Avoid Hiring Your Next HR Nightmare!
The most important decision we make in business is WHO we hire. These people instantly become the face of our business. Selecting the right people truly makes or breaks us.
Given the gravity of the situation, it surprises me how cavalier most operators are when checking references.
I recently asked a room of around 100 owners/managers how many had hired new staff in the last six months WITHOUT checking references. About 90 hands went up!
I have checked hundreds of references myself, and over 50% of all candidates are dropped from consideration after just 1 or 2 reference calls.
Here are 3 Tips for Checking References:
1. Don’t waste your time speaking with references listed on the resume. You don’t think the applicant is going to list a person they haven’t prepped beforehand, do you? At the screening interview, establish some NEW references (make it the candidate’s responsibility to get a direct phone number and convenient time to call).
2. Ask questions of the reference related to YOUR Core Values. e.g., “We are fanatical about cleanliness; how do you think Sara would hold up in our environment?”
3. Finally, at the end of the reference call: “Given the benefit of hindsight, how would you have managed Mike differently?”
Reference calls should be upbeat and conversational – not a dry Q&A.
Getting this right will minimize the chance of hiring the wrong person.
Good luck!,
