Although reference checks are often overlooked, some jobs take this part of the application process very seriously. The interviewer should choose the right people to call and ask the right questions. Those conducting the interview should never ask for things that are protected by class information. What can – and should – be asked, however, includes questions that verify information, what it was like to work with the candidate on a day-to-day basis, the candidate’s greatest strengths and biggest areas of opportunity, and whether the candidate worked well as part of a team. Other questions to consider involve the candidate’s management style, his or her biggest accomplishment, and whether the employer would consider hiring the individual again.
