Is reference check the last step?

• Yves Lermusi
• 2 MIN READ

Many people ask what it means if an employer does a reference check after-interview for job-seekers, and the simple answer is that they are interested in you. However, it does not necessarily mean anything more than that, so don't start to get your hopes up too much, too soon.

In some cases, competition within your particular industry, or chosen profession may be very fierce, and you may go from one job interview to the next without any success at all.

To learn that an employer is taking up references for you is a good sign and, if your references are good, this could very well result in you receiving an offer of employment. But a look behind the scenes will show you why you should not get too excited.

Here are some things to think about:

1. There are several strong candidates.
   If the employer has received a large number of applications for a particular position, then the list of candidates invited for an interview can be quite long. Where this is the case, it is not uncommon for an employer to be faced with several strong candidates and decide to use a reference checking service after the interview to simply narrow the field before drawing up a list of candidates to go forward with a second interview.
2. Your references might not be good enough.
   You may well be under the impression that the people who are going to provide a reference for you are going to paint you in the best possible light. This may not be the case. Many employers, in particular, will say good things about you, but they will also often balance this by making a note, even if it is only in passing, of your weaknesses. 

   

3. Your references might leave some questions unanswered.
   A prospective employer may well be impressed by your performance during an interview, but still have some doubts about your suitability for the position. Taking up references may be one way in which the employer is seeking to find the answers to the questions they have. However, if your references do not provide the answers that the employer needs, they are likely to continue looking at other candidates.
4. Your references might not be the deciding factor.
   For many employers taking up references is simply part of the employment process and, even if you receive glowing references, they may pay little or no attention to them. They will base their decision on any number of other factors, and your references are simply there as part of the hiring process.

It's very easy to assume that if you have made it through the initial job interview and your prospective employer is taking up references that you probably got the job. Unfortunately, many people think this way and, as a result, a lot of people are disappointed.

The fact that an employer does a reference check after an interview is certainly a good sign, but don't rush out and buy the Champagne just yet.

Getting a job in today's economy is a tough task, we are in a state where the amount of people looking for a job far exceeds the amount of jobs readily available. As a result companies can be more selective and stringent in their hiring process.

During the process of getting hired for a job, there are several indicators that serve as a good sign in your chances of landing the job. The following describes the typical hiring process that most companies go through in order to fill a job position within their business. The information is not set in stone but rather quite standard within the practice of HR.

Once you apply for a job, the first major indicator is quite obvious as you are selected for interview. At this stage they are happy with your credentials and want to meet with you in order to interview you to see if you are potential fit for their business. The company typically goes through a series of questions in an attempt to better understand your history, and see whether your personality may fit well for the job offer they have available.

If your experience goes well and you are selected as a potential candidate for the job, the next step is to offer you the job. Typically you only get a job offer after reference check, they need to confirm the experience and references you provided in you resume. This process typically involves using a reference checking service to ask a handful of questions relative to what you put down as your job description or as a character reference asking basic questions on your personality while on the job.

There are several limitations that are in place to protect you as a candidate from having a negative reference from an unhappy previous employers. The topic itself is a touchy one and somewhat of a gray area when looking at the entire HR process as a whole.

Typically it is recommended that the candidate call their references in advance mentioning that they may be called by a company that will potentially hire you. Be polite and let them know you have the expectation of getting an honest review regardless of their personal opinions or experiences with you. In extreme cases, you may also want to let them know that they are limited in terms of what negative things they can say about you and that it is against the law in certain ways.

In summary, getting a job offer after a reference check can be considered a last step in the overall hiring process.

If the company tells you that they are going to do a reference check, it's a good indicator that at that point in time you fit their requirements to be hired for the job. Barring any negative reference checks, you should feel quite confident that you'll be landing the job shortly after confirming your references.

We must reiterate however that this process is not set in stone, depending on the level of the job, checking references may be done across multiple candidates to select the person who in fact gets the best references of all the checks performed.

At what stage are references checked?

Do reference checks mean job offer?

How long after references are checked?

Is reference check a part of selection process?