Art of the Robust Reference Check

I know that a blog about reference checking might be about as interesting as watching paint dry but stay with me on this.

When a client asks for a due diligence reference on a candidate, it is important HOW to ask for the information and this will impact whether the reference is genuine and truthful.

Other than the detailed oriented questions (ie how long the candidate worked with or for the reference, relationship to, time frame, capacity, reasons for leaving etc) it is important to ask open ended questions that will allow for robust discussion. I ask the Reference to describe the operating style of the candidate. I also ask about describing the candidate’s biggest strength as an employee. What you want is to get the Reference in the mode of thinking and exploring the questions so that you are not left with a cliched responses.

I like to describe the new job that the candidate is applying for and then ask the Reference if the candidate would be a good fit for the position and why.

I also ask about areas of improvement they would recommend for the candidate. I always couch this by saying that we all need to improve and no one is perfect. I also say that I am not looking to “shoot the candidate down” but want to obtain a genuine look for my client so they are aware of any constructive areas for positive change.

Last, be a good citizen with the Reference by saying that they are now part of your network and offer that you will help them in the future. It can be a good start to a new business relationship.

The reference checking part of the employment process can be more than just a check off activity. It can be a genuine piece of robust information so the client can decide if the person is a great fit for the position, both culturally and technically. It can also serve as a start to a new business relationship for you.

Ok, go back to watching paint dry! :)

2017-07-15T02:06:10-05:00By sbalistreri|Uncategorized|

“As a search committee member, we selected Sal's firm to help us with a key CEO search. They made the process painless both for the candidates and our search committee. We made the right choice and Sal's team delivered.”

Michael Bennett, Head of the APRO Search Committee, APRO Search Committee

“Sal specializes in executive search and has delivered some outstanding results for Silvercar. He has assembled a great team and they conduct searches the way it should be done – from scratch! He understands the importance of not only finding the right skill set, but also finding the right cultural match. He does his homework before he starts and does it well. Sal has jumped through hoops for me and delivered great results. He provides personalized service from start to finish and won’t stop until you are satisfied. I highly recommend that you consider Sal and his team for your next search.”

Kay Stroman, Former Chief Administrative Officer, Silvercar

“Sal was definitely a huge asset in our recruiting efforts. He spent a lot of time getting to know our culture and understanding the values that were essential to the makeup of of our team. Sal is a great partner and I certainly recommend him and his firm to anyone looking to recruit a great team. You will not be disappointed!”

Craig Taylor, Former CEO, Cirrus Systems

“Sal clearly understands the culture of the client and clearly understands the REAL person behind the candidate. This allows him to best match clients and candidates because he sees beyond their words and understands their real talents and value systems. Sal also has the ability to present a candidate because he is committed to her/him and their talents and values they could bring to the job. He is even MORE committed to the client’s analysis of the candidate so that he learns from any rejection of a candidate in order to fine-tune the search for the next better candidate.”

Vickey Thayer Kleinsmith, Former Vice President Human Resources, Lozier Corporation

“I appreciate the fact that Sal takes not only the job requirements into account, but he also considers culture and “fit”. These are rare and valuable traits for a recruiter and that is one of the many reasons that we love working with Sal.”

Debbie Mitchell, President/CEO, Velocity Credit Union

“Sal is able to communicate our company culture and organic growth strategy and along with his high level of responsiveness, is a great partner to work with.”

Karen Ganzlin, Former Chief Human Resources Officer, TD Ameritrade

"Sal and his team are awesome partners in our success. His team has taken the time to become part of our team so that they understand the "fit" component of our hiring process that includes the mission, vision and values and most importantly, our culture."

Scotte Hudsmith, Chairman & CEO , Specialized Dental Partners

“Consider Sal if you need a recruiter for key management positions and C-Level searches. Sal is very focused on finding the right person for the right position. He produces solid candidates across a variety of industries and will personally work with his clients to help them achieve success in hiring. He is a seasoned expert, well networked and very responsive.”

Kurt Halvorson, President, Imprimis, LLC

“Sal and his team offered a great process with a very good long term result for Lozier. It was a process made easy for our team to meet all the candidates in a short period of time and come to a conclusion.”

Sheri Andrews, Co-Chair, Lozier Corporation

“Sal is one of those rare business executives who truly believes in the power of ‘doing well by doing good.’ He is generous to a fault with his time and his network. He spends his professional capital to help others in his community with no eye towards personal gain.”

Cat Nawawi, President, The Highland Group

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