Checking References
Pre-employment reference checks are important. The information available from
professional or personal references may be helpful in determining whether a job
candidate will be able to succeed and contribute to the University in the position under
consideration. This is a benefit not only for the University but also for the candidate as
well since placement in the wrong job could ultimately lead to unhappiness or even
dismissal.
Preparation:
It is preferable to obtain the applicant’s permission if you plan to call a present employer.
You wouldn’t want to jeopardize his or her present employment.
The best persons to contact are those who have supervised the candidate. They are in the
best position to provide valuable information about the candidate’s work habits,
performance, skills and abilities, and other appropriate work related activities.
To make this task easier the Sample Reference Check can be used as a tool to document
the reference responses. This is merely a guideline and may be amended to meet the
needs of the position. In fact, several spaces are designed to allow for specific
managerial, technical or unique questions related to the particular job. It also helps to use
this or a similar form to assure the consistency of responses and, where the references of
more than one candidate are being checked, that each is being treated similarly.
Guidelines:
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Identify yourself immediately explaining your position with Brandeis University
and why you are calling about the candidate.
Assure the contact that the discussion will be held in confidence and, if this is the
case, that you have the candidate’s permission to make the call.
Verify whether this is a convenient time to talk and offer to return the call at a
more convenient time if it is not.
If you can establish rapport with the person you are calling you may be able to
engage in a freer exchange; some people are more reticent under these
circumstances but if you can cite a mutual connection or point of interest it may
help to get that person to identify with you and the University.
Describe the position for which the candidate is being considered so that he or she
can give a more accurate evaluation.
Begin with an open-ended question that will require a general response such as
“How do you think the applicant would function in the position I described?”
Then you may refer to the specific and more focused questions relating to the job
requirements.
Brandeis University
Office of Human Resources
06/2009
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Don’t hang up until you are sure that you know the opinion of the person you
called.
Finally, at the end of the call be sure to thank the contact for his or her time and
assistance.
Brandeis University
Office of Human Resources
06/2009