefully and take notes

When speaking with each reference, it’s important to remain open-minded and listen carefully to what the reference has to say. It’s also a good idea to take notes during the conversation, so you can refer back to any important information.

‍

Compare the candidate’s statements to the references

Once you have spoken with each reference, it’s important to compare what the candidate has said about their work history and experience with the information you have received from the references. This will help you get a better idea of how accurate the candidate’s statements were.

‍

By following these tips, you can make sure that you get the most out of each reference check. Reference checks are a great way to get an unbiased opinion of a potential employee’s work history and skills, so make sure to include them as part of your hiring process.

‍

Conduct FREE Reference Checks with Ref Hub

Ref Hub is a free automated reference checking software where you can conduct both phone and web reference checks. The software is built with a user-friendly technology, offering extensive features to complete multiple reference checks.

No onboarding fees. No credit card details required. Build unlimited templates. Add unlimited users. Conduct FREE reference checks for up to 500 candidates per month. Start conducting those reference checks with Ref Hub!

‍