What’s in a Name?

Sometimes employers overlook this step, yet it can prove very illuminating. References should be available upon request, and should include a variety of people, including past work associates. Do you need to call every reference? Probably not. But we’d suggest calling at least two. The following reference form will help guide your mission. We also suggest customizing questions to investigate certain skills or abilities.

For more advice, feel free to call us and we’ll walk you through the process so you can get the most from your conversations.

Telephone Reference Form
Date:
Name of contact:
Name of company:
Phone number:

Candidate’s name:
Candidate’s current or previous title:

What was your relation to ______________?
How long have you known him/her?
For which job was ____________ hired, and what were his/her duties?
What were __________________’s greatest strengths and achievements?
What were __________________’s greatest weaknesses and challenges?
How would you compare __________________ to others who have held similar positions?
Would you recommend ___________________ for hire? (And if not, why?)