Tips to Help Make a More Effective Reference Call

admin | October 30, 2011 | 0 Comments

Ever notice how many things change over the years thanks to the internet, smart phones and the evolution of the personal computer, well one thing that still seems to remain the same are reference check phone calls. Even with all the tools at our dispersal, employers will still resort back to the telephone because you can get a lot more out of a conversation that is easily missed in an email. Here are 5 tips you should remember when you are making a call to somebody on your candidates reference check list.

Plan the call beforehand. You may not be able to know exactly how the conversation may turn out but it is always a good idea to have a little plan to ensure that you get all you need from it and like most things it obviously gets easier the more that you do it. Have a pen and paper ready to take notes as well during the call as something may arise that you hadn’t thought about or you may think of other questions as you go.
Introduce yourself. This one may sound obvious but it is always important to let the person you are calling know who you are, your position and why you are calling. Ask if they have time available for such a discussion, and if not, arrange with them another time when you can call back, or leave your information and offer for them to call you when they get a chance.
Mention that the candidate and the position. Keep to the point of the conservation and be sure to mention the candidate and that they are being considered for a certain position; you can then continue and confirm the accuracy of the employment information that the candidate may have provided and verify the relation between the candidate and the person you are talking to. Allowing the referee know more about the position may also provide help to determine how they would do at such a position.
Ensure to ask general questions to provide sufficient information. Remember that this will help evaluate the candidate for the position so be sure to ask questions such as “Do you think the applicant would be a good fit for the job?” Then allow the person to have time to provide input on the candidate. Just like interviewing, open-ended questions and statements usually works best. Pay attention to any pauses in the discussion and be ready to dig for further information when needed.
Thank the referee. After you have finished gathering your information be sure to thank the person for their help and to leave a good impression with them about yourself because often the call can also provide some extra PR for you as well.