References - and how Recruiters handle them

12 May 2023

The one aspect of the recruitment process you have little control over is the part when your potential future employer asks your past employer whether you’ll be able to cut the mustard before they officially employ you.

Many candidates are pretty nervous about this aspect of the hiring process simply because they have little idea what the new employer will ask and how the old employer will respond.

Here’s a simple outline of how it works:

How are References Obtained?

References can be sought with a bespoke letter, standard form, or phone call.
References are usually sought by a member of the HR Team, an administrator, or the hiring manager
They can be obtained before an interview or offer (usually only with your permission, though) or after an offer has been made.

What Questions Are Asked?

Many recruiters will have a standard set of questions they ask of referees in the hiring process, and if this is the case, the references are typically sought through standard letters or forms.

Questions can be about a whole multitude of issues, including:

Your performance in your old job
Any conduct issues which were raised with you
The skills you demonstrated when carrying out your role
Your ability to work well in a team
What your significant achievements were, and
Your ability to carry out your new job

So, basically, they can cover anything and everything! And on that basis, you must ensure you have been 100% honest throughout the hiring process. If there was a problem at your previous place of employment, you must mention it during the hiring process, as having it flagged up later will make it look like a lie of omission, not to have previously mentioned it.

Employers with more to lose if they make a poor hiring decision may pick up the phone with your old employer, so they can really grill your current or previous line manager about you and your performance.

It is during these discussions that more can be asked, in a more confidential way, than would be expected in a letter or standard form. Knowing there’ll be nothing much in writing about this discussion, both parties to the call can be more candid about you, but your new employer will feel more satisfied having a positive outcome to this discussion than a positively completed form.

What if there’s a problem?

It happens! Issues are picked up through the reference process; if they are, you’ll want your potential new employer to talk to you about them so you can explain any problems they’ve found out about. Having said that, they don’t have to!

There are frequent cases of job offers being withdrawn after a reference has been provided, and sadly it’s difficult to convince a new employer to change their mind. This is why, for us, the importance of being honest through a hiring process with your potential employer is paramount. References can uncover various issues, and nasty surprises can quickly put off potential new employers.