SEPTEMBER 2006

As part of Whitaker’s “Standard Operating Procedure” I perform professional reference checking services on candidates either just prior to or just after an in-person client site visit, depending on the direction we receive from our hiring client.   Properly conducted reference checks can be a positive tool to learn more about a candidate in order to assure his or her success in the new job. A candidate's personality traits, work habits and interpersonal skills are often as critical to his or her success as the specific job skills. A thorough evaluation of past performance is an integral part of the employment process and if the employer views reference checking as worth doing at all, then it is worth doing well. And to do it well requires careful training in the art of reference checking.  Regardless of the type of job being filled, people assigned the task of checking references need to be trained to do it effectively and lawfully.  That requires a thorough understanding of laws pertaining to discrimination, invasion of privacy and negligent hiring, as well as the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  Learning about all of this has been an integral part of my Certified Personnel Consultant training and I believe it’s an important part of the value-add that I bring to the hiring process.   Whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of the reference checking process it’s important that you understand our role in the process and please don’t hesitate to ask questions!!

And speaking of reference checks – the shoe is on the other foot too!  I am occasionally asked to provide professional references to prospective or new clients for Whitaker and my services.  Although many of you have been kind enough to serve in this capacity over the years, we all love to have new and fresh words of praise to provide.  Consequently, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask anyone out there who might be willing, to please take a few moments and drop me a line via reply email with a “quotable quote” that I could use as a “testimonial” of sorts – what you like and value about my search services and the relationships that we’ve developed.  And of course humility not withstanding, feel free to gush!