A: When checking references we go thru a basic list of questions which we then add to depending on the situation.
Establish the relationship of the referrer. The candidates previous supervisors are the most relevant, followed by any other superior in the company who would have worked with or known the applicant at a previous employer. Coworkers have more validity as you go up the ladder into management positions.
-How long did the person work there and what were their responsibilities. (are they the same as the candidate described) -How well did they perform in the position -Were they a hard worker -Did they put in overtime on a voluntary basis -Did they regularly take individual initiative -How did they compare with others in a similar role: strengths, weaknesses. -How did they get along with peers, subordinates, superiors, clients etc -If they had to supervise staff, how well did they do that , what was their style -Were there any problems with timekeeping, reliability etc. -Were there ever any personal problems that affected their work on an ongoing regular basis -Would you rehire them
Add to this any specific question related to the position being filled such as specific skills or experience, performance under different types of situations, or different supervisory styles etc
Speak to at least 3 people.
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