An HR question for this week: Should the candidate be made aware of the fact that their reference is the reason they are not getting hired? (The US only)
Some suggestions to HR professionals when this is the case:
– Do you have a structured reference check format where necessary information is documented?
– Have all the boxes were filled in there?
– How many reference checks do you carry out per candidate? A norm is to do a minimum of two, and then a third if one of the references turns out negative.
– Was this a personal reference that the candidate provided or did they put on their application their former supervisor and that was the reference in filling out past employer. There is a difference. Most employers have a policy that employees are not allowed to provide references if called by a background company due to liability.
– Finally, are the reasons for rejection work related and not just a matter of discrimination?