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Employment reference checking services for job seekers, to confidentially verify employment references given by former employers.
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Employment reference checking of the job seeker's past job references with a report back to the job seeker.
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Guide to Checking Job References
Make sure potential employees are telling the truth about their pastContacting job references can:
- Tell you how well an applicant may fit in with the rest of your employees.
- Identify which skills an applicant has actually demonstrated in the past.
- Save you money by separating the star performers from the hapless.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Get permission
Before you start calling a candidate's references, the candidate must give you permission to call his or her former employers.
I recommend:
Include a reference check permission form in your application package – filling in the blanks as appropriate – and have potential employees fill it out while applying.
Prepare your questions
When you call former employers, have a list of questions handy and let that list guide you through the interview.
I recommend:
Your list of questions can be simple with fewer than ten questions that you follow like a script, or more open-ended with a few dozen questions to consider, depending on who you're speaking with. You can also verify information with a standard reference check letter. Download a template from AllBusiness.
Enlist online human resources help
QuickBase, from Intuit, is a Web-based solution that can give you access to helpful information on managing the hiring process.
I recommend:
See QuickBase back office and HR solutions for what's available.
Stick to business
You're not trying to find new friends, so keep your questions professional and on-topic.
I recommend:
If you feel you might venture into troubled waters while conducting interviews, print out a list of unacceptable questions and keep it handy as a warning.
Hire an investigator
Still not sure that you can tell the phenoms from the phony baloney? Then sign up with a professional reference-checking service.
I recommend:
Instead of calling former employers, call a reference service such as Peter LeVine Associates Inc., Verifications Inc., Global Verification Services or AXiOM International and let them do the work – but before doing so, have the candidate authorize this background check.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide- Call references. You can ask follow-up questions immediately if an unusual answer warrants more investigation.
- Contact at least three references. One rave review might be accidental; two suggest a trend; three show consistency.
- Ask former employers to describe the applicant's previous job duties, promotions or demotions.
- Verify employment dates, job titles, salary history, attendance record and reason for leaving.
- After asking a question, give the reference time to think of a response. Don't suggest answers or rush the person for an answer.
- Don't expect references to spill the beans on employees who misbehaved. The threat of lawsuits will lead many employers to say 'no comment' in place of anything negative.








