The process of checking references enables you to get the information you need about candidates for the job you are offering. The management.about.com website states that it is good for the selection process when candidates know you are going to talk with their former managers.
Candidates will always give you a list of individuals that are pre-screened and will give you positive reviews. Candidates pick their references and often even tell them what they should say in order to make the candidate to look as suitable as possible. Managers don't usually check references, or they leave the job of reference checks to the HR department. All in all, the hiring HR is likely to get only sanitized and even fabricated information. And anyway, many companies only verify employment dates, with no references. How should you use the references more effectively?
Great employees usually have good relationships with their managers. They leave for pull reasons such as better opportunities and they keep in touch with their former superiors. Both a great candidate and his former manager are usually willing to talk. On the other hand, troublemakers don’t have strong relationships with their former superiors and won’t admit to any shortcomings. They are less likely to be able to get in touch with their former bosses.
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