What is a blind reference check?

Blind references are those beyond the obvious ones that your candidate will give you and usually, therefore, ones that will offer an unvarnished view.

What is the best way to check references?

HOW TO CONDUCT REFERENCE CHECKS

1. Identify yourself, your title, organization name and tell them you are calling about a reference for a candidate you are considering.
2. Ask if now is a good time to talk or whether they would rather schedule a call at a later time.

What are the best practices in answering reference questions?

Best practices for conducting reference checks

• Notify candidates at the start.
• Get consent before reaching out to references.
• Be intentional.
• Let references know their answers are confidential.
• Avoid questions about a candidate’s personal life.

What steps do you take when checking a candidate’s references?

Reference check steps

1. Verify the candidate’s name.
2. Confirm how they know the candidate.
3. Ask what makes the candidate a good fit.
4. Have the reference rank the candidate.
5. Find out the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.
6. Ask about the candidate’s behavior.
7. Take the process seriously.
8. Conduct two verbal checks.

Are Blind references legal?

It is perfectly legal to direct your employees not to provide references on behalf of the company. However, the way around it is for your former boss or colleague to give a “personal” reference where it is made clear to the prospective employer that they are not speaking on behalf of their company.

How do reference checks work?

A reference check generally involves contacting applicants’ former employers, supervisors, co-workers and educators to verify previous employment and to obtain information about the individual’s knowledge, skills, abilities and character.

What can you not ask in a reference check?

Discrimination in Reference Checking

• Race.
• Height & Weight.
• Financial Information.
• Unemployed Status.
• Background Checks.
• Religious Affiliation Or Beliefs.
• Citizenship.
• Marital Status, Number Of Children.

Are reference checks good?

Performing reference checks is a crucial part of any company’s screening and hiring process. Reference checks can reveal good insight and details about a candidate that other background checks don’t provide—details like how they work and communicate with others, professional relationships, job-related skills, and more.

What are some of the problems involved in checking references?

Checking Employee References: Cons References can lie. You could get false information that disqualifies someone who actually would have been a good hire. Or you could get a glowing recommendation for someone that is not true. References can be inaccurate even if it’s not an intentional lie.

When should you do a reference check?

Always Run A Reference Check Before Offering The Job, and Other Reference Tips. To many hiring managers, checking references is a trivial formality that carries few benefits. But that belief is ill-informed. When done well, reference-checking can be illuminating and extremely valuable to the interview process.

How might you encourage a candidate to allow you to reference check?

What can you not ask during reference check?

Here are some of the questions you should avoid when checking references in the US:

• “Does The Applicant Have Any Children?” It is illegal for hiring managers to ask about relationship status before hiring.
• “What Is The Applicant’s Religious Affiliation?”
• “How Old Is The Applicant?”
• What Should You Ask?