There are reference checks and there are reference checks. The vast majority are worthless, but here are three resourceful, real-world methods - from my experience as an executive - that paid off bigtime. They relate primarily to executive searches, but may also be more broadly applicable. You decide.
How to Make Reference Checks Effective
Do it yourself. I’ve been a named reference for countless executive searches, but one was unique. A former associate (John) was one of two lead candidates for a vice president job at a solar company. When I got the call, it wasn’t the executive recruiter, but the CEO.
It wasn’t your typical strengths and weaknesses discussion. The CEO was leaning toward John, but some on his staff wanted the other guy. He had his concerns and I provided detailed anecdotes that helped him flesh them out. Making the call himself helped him to trust his instincts.
Use your own network. We all know that candidate-supplied lists are essentially rigged, so why bother? There’s no law that says you have to use it or that you can’t do your own reconnaissance.
Many years ago I was the lead candidate for a VP job at a large technology company. The hiring manager - an executive VP - sat me down and, after sharing all kinds of niceties, said, “I have only one concern. You’re a headstrong bully. Do you ever actually shut up and listen, and if so, to who?”
There was no way my references would have shared that perspective, but the feedback was dead-on and a real eye opener for me.
Share the results. Prior to offering me a Sr. VP job, the CEO took me out to dinner. I thought it would be the usual get to know each other thing, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. After about 15 minutes he pulled out a laundry list of impressions he’d formulated and anecdotes he’d learned about me from various sources.
We chatted for two hours and that discussion formed a surprisingly genuine baseline for my employment. The day I walked in the door, the CEO knew what he was getting and I knew that he knew. As a result, there was no BS and no showmanship. It was truly refreshing and beneficial to our relationship.
Got any reference check tips … beyond the norm?
