3 Reasons References Are More Important to the Hiring Process Than You Think

Whether you’ve been in the business for a while, or you’re just starting, hiring is an unavoidable part of running a business. When you’re hiring someone for your company, references are a vital component of the process. You want to make sure the person is capable of doing the job and fitting in with the culture that you have. Spending a little more time in the hiring process can ensure that you make the right decision.

Helps Solidify a Decision

One of the top recruitment secrets is to remember that a bad hire is worse than no hire. If you have to take a little longer to make a decision because of calling around for a few references, it’s better to do so. If you’re on the fence about a candidate, then talking to a few references can clear up any hesitations that you may have.

Additionally, when you’ve worked hard to establish a positive workplace culture, you want to hire someone who can fit well within it. Otherwise, it can be difficult for you and the new employee.

The Best Hires Will Have Plenty of Happy References

Great employees leave a good reputation behind, so when you have a tough decision to make between two candidates, comparing how their references speak on each individual can help you to make the hiring process easier. Candidates that hesitate to give references can be indicative of something. Don’t hesitate to ask a few questions so that you can find out whether he or she was loved or hated at his or her last job. Good employees will usually have plenty of references that will go on and on about a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and more.

Cut Down on In-Person Interviews

Hiring for a position can be a grueling process. Once you’ve sorted through dozens of applications and landed on the top five or 10, you’re supposed to call them in for in-person interviews. However, you may be able to learn quite a bit from what references have to say about a candidate. You may decide to hire someone based on a personal reference, eliminating the need for a face-to-face interview. Then again, a few references may not be so positive, reducing the number of people you’ll call to come in for an interview.

Ultimately, you don’t want to ignore the importance of asking a candidate for personal references. Call a few to find out if the candidate is who he or she says he or she is and if he or she is capable of fitting into your workplace culture. It can make it easier to hire an individual with confidence once you’ve heard from a few of his or her references.
Let us take the hassle of recruiting and finding applicants off of your shoulders, so that you can focus on what’s most important to you, and we can focus on finding the right candidate for you!