Questions to Ask Candidate’s References

You love your candidate’s resume and you think that their personality would be a perfect fit for your company. Although everything seems great and you think you found your next long-term employee, it is important to make sure this person is who they say they are. Asking a candidate for at least three references is a wonderful way to make sure this applicant is the best fit.

1. Can you verify the job candidate’s responsibilities and why they left that job?

Make sure that your candidate is honest about their past positions. You also want to ask why they left their previous position. There is a chance that this person actually got fired for not doing their job well, but instead they told you that they quit because they felt that it wasn’t a good culture fit.

2. Did the candidate get along with their co-workers and management?

Hiring a coworker who is interested in drama will not end well. This question is vital to ask because you want to make sure that that your employee is someone who gets along well with their other employees.

3. Tell me what it’s like to work with the job candidate.

The candidate is likely to put their best foot forward during the interview process. This person is going to act as professional and as likeable as possible in hopes of giving them the opportunity to land the job. You do not know their true self or work ethnic just from that interview. This question will show you what type of employee they are. It is valuable to know how the candidate handles stress and tough decisions.

What are the candidate’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

If you asked the candidate about their strengths and weaknesses during the interview, then this is the perfect question to ask the reference. See if the candidate’s answers match well with the reference’s answers. A consistent and similar answer is a good sign!

These questions will ensure that you pick the right candidate for your company. Good luck!