What's the deal with "reference check" calls? Do they only do that for...

[JanMichael]

...the person that's going to be offered the job? Or is the normal thing to do so for the top 2, or 3, candidates for a position? Basically prior to making a final decision...

Or is it typically just done for the first choice prior to making the offer?

What I'm asking is if this is the approximate sequence of events:

1. Advertise for a job

2. Recieve resumes

3. Choose people to interview based on resumes/applications

4. Interview the candidates that may meet the demands of the position

4a. Maybe a second/third round of interviews due to number of interested applicants

5. Make selection

6. Check references of selected candidate

7. Make offer if references are deemed acceptable



Why would you check references for more than one candidate? It's not like if the chosen one declined that a week couldn't be used to check out the number two candidates personal references, no?

Do I sound flipped out here?

No???

Yes???!!!!!!

[Misinformed01]

1. Hey Stud. You never sound flipped out

OK...I know, I need to knock off the wine now.

[JanMichael]

5. It's all relative dear.

"Freaked Out" for me is like "Mildly Amused" for the average person.

Not supremely calm but approaching ambivalently calm:evilgrin:

[Misinformed01]

7. Uh huh

I love you the way that you are.

I hope you love me with too much wine. I am on glass two; the big green glass...and it's not the screw top junk either.

[snoochie]

2. I would check references first

You don't want to waste your time.

[JanMichael]

4. So if you had 10 applicants you'd call 30 references prior to interviewing

...them? Personally I wouldn't call the references of those candidates that I didn't feel were appropriate for the job, after interviewing them of course.

In the situation I'm describing the closing date for accepting applications was September of 2003. They called me two weeks ago. I went to an interview last Friday and they called two (AFAIK) of my references on Thursday.

Different order than normal?

[snoochie]

17. Yep sounds typical

I would call at least one before even interviewing. This is coming from my 1 yr. as a recruiter around 10 years ago.

From what you're saying, it sounds like they're doing it ass-backwards. Not abnormal, though, since a lot don't call references at all. If I may make a friendly suggestion, I would make a follow up call on Monday. :)

[JanMichael]

19. It's a city.

I'm a planner, it's a mid-level position, as in professional but not director level. That probably explains the disconnect.

They're squirelly by circumstance. What I mean is that once hired it's not so easy to fire. