Speaking to references is an excellent way to get more information about applicants and be able to verify the information they’ve provided to you. As a best practice, it is recommended that you get an applicant’s formal written consent to check their references, but if they’ve provided you with a reference list with names and contact methods for this specific purpose, additional authorization is likely not needed.
When speaking with references, open-ended questions are often the most helpful—if they are willing and able to answer them. It is best to ask whether the applicant would be a good fit for the role and what skills the applicant has that would make them well-suited to it. It is also usually good to ask about any times the applicant needed to be coached and how they responded to feedback.
If a reference doesn’t seem willing or able to answer open-ended questions, you can ask them to confirm employment information that the candidate has already provided (e.g., dates of employment, reason for leaving). In the process, the reference may open up about the applicant’s strengths and weaknesses related to their previous position or about other job-related details. If they don’t, then it is recommended that you ask whether they’d recommend the applicant for your position. Even a simple yes or no answer will speak volumes.
Should you need any addition help with these kind of HR questions, please contact CyQuest for more information!