| The reference check is probably the most ignored | | | | The only reference check you should be getting is a |
| part of the job search process. | | | | glowing one. |
| As a recruiter I'm always amazed how many job | | | | Otherwise, why would you utilize this person as a |
| searchers consider the reference check to be a moot | | | | reference? |
| point given how little time and effort they spend on this | | | | Of course, no one is perfect and you're certainly not |
| part of their job search. | | | | asking your references to lie about your background. |
| Typically, references are completed by a company (or | | | | But if you use someone as a reference who refuses |
| recruiter) directly before they are about to make a job | | | | to even provide a reference check for you or gives |
| offer. Companies aren't in the process of creating | | | | you a really poor one, you should expect to lose out |
| extra work for themselves so they tend to only | | | | on jobs. |
| proceed with references when they are about to | | | | How should you organize your references? |
| make an offer to someone or in rare cases, when | | | | Be sure to do the following at a minimum: |
| they are trying to decide between two candidates | | | | 1. Put together a list of perhaps 4 references ideally. |
| they consider to be equal. | | | | Most companies will do 3 reference checks so having |
| In this case, the references could be the deciding point | | | | a spare person listed helps if one of the other |
| to determine which of the two candidates gets the | | | | references you mentioned are hard to get hold of, if |
| job! | | | | they are on holiday, etc. 2. Choose business |
| There are probably two big myths surrounding the | | | | references who know you well and who will honestly |
| reference check and they can cost you a job | | | | answer questions regarding your background in detail. |
| because they are both wrong: | | | | Try to avoid people who give short yes and no |
| Reference Check Myth 1: Once you've made it to the | | | | answers to questions if possible. As a recruiter, I've |
| reference check stage, you've pretty much got the | | | | done references where getting a detailed answer |
| job offer wrapped up. | | | | from the person is like pulling teeth, which is not helpful |
| The assumption here seems to be that the reference | | | | to your chances at getting the job! 3. Let each of your |
| check is unimportant. This couldn't be further from the | | | | references know BEFORE they are going to be called |
| truth. | | | | to do a reference check for you. This way, they won't |
| The purpose of a reference check is for a hiring | | | | be surprised when they get the call and you can tell |
| manager to verify your experience and to verify the | | | | them in advance which company will be calling them, |
| positive thoughts that they have about you with an | | | | what job you are being considered for and so that |
| independent source, someone who has worked with | | | | you can let them know which of your skills they will be |
| you in the past. | | | | asked about. 4. Don't forget to thank your references |
| A poor reference check can and most likely will cost | | | | after you've gotten the job. You might need to utilize |
| you a job. | | | | them as references again in the future so don't be a |
| Reference Check Myth 2: There is no such thing as a | | | | stranger and forget to keep in touch with them. |
| bad reference check. | | | | The reference check stage of the job search process |
| Uh, yes there is... Trust me, I've completed a bad | | | | can't be underestimated even though many people do |
| reference check for some of my job candidates on | | | | this. People do lose out on job offers at this stage and |
| more than one occasion. The "best" bad reference | | | | in many cases, probably don't even realize it! |
| check was for a woman whose former boss told me | | | | On that note, if you find you are performing well in |
| that he refused to provide a reference check for her | | | | interviews, make it to the reference check stage, but |
| because she hadn't left his company on good terms | | | | then don't get a job offer, you might need to look at |
| and he wanted nothing to do with her! | | | | who you are using as references and figure out if |
| Apparently, his opinion of this lady was not quite as | | | | there is a problem. |
| high as she thought it would be...Needless to say I | | | | If one or more of your references aren't giving you a |
| stopped helping this lady with her job search as soon | | | | glowing reference, you need to know about it so that |
| as this happened. | | | | you can find out why, and then find another person to |
| If I had been a hiring manager about to offer her a job | | | | use in their place. |
| and I'd gotten this response during a reference check, | | | | If you have put this much time and effort to get this |
| do you think I would have then made her a job offer? | | | | close to getting a new job, don't risk throwing it away |
| Neither do I. | | | | now at the reference check stage. |