What questions to ask when checking references for a job?

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 job reference?

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?

What questions can an employer ask a previous employer?

What Employers Want to Know

Dates of employment.
Educational degrees and dates.
Job title.
Job description.
Why the employee left the job.
Whether the employee was terminated for cause.
Whether there were any issues with the employee regarding absenteeism or tardiness.
Whether the employee is eligible for rehire.

How do you conduct a reference check?

Reference check steps

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

What can potential employers ask former employers?

What questions can you answer as a reference?

20 Best Reference Check questions

What was your relationship with the candidate?
How long did you work with each other?
How would you rate their work?
What were their daily duties?
What were their main responsibilities?
Were they dependable?
Did they complete the tasks and assignments given to them?

When someone calls for a reference what can you say?

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.

Can employers contact references 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.

Can candidates legally ask to see notes from a reference check?

Under the Privacy Act, a job candidate can apply to see notes made about them during recruitment process. Harmers Workplace Lawyers senior associate, Bronwyn Maynard, says candidates can just apply directly to an employer or recruiter.

What is included in a reference check?

A reference check is when an employer contacts a job applicant’s previous employers, schools, colleges, and other sources to learn more about his or her employment history, educational background, and qualifications for a job.

What should I put as a weakness for a reference?

Examples of weaknesses related to your work ethic might include:

Leaving projects unfinished.
Providing too much detail in reports.
Shifting from one project to another (multitasking)
Taking credit for group projects.
Taking on too many projects at once.
Taking on too much responsibility.
Being too detail-oriented.

What to say when someone puts you down as a reference?

Should you say yes?

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