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Key questions you should ask every reference

An estimated 96 percent of human resources representatives conduct reference checks during the hiring process, according to data from the Society for Human Resources Management. But how many of them ask the right questions when speaking to candidates' past employers?

Data on the subject isn't definitive. However, many references do report having surprisingly superficial interactions with HR personnel, The New York Times reported. This, of course, isn't how reference checks should go. You need to ask hard questions.

Having trouble coming up with the right questions? Take a look at these essential reference check questions:

"Can you describe the candidate's performance?"
Many hiring managers make the mistake of asking yes-no questions, which yield unusable information. This is a variation on a classic yes-no reference question: Was the candidate a good worker? The reformatted version allows for an open-ended response, Entrepreneur reported. This way, references can offer substantive details that will give you insight into how candidates might perform in your workplace.

"Many hiring managers make the mistake of asking yes-no questions, which yield unusable information."

"What was it like to supervise the candidate?"
With this question, you can assess how candidates will treat direct managers and other superiors. If references have less-than-positive feedback in this area, explore further. You want to know what underlying behaviors or situations were creating this friction and decide whether you can effectively address them.

"Would you rehire the candidate?"
Smart hiring managers normally drop this query at the end of the interaction, as it can encapsulate the entire conversation and leave them with a summary of sorts. No matter which answer you get, be sure to explore the reasoning behind it.

Now that you know what to ask, it's time to speak to some references. Of course, you're going to need candidates for that. YES Partners can help. Our executive search consultants can set you up with high-performing business leaders who have the skills and executive experience required to push your organization to new heights.

To see some of the roles we have already successfully placed, click here.

Finding people is easy, but finding the RIGHT people is not. YES Partners helps companies FIND the right people for all company functions, across many industries.

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