What Is A Reference Check? Definition, Types & How to Pass

Reference checks are the harsh reality of the hiring process.

Most people dread and fear what their references will say or how they will impact their chances of getting a job. Going further, some people don’t have references whatsoever.

No matter your situation, it’s important to understand the referencing process to ease any anxious feelings you might have about it.

Use this article as a guide to better understand what reference checks are, how they work, and how they differ from background and back-door reference checks.

What Is a Reference Check?

Let’s start with the basics, understanding what a reference check is. Reference checks are interesting.

They provide a window into the diligence and job history of applicants looking for practical and high-paying positions.

While you can use references to get any job, they’re typically not too important for starting positions.

References for a job act as a vouching system in the hiring process; some see it as a validation check.

Simply put, reference checks involve potential future employers contacting an applicant’s previous employers, organizations, schools, and other parties to validate a candidate’s credentials and past employment history.

Here are things you can expect an employer to look for in a reference check:

• Employment dates
• Job title
• Education background
• Skills and qualifications

Is a Reference Check the Same as a Background Check?

No, a reference check isn’t the same as a background check.

While both may have a similar goal in validating and looking into an applicant’s past, they look for different things. For example, reference checks focus on validating the credentials of the applicant.

A background check focuses on an applicant’s criminal and financial history. Both are important to the screening process but focus on identifying and verifying different things. So, background checks are more intrusive than reference checks.

Here are things you can expect an employer to look for in a background check:

• Criminal history
• Driving history
• Credit history
• Arrest records

What Is a Back-Door Reference Check?

You may have heard of a back-door reference check before, but maybe you don’t know what it really means.

When a recruiter conducts a back-door reference check, they do a reference check beyond the information you provide them.

For many, it can get somewhat worrying when a company looks into you beyond your resume, cover letter, and references.

Since companies gather information beyond what you give them, back-door reference checks are typically frowned upon and seen as intrusive.

Even so, companies still conduct back-door reference checks to understand whom they’re hiring.

Here are some reasons why an organization may conduct a back-door reference check:

• Remove bias: It’s no secret that we all want to put our best foot forward. Applicants will typically only offer references that make them look good, which creates a bias in the hiring process. While this isn’t bad, some employers prefer an unbiased recruitment process.
• Double-check facts: Another reason prospective employers do back-door reference checks is to confirm facts that relate to your references, stories, and overall credibility.
• Gather broad information: Back-door reference checks are also done to gather general information about people. For example, social media interactions, general employment, and any public information available.

How Does a Reference Check Work?

There’s nothing too complex about the reference check process, and it’s relatively simple. A reference check works like this.

First, the employer will ensure that the references provided are legit. These references should be under your resume’s “references available upon request” section.

Next, they’ll contact previous employers, schools, and other types of references you list in your resume.

The process will build your credibility and give the recruiter a good idea of how you fit into the organization.

What Is the Purpose of Reference Checks?

The main purpose of a reference check is to verify the information and see how the applicants’ past job experience helps them in the current position they’re pursuing.

Reference checks are an opportunity for the employer to research future hires and a fantastic opportunity for applicants to show how their past work experience can help the company.

What Is Checked in a Reference Check?

I bet you’re curious about the secrets behind the reference check process.

To many, it’s a mystery, but honestly, it’s not as magical as you might picture it in your head. The information that companies are looking for is extremely basic.

Generally, they’re looking at your employment history, education, and what you did in your past positions.

Dates of Employment

The first thing your future employers will check is the dates of your employment.

Typically, they’ll look for any gaps between employment and do some research into why there are large or short gaps between jobs.

Next, they’ll confirm whether or not you actually held those jobs or not.

Job Titles

The next item the recruiter will check is your position in your last few jobs. They’ll check your job title to see what you did at your previous job.

Knowing your job title will give them a general idea of the skills you need for that position and whether or not they’ll translate into your new one.

Dates of Attendance

Hopefully, you won’t have a problem showing up to work, but just in case, your future employer may want information about how often you showed up to work.

A reference that can vouch for your attendance at work is extremely important during the referencing process.

Degree Acquired

The next order of business is checking the education of the applicant.

Verifying education is one of the main reasons employers will go through the referencing process. If you went to an accredited school, it’s very important that you use them as a reference.

Insight Into Skills, Qualifications, Abilities, Aptitudes

Finally, the last thing that employers will check is the applicant’s general skills, qualifications, and other traits and abilities.

Essentially, this check is the extra icing on the cake beyond the necessary information that the employer collects.

What Step Is a Reference Check in the Process?

The step of the reference check will vary depending on the HR department and business size.

Some businesses see it as a checklist item to save for last and don’t look too much into it. While it varies, most reference checks are near the final stages of the hiring process.

This belief is more common in larger businesses that don’t value reference checks as much as smaller ones.

How Many Reference Checks Are Done?

Normally, only two or three reference checks are done. If you list an abundance of references, expect most businesses to only look at a handful of them.

Typically, companies only use references to verify the information they already know about you.

Can You Fail a Reference Check?

There are a few sure ways to “fail” a reference check.

The first and most common way to fail a reference check is by lying about your past work experience.

The next is that your reference doesn’t answer or provide the information the company needs. If your contact doesn’t pan out or isn’t real, it will reflect poorly on you.

Another situation that can happen is your reference not recommending you at all.

While this shouldn’t happen if you take the time to vet your connections, it’s still possible. Any of these cases can negatively impact your chances of being hired.

What Happens if You Don’t Pass Referencing?

Well, the situation can be complex.

The importance of the reference check has significantly degraded over time, and while still important, it’s not the end all be all.

Some businesses may not care if you pass the reference check, but it won’t always be that simple.

Essentially two things can happen if you don’t pass referencing.

The first is that the organization decides they don’t want to hire you and moves on to the next candidate.

Your second option is that they ask you about it to try and clear up any misunderstandings.

How Long Does a Reference Check Take?

The reference check step can take as little as a day to as long as a week. It depends on how long the hiring process takes, but generally, there are things to help speed it up.

For example, letting your references know ahead of time to prepare a statement on your behalf will make things go faster.

What Happens After a Reference Check?

Hopefully, you get the job, but after your reference check, you’ll typically receive some notification as to whether or not you get the job.

In the best-case scenario, you get the job and then move on to the orientation process.

Worst case, you don’t get the job and have to go through the interview process with a different company repeatedly.

Wrapping Up

There you have everything you need to know about reference checks. Not so scary now, is it?

Most people won’t take the time to consider their references and how they’ll impact their hiring chances.

Use the extra layer of information you have about reference checks to give you an edge during the hiring process.

If you have bad relations with previous employers, let this be a step forward.

That past employer may be the key to snatching that dream job you always wanted, so strive to be the fantastic employee anyone would wish to recommend.