Once you have narrowed down your pool of applicants to the final few, you'll find yourself wanting to learn more about the candidates. There are a few ways to get more information about a potential hire beyond the interview and what their resume says. One of those is by performing a background check. For more information on this, see our previous post. While a background check will give you a clear idea of a person's criminal history, credit history, and past addresses, what it doesn't give you is a good sense of who they are as a coworker or employee. That's where conducting reference checks on a potential hire come into play. Do you need a reliable South Carolina laundromat equipment dealer? Call the pros at T & L today for big savings!
Many employers skip over the reference checking process entirely or rush through it. However, the cost of a poor hire can be three to four times the person's salary. Instead of treating this process as a mundane formality, use it as a chance to get to know the people you are considering. While some people may interview well or look great on paper, verbal reference checks are often the best way to get insight into their past performance.
Before you pick up the phone to call your candidate's references, think carefully about the type of information you are hoping to ascertain. Outline the core skills that are required for their position. If you asked the candidate these questions during their interview, you should then ask their former boss and see where the answers align. Ideally, they will sync across the board. If they don't, that could be a red flag.
Once you have reached out to the references for your candidates and have them on the phone, take detailed notes about what they say. Ideally, you should conduct two reference checks. If, however, you have a candidate that gets a glowing review from one reference and then a not so great review, you may want to conduct a third check to get a better idea about this potential staff member's performance. Remember not to put words in the reference's mouth. Relax and listen. Don't try to manipulate the conversation to favor your preferred candidate.
Be wary of fake references. You'll want to do your homework before reaching out to former bosses. Check their profile on LinkedIn and then connect with them after the reference check to verify that they are a real employer your potential candidate has actually worked for.
South Carolina Laundromat Equipment Dealer
If you ask our previous customers about working with T & L Laundry Equipment, you'll find that we stand out for our dedication to the customer, upfront and honest service, and that we have a passion for the vended and commercial laundry industry. For more than 40 years we have helped laundromat and commercial laundry owners be successful in their businesses by staying ahead of industry trends, offering the latest equipment, and carrying the area's most extensive selection of genuine manufacturers' replacement parts. Experience the T & L difference for yourself. Call or come by the showroom today if you need to work with a trusted South Carolina laundromat equipment dealer!
