Performing Effective Reference Checks
In addition to conducting background checks on criminal and financial histories of an applicant, it is a worthwhile investment to ensure that the person’s references from previous employers and others are legitimate, relevant, and enlightening.
"Searching criminal records alone is not enough," says Zuni Corkerton, president of RefCheck Information Services, Inc. She points out that not all cases that pose a risk to an employer end up in the court system. "Some employers may terminate an employee for reasons that another employer would want to know about, but the terminating employer may elect to not pursue the matter through the courts."
In her estimation, an employer cannot do its full diligence in protecting its own employees, their customers, and their charges (i.e., children), without contacting former employers.
Here are some other points on checking references from Ms. Corkerton.
- Reference-checking is an art form. It's a skill that is not easily passed on to an employee. What's needed is someone who has strong interviewing skills, a sound knowledge of business, and the confidence level to recognize when additional information is needed.
- Reference-checking is serious business, because a lot is at stake—the safety of your employees, your customers, your charges, AND your business.
- Each reference check must be tailored to the position, the employer's needs, and the employer's environment. Generic questionnaires, designed to push the reference-checking process to the lowest possible level in the organization, provide little Return on Investment, and in fact are often a waste of time.
- If your goal is to align your hiring with your overall vision, reference check questions can be added to elicit information about whether your applicant promises to be a "good fit" with your company and your team.
For more information on reference checks and the job application process, read Ms. Corkerton’s article, "Employment Applications: The Devil is in the Details."
For Performing Effective Reference Checks: Zuni Corkerton is a Make Mine a Million $ Business Awardee.
Disclaimer: This resource is not affiliated with Count Me In. Count Me In cannot confirm the quality or reliability of the information presented.
