What Types of Questions Do Reference Checkers Ask?

In order to do their job, reference checkers ask questions of the people whose names you provide them on a reference sheet. They may also find other sources on their own if needed, but in most cases the names you give them are enough.

So create your reference list with care — and make sure all of you references are available and willing. You don’t want this seemingly simple post-interview part of the decision process to be what costs you the job. (More on that later on.)

⇒  Sample Reference Page With Notes

 

Now about those questions

Having been asked to check a potential hire’s references many times, I know the kinds of questions I asked. And I’ve also heard a lot of things other reference checkers ask about — including what I’ve been asked when providing references.

Though there are jobs where not too many questions get asked and even some where references are never called, if you are being considered for the position odds are someone will want to dig a little deeper. Here are the three main areas of concern that a good reference checker will try to get at:

• Are you telling the truth about your experience.
• Did you cause problems for your boss or coworkers.
• Can you really do this new job.

While they usually won’t say it quite that way, most reference checkers will ask questions that help them see if the you they met is actually the you they can count on if offered the job.

Sample questions reference checkers ask

Although no one reference checker will ask the same thing, here are some representative questions they may ask to get a feel for a person they don’t really know yet but still are looking to bring into their firm:

• How long did they work for you and when?
• Were they a good employee?
• What did they do for you?
• What are they best at doing?
• Any weaknesses we can help them with?  (Note the phrasing is more positive than suspicious, although it is totally about whether you want them at all.)
• What might a coworker say about them?
• Anything special they added to your company?
• Would you hire them again?
• Why did they leave?
• Is there anything else you’d like us to know about them?

Can references tell bad things?

Yes. To a point. And maybe not always directly. Even if being careful about what they say, references can find ways to not say things in a way that says things.

Years ago, you could pretty much ask anything. But in this litigious society companies started watching how much negative facts they shared when asked for references. Especially larger companies with legal departments.

So a good reference checker not only asks the questions, they listen for tone and any hedging … or answers that are especially short and without feeling. And they also try to phrase things to get at the truth without putting the reference at risk for divulging things they might be sued for.

Finding the right references

Since reference checkers ask probing questions, you want to make sure that the people whose names you give an employer are going to be helpful and not do you in because you annoyed them at some point. And you definitely want to give correct, current contact information.

A personal call from you is a smart move when you start job hunting. You can let your references know a call may be coming. And you can make sure they’re willing to vouch for you.

If not, keep thinking of names that will cast a positive light on you as a potential hire. Even if it’s volunteer work or people you’ve worked with or someone with local clout if desperate. Not your best bet, but at least worth trying if you don’t have good employer references. (And make sure you can explain why that is without looking bad.).

Some posts to help

Job References:  Sample Reference Page (with Notes)

What Does It Mean If a Job Is Checking Your References?

Job References: What If Former Bosses Don’t Work There Any More

 

When Job References Matter (and When They Don’t)

They Want Supervisor References. Are These OK?

Why You Should CALL Your References

 

Network contacts can sometimes help

Start Building Networking Connections That Last

Why Networking Matters So Darn Much