Do people actually call job references?

Essentially, yes. While it’s true that not 100\% of Human Resources (HR) departments will call your references during pre-employment screening, many do. The references you provide to employers may be contacted about your employment history, qualifications, and the skills that qualify you for the job.

Do recruiters call references?

Recruiters will ask your references to rank how you perform certain skills. They fact-check what you’ve already told them. Recruiters will also ask questions to find out how you act in the office. Remember: it’s usually a good sign if your references are called.

How often do employers call your references?

Most employers will call your references only if you are the final candidate or one of the final two. Occasionally the final three or four. Every now and then an employer will check all the people they interview, although to me that’s inconsiderate of the reference.

Do employers check references after the first interview?

Do not assume, however, that you have the job in the bag just because an employer is checking references. There was a time when you simply handed your job references to the employer after the first interview or sent it along with your resume.

Should you hire someone you know who has been referred to you?

In many cases, when your coworkers refer someone they know, they can already vouch for that person and make sure that this person meets the minimum requirements for the role. This means that you can skip the initial job advertising and resume screening phases and go straight to speaking with the referred candidate.

Should you ask for referrals to recruit candidates?

For example, if you want to recruit candidates faster than usual, it makes sense to ask for referrals right away, as they’re proven to reduce the overall time to hire. It’s also important to consider how hiring processes for a specific role have worked in the past.