Checking Your References: How to get Useful Responses From Former Employers

By: Mel Kleiman | 8,290 Reads | 1 Shares

Featured in: Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine: Issue 2, 2011

%3Cp%3EIn+the+course+of+my+speaking+and+consulting+engagements%2C+I%27ve+found+that+many+franchisees+have+given+up+even+trying+to+get+meaningful+references+on+promising+job+applicants.+From+the+frustrating+experiences+recounted+to+me+by+others+and+my+own+company%27s+policy%2C+I+know+that+most+employers+will+report+only+dates+of+employment+and+the+starting+and+ending+wage+or+salary+figures.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3EThe+information+clampdown+is+the+understandable%2C+but+misguided%2C+response+to+the+number+of+lawsuits+filed--and+won--by+former+employees+who+went+to+court+to+dispute+what+they+believed+were+unfair%2C+unfavorable+references.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3ETo+complicate+matters%2C+the+turbulent+economy+has+made+it+possible+for+dishonest+people+to+list+defunct+companies+as+former+employers%2C+as+well+as+to+create+a+job+title+and+range+of+responsibilities+that+lead+you+to+believe+you%27ve+found+just+the+person+you%27ve+been+looking+for.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EA+pre-employment+screening+company+in+Colorado+reports+that+one+in+10+job+applicants+they+screened+had+a+criminal+record.+The+fact+that+this+company+ran+approximately+800%2C000+background+checks+last+year+makes+that+number+even+scarier.+They+also+found+one+in+three+applicants+misrepresented+themselves+on+an+employment+application%2C+and+one+in+four+provided+false+educational+or+credential+records.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EIf+you%27re+not+getting+references%2C+those+numbers+give+you+an+idea+of+the+kind+of+risk+you%27re+taking.+When+you+rely+only+on+information+provided+by+the+applicant%2C+you%27re+at+risk+for+everything+from+hiring+a+dishonest+person+to+a+costly+negligent+hiring+lawsuit.+The+only+good+news+here+is+that+if+you+at+least+try+to+get+references+and+someone+withholds+unfavorable+information%2C+it+will+probably+reduce+your+liability+should+anything+untoward+happen.+%28Just+be+certain+to+document+your+conversations+and+keep+these+records.%29+While+this+is+a+good+defensive+strategy%2C+it%27s+better+yet+to+get+the+information+you+need+to+make+a+sound+hiring+decision.+And+it+can+be+done.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ch2%3ESteps+you+can+take%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EFirst%2C+if+it%27s+not+already+a+part+of+your+employment+application+form%2C+get+%3Cb%3Ewritten+authorization%3C%2Fb%3E+from+all+applicants+to+check+their+references+and+run+a+background+check+%28whether+you+actually+do+so+or+not%29.+This+release+helps+hold+you+and+everyone+who+provides+information+harmless+and+free+of+any+liability+that+could+result+from+the+process.+%28For+a+sample+form%2C+register+at+www.kleimanhr.com+and+visit+the+%22Members%22+page.%29%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EThen%2C+when+you+conduct+the+interview%2C+position+the+applicant+to+tell+you+the+truth.+Job+seekers+are+inclined+to+put+things+in+their+very+best+light+on+their+resumes%2C+on+your+application+form%2C+and+in+person.+However%2C+there+is+a+specific+positioning+technique+that+gets+people+to+tell+you+what+you+need+to+know.+It+was+discovered+during+the+early+use+of+lie+detector+technology+for+pre-employment+testing+when+administrators+found+they+would+get+more+admissions+pre-polygraph+when+they+carefully+positioned+people+to+tell+them+the+truth+by+saying%2C+%22We+expect+you+to+be+honest.+If+you+aren%27t+completely+honest+and+it+shows+up+on+the+lie+detector+exam+you%27ll+be+taking+later%2C+we+cannot+hire+you.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3EBecause+people+have+a+propensity+to+meet+our+expectations%2C+we+can+use+this+technique+to+our+advantage+when+conducting+interviews--without+hooking+anyone+up+to+a+lie+detector.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3EJob+applicants+show+up+for+interviews+well+prepared+to+tell+you+exactly+what+they+think+you+want+to+hear.+However%2C+if+you+tell+them+at+the+beginning+of+the+interview+that+you+expect+the+truth%2C+you+change+their+mindset.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EPosition+applicants+to+tell+you+the+truth+by+saying+something+like%3A+%22I%27m+going+to+be+very+open+and+honest+with+you+about+the+job+and+our+company%2C+and+I+hope+you%27re+going+to+be+open+and+honest+with+me+about+yourself.+It+doesn%27t+matter+if+you%27ve+ever+resigned%2C+been+fired%2C+or+had+difficulty+with+a+former+employer.+As+long+as+you+tell+me+about+it%2C+we+can+take+it+under+consideration.+But+if+you+don%27t+tell+me%2C+and+we+find+out+about+it+when+we+do+your+background+check+and+look+into+your+history%2C+I+can%27t+hire+you.+Do+you+understand+what+it+is+I+want%3F%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EThen+wait+for+the+applicant+to+say+something+like%2C+%22Of+course%2C+you+want+the+truth.%22+Once+you+get+this+acknowledgement%2C+you%27ll+find+applicants+much+more+forthcoming.+Approximately+90+percent+will+be+more+honest+than+they+planned+to+be.+Ten+percent+may+still+omit+information+or+lie%2C+but+this+approach+gets+most+applicants+to+tell+you+what+they+really+weren%27t+planning+to%3A+the+unvarnished+truth.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EThere%27s+also+a+simple+tool+you+can+add+to+your+hiring+process+that+will+get+you+the+references+you+need%2C+as+well+as+help+managers+to+do+a+better+job+of+interviewing.