What are good questions to ask when calling references?

What are good questions to ask when calling references?

Typical Reference Check Questions

  • How do you know the candidate?
  • How did you work with the candidate?
  • How did the candidate’s employment end?
  • What were the candidate’s job titles or roles?
  • Did the candidate receive any promotions at this company?
  • Does the candidate possess the job skills required for this position?

What questions can you not ask a reference?

Don’t ask about a candidate’s sexuality, age, religion or similar matters. Anything related to personal health. Don’t ask about a candidate’s medical history or the existence of disabilities. You can ask whether the candidate is capable of performing the tasks that the job requires.

What do you say in a reference check?

What can you ask during a reference check?

  • “How did this person manage a team?”
  • “What are some examples of this individual acting as a team player?”
  • “What was it like to supervise this former employee?”
  • “How effective was this person with completing the work given to them?”

What do job references get asked?

What do they want to know? Some of the questions asked when checking references are factual, centering around job title, salary, employment dates, etc. Reference checks are also an opportunity for an employer to get a sense of a candidate’s performance on the job and personal qualities.

What questions can HR ask a previous employer?

Fear of lawsuits often prevent employers from giving out too much information, but some questions have a better chance of eliciting an answer.

  • What Dates Did the Employee Work There?
  • What is The Documented Departure Reason?
  • Would You Rehire?
  • Does the Employee Pose a Threat?
  • Other Questions.

What questions do xref refs?

Understanding Xref: 7 Key Questions Answered

  • Is Xref the same as outsourcing reference checks?
  • How beneficial are references?
  • How do you know the right person is answering the questions?
  • How do you ‘probe’ if you’re not having a verbal conversation?
  • How is everyone kept updated on the progress of a reference?

Can an employer call a reference without permission?

While reference checkers are not prohibited from contacting people not specifically named as references by the candidate, there are a couple of important points employers must keep in mind: Candidates should have given permission, generally, for reference checking to be conducted.

How do you prepare a reference call?

If you agree to provide a reference, follow these tips:

  1. Keep the information factual. Avoid opinions about issues such as personal conflicts.
  2. Qualify what you say.
  3. Make your praise specific.
  4. Refer to specific tasks or projects.
  5. Avoid examples that highlight a candidate’s weaknesses.

What can an employer say when called for a reference?

You can legally state facts in response to a reference request. These facts may include whether your ex-employee failed a company drug test, the results of which were officially documented. In this case, you can legally state that your employee was fired or let go due to testing positive on a company drug test.

What do you say when calling for a reference?

Be positive “The highest praise you can give [in a reference check] is saying something like, ‘I would hire this person in a heartbeat. This is a person I want on my team. ‘” Sometimes reference checkers ask about a candidate’s weaknesses or press you to rank the candidate based on other employees.

Do employers call all previous employers?

Most times, they will speak with the human resources department or your previous supervisor. However, employers most often contact previous employers to verify you are accurately representing your experience with them, rather than get a review of your time with them.

How many questions does Xref ask?

The Right Mix of Reference Check Questions. Having taken a deep dive into 17 million answers to 100,000 questions asked using Xref, we can see what type of questions generate the best insights.

How long does Xref take to complete?

24-36 hours
What is the average turnaround time for Xref’s reference checks? Digital referencing on the Xref platform typically takes 24-36 hours.

How do you handle a reference call?

Should you say yes?

  1. Keep the information factual. Avoid opinions about issues such as personal conflicts.
  2. Qualify what you say. For example, “It was our experience…” or “In this situation…”
  3. Make your praise specific.
  4. Refer to specific tasks or projects.
  5. Avoid examples that highlight a candidate’s weaknesses.

How long should a reference call be?

The format is pretty simple — you’re going to need 15–20 minutes (although the very best reference calls run to 30 mins), and in my experience, these questions are plenty to go get a good conversation going: How long have you known X, and in what capacity?

  • August 22, 2022