Function

• Reference checks help employers ensure the appropriate candidates are chosen to fill open positions. These checks also help prospective candidates validate experience and bolster employer confidence in impressive resumes. Since some prospective job candidates embellish qualifications and relevant experience, these checks weed out untruthful attempts to gain employment.
  
  

Features

• The employer contacts the references provided during the interview process. Each reference is asked questions such as detailed information regarding the candidate's past work ethic and performance abilities. Records of the conversations are kept to ensure information provided by the job candidate is accurate. If the listed references are unable to be contacted after several attempts, additional sources will be requested.
  
  

Benefits

• The employer gets a more comprehensive picture of the each job candidate prior to extending employment offers. Job candidates often feel more relaxed after passing these screenings. The job candidate feels that his prior experiences have been thoroughly evaluated and are acceptable to the potential employer. Both parties feel freer to discuss employment specifics such as job duties and salary.
  
  

Misconceptions

• A less-than-stellar reference won't necessarily disqualify a job candidate from employment. Although the references a job candidate provides should be positive, there are times when adverse information must also be verified. For example, the employer may need to validate negative information such as why a prospective job candidate was fired. Honesty during the interview process may counteract past mistakes and circumstances.
  
  

Risk Factors

• Job candidates risk losing employment opportunities based on the outcome of reference checks. Although past business associates may promise to provide positive information, there's no guarantee of how the conversation may be steered by the experienced human resources personnel completing the checks.