6 Simple Steps for Successful Employment Referencing

Referencing - it’s a critical component of the hiring process but the way it is typically conducted has led it to become a burden to both HR managers and recruiters. For as long as the process is considered a necessary evil, it will not be done properly and the insights derived will be inconsistent, unreliable and will, ultimately, lead to uninformed hiring decisions.

There are six simple steps I recommend to ensure that every reference check you take is measurable, defendable and resourceful.

1. Ditch the phone

Phone-based reference checking is slow, time consuming and fraught with the risk of human error. Taking references by phone relies on the availability of referees and their willingness to provide the time and consideration required to provide useful feedback. Many companies now email forms direct to referees for them to complete and return. Typically these businesses rely on dedicated resource to chase the referee for completion. Put yourself in the shoes of the referee. How would you respond to this chasing? How does this approach reflect on the company trying to obtain the reference? None of us like being pestered, least of all by people we don’t know