How Do HR Check Your Job References?

Some individuals believe they can skirt around inaccuracies on their resumes if they perform well during the interview. However, the reality is that hiring managers can always request a list of individuals who can attest to your skills and experience, commonly referred to as job references or professional/employment references. Naturally, it’s challenging to decline such a request without valid reasons.

Modern recruiters are highly committed to verifying information, with job references becoming an integral part of the candidate assessment process. A 2019 survey by global staffing agency Accountemps revealed that one in three applicants is ruled out post the reference verification stage. This underscores the significance of maintaining honesty throughout the job application process.

Moreover, not every job seeker is familiar with the right approach to acquire and present references. This article aims to guide you through this aspect.

How do recruiters check your job references?

According to Dave Roebel, Owner of Northeast Mechanical Services, firstly, it’s essential to understand how job references are usually validated during the hiring process. HR teams or recruitment agents typically conduct this verification post-interview, especially when they’re uncertain or have reservations about the details you’ve presented on your resume or during your conversation. Their objective is to gain an external perspective on your credentials, and the kind of details they seek generally falls into two main categories:

• Objective data: This includes your designated position, assigned duties, the commencement and conclusion dates of your tenure, compensation details, consistency in attendance, dedication to work (with queries like “was he/she punctual?”, “did he/she frequently miss assignments?”), and the rationale behind your departure.
• Subjective feedback: This pertains to your performance metrics, prominent strengths and areas of improvement, demeanor, and innate characteristics (with prompts such as “how did he/she mesh with the managerial team and peers?”, “did he favor solitary work or a team setting?”, or “how effectively did he/she navigate disputes or high-pressure situations?”).
  

In some instances, potential employers might ask for a written recommendation from your references, necessitating you to be prepared with one.

It’s important to mention that certain regions or states mandate that employers secure your permission prior to reaching out to your references. These jurisdictions also dictate the type of details a previous employer can divulge. For instance, salary details are frequently deemed confidential.

However, paramount to everything else is their desire to ascertain your truthfulness. Integrity ranks high on an employer’s priority list.

Who to ask for job references?

According to Vaibhav Kakkar, CEO & Founder of Digital Web Solutions, potential referees can range from past managers, teammates, business associates, clients, or anyone acquainted with your professional capabilities. However, it’s vital that these individuals can offer positive or, at the very least, neutral and impartial feedback about you. While friends and neighbors can also serve as references, these fall under the category of personal references, which are frequently leveraged by college students when seeking volunteer opportunities, internships, or temporary roles.

The optimal reference is someone capable of sharing precise anecdotes that vouch for your abilities and traits, rather than mere broad observations. When it comes to listing job references, there are specific guidelines to remember:

Be honest

While some individuals might attempt to fabricate references, thinking HR won’t authenticate the details, HR professionals are often one step ahead. Rather than dialing the number you’ve provided, they might navigate to the company’s official website to ascertain if an individual by the given name and title exists. Alternatively, they might directly contact the company’s reception to verify the reference’s authenticity.

Always seek permission from your references

It’s unsettling for someone to be informed unexpectedly that their details are being used as a reference. Hence, always notify your references in advance, alerting them to the possibility of an inquiry about you. Ensure you gauge their comfort level in vouching for you, as they might be pressed for time or might not have exclusively positive feedback.

Express gratitude

Acknowledge the effort of your references by sending a thank-you note. This gesture conveys your appreciation for their endorsement, and you can also convey your willingness to reciprocate the favor in the future.

However, understand that certain corporate policies might prohibit managers from offering references. If they decline due to such constraints, empathize with their situation.

How should you present your job references?

Michaela Manuel of Caffeine Brothers says, commonly, employers delve into references towards the conclusion of the hiring process. Hence, unless explicitly asked, refrain from including your list of references in your initial application.

Although many individuals incorporate job references within their resumes, this method isn’t generally endorsed by career counselors. References ought to be presented in a distinct document, which should accompany other application assets such as your resume/CV, portfolio, cover letter, recommendation letters, certificates, and other pertinent documents, contingent on the recruiter’s stipulations.