Reference checking new employees
Reference checking tips to get the best information about an applicant so you can be confident you’re making a good decision. Reference checking is often the last step in the hiring process – when you’re pretty sure who you want to hire, but before you’ve made an offer. Talking to the right people and asking the right questions can help confirm you’re making the right hiring decision. Always speak to at least one referee before hiring someone, and ideally two. As well as confirming your applicant’s work history and skills, they can help you get a better idea of how your applicant works and if they’ll be a good fit for your organisation. The applicant will usually provide two referees of their choice for you to speak to. If there’s someone else you’d like to talk to, discuss it with the applicant – you need their consent before speaking to anyone about them or you’ll be breaching the Privacy Act. People often won’t want you to speak to their current employer until they have