+A+%3Cb%3Ereference+verification+form%3C%2Fb%3E+includes+the+release+from+liability+discussed+earlier+and+requests+basic+information+about+each+relevant+former+job+and+employer.+A+separate+form+is+completed+for+each+of+the+applicant%27s+last+three+jobs+or+the+last+five+years+of+work.+For+each+job%2C+applicants+are+asked+to+rate+themselves+as+they+think+their+previous+supervisors+would+on+job+performance+measures+such+as+initiative%2C+dependability%2C+productivity%2C+effort%2C+cooperation%2C+and+overall+performance.+%28A+copy+of+this+form+can+also+be+found+on+the+Members+page+at+www.kleimanhr.com.%29%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EWhen+you%27re+ready+to+do+the+reference+check%2C+you+simply+fax+or+email+the+completed+form+to+the+reference+with+a+notation+that+you%27ll+be+calling+to+discuss+the+information.+When+the+reference+sees+you+have+provided+the+applicant%27s+release+in+writing%2C+as+well+how+the+applicant%27s+self-rating%2C+you%27ll+find+you+get+a+great+deal+more+cooperation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EExperience+shows+that+employers+get+useful+responses+and+reliable+answers+more+than+90+percent+of+the+time+when+they+use+this+tool.+The+technique+is+effective+because+you%27re+asking+references+only+to+confirm+the+applicant%27s+self-ratings--not+to+divulge+information.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ch2%3EAdditional+strategies%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EIf+you+still+meet+with+resistance+when+using+the+form+to+check+references%2C+try+these+strategies%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cul%3E%0D%0A++%3Cli%3E+Have+the+applicant+do+the+legwork.+Ask+the+applicant+to+call+and+tell+the+reference+you%27ll+be+calling%2C+and+that+they%27d+appreciate+it+if+the+reference+would+cooperate.+The+applicant%27s+follow-through+%28or+lack+of+it%29+will+tell+you+a+lot+about+their+viability+as+an+employee.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A++%3Cli%3E+Try%2C+try+again.+If+you+call+the+applicant%27s+former+department+and+are+referred+to+human+resources%2C+try+the+department+again+later.+You+may+get+more+information+if+a+different+person+answers+the+phone.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A++%3Cli%3E+Have+someone+else+try.+Sometimes+it%27s+difficult+to+establish+rapport+with+a+reference.+Someone+else+may+be+able+to+get+more+information.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A++%3Cli%3E+Speak+with+a+former+co-worker.+You+may+get+a+more+willing+response+from+the+applicant%27s+previous+co-workers+than+from+their+former+supervisor.+%28It%27s+also+possible+you+may+obtain+valuable+leads+on+other+potential+job+candidates.+After+all%2C+if+the+applicant+you%27re+checking+on+was+unhappy+enough+to+leave%2C+chances+are+someone+else+may+be+too.%29%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A++%3Cli%3E+Appeal+to+the+person%3B+don%27t+think+of+them+as+just+a+%22reference.%22+If+you+have+established+a+good+rapport+with+the+person+on+the+phone%2C+but+they+will+not+give+you+any+information%2C+you+could+try+this+approach%3A+%22I+understand+you+may+not+want+to+discuss+this%2C+but+if+you+could%2C+what+would+you+tell+me%3F%22+It+may+sound+too+simple%2C+but+it+does+work+occasionally.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWhatever+you+do%2C+don%27t+give+up+or+pass+on+getting+reference+information.+If+you+don%27t+get+any+cooperation+and+then+hire+the+person%2C+document+your+inability+to+get+meaningful+references+and+keep+the+records+in+the+employee%27s+file.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EAlso%2C+take+a+moment+to+consider+your+own+policy+on+references.+As+employers%2C+we+owe+it+to+our+employees+and+the+publics+we+serve+to+hire+decent%2C+ethical%2C+safety-conscious+employees.+One+of+the+only+ways+to+do+this+is+by+sharing+information+with+one+another+about+former+employees.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%09%3Cp%3EWhen+you+hire+new+people%2C+ask+them+to+sign+a+release+that%2C+should+they+leave%2C+allows+you+to+give+references+when+asked.+If+every+employer+would+adopt+this+procedure%2C+negligent+hiring+lawsuits+would+soon+be+only+a+footnote+in+law+school+texts.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Ci%3E%3Cb%3EMel+Kleiman%3C%2Fb%3E+is+a+consultant%2C+author%2C+and+Certified+Speaking+Professional+on+strategies+for+hiring+and+retaining+the+best+employees.+He+is+president+of+Humetrics%2C+a+developer+of+systems%2C+training+processes%2C+and+tools+for+recruiting%2C+selecting%2C+and+retaining+the+best.+You+can+reach+him+at+713-771-4401+or+mkleiman%40humetrics.com.%3C%2Fi%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: July 7th, 2011

Share this Feature

ADVERTISE

SPONSORED CONTENT

ADVERTISE

SPONSORED CONTENT

ADVERTISE

SPONSORED CONTENT

FRANCHISE TOPICS

FEATURED IN

Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine: Issue 2, 2011

ADVERTISE

SPONSORED CONTENT

Conferences

Multi-Unit Franchising Conference

Caesar's Forum, Las Vegas

MAR 24-27TH, 2026

Magazines

Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine

Read

TOP OPPORTUNITIES

Snapology

Starting your own Snapology education franchise is affordable, flexible, and provides a great opportunity for success. Find out more today on how you...

Request Info

Learn More

Urban Air Adventure Park

Own a highly profitable business that impacts lives in your community by jumping into action as an Urban Air franchisee owner.

Cash Required:
$750,000

Request Info

Learn More

Share This Page