Do you ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels when it comes to hiring new employees? You might be doing everything "right"—advertising the position, reviewing resumes, conducting interviews—but somehow, it's still not working. Maybe you're overlooking something important in the candidate selection process.

A reference check can help fill in the gaps and ensure that you're making the best decision for your company. But who should you ask for references? And how do you know if they're telling the truth? Here are some tips to make sure your reference checks are as effective as possible.

Ask the Right Questions

When you're talking to a reference, it's important to ask the right questions. Here are some examples of good questions to ask:

• Can you tell me about the candidate's strengths? This will help you get a sense of what the candidate is good at and where they might excel in your company.
• Can you give me an example of a time when the candidate went above and beyond in their role? This question will give you a sense of the candidate's work ethic and how they handle challenges.
• Are there any areas where the candidate could improve? The aim here is to get a sense of the candidate's development areas and whether they are willing to work on them.
• Would you recommend the candidate for this position? This question will give you a sense of the reference's overall opinion of the candidate. It could also give you some insight into the reference's relationship with the candidate.

Asking open-ended questions like these will give you a better sense of who the candidate is and whether they would be a good fit for your company. But don't just take the reference's word for it –– ask follow-up questions to get a sense of how the candidate would actually perform in the role.

For example, if the reference says the candidate is a great problem-solver, follow up with a question about a time when the candidate faced a difficult challenge and how they handled it. This will help you get a sense of the reference's credibility and whether they're giving you an accurate picture of the candidate.

Use a Reference Checking Platform

A reference checking platform can help you streamline the reference checking process and get accurate information about the candidate.

One of the advantages of using a reference checking platform is that it allows you to contact references directly. This can be helpful if you're trying to get in touch with a reference who is difficult to reach or if you want to verify the information that the candidate has given you.

Another advantage of using a reference checking platform is it gives you access to a wider pool of references. For example, you might be able to contact the candidate's previous employers, colleagues, or professors. This can give you a more well-rounded picture of the candidate.

Using a reference checking platform can help you get more accurate information about the candidate and make sure that you're making the best decision for your company.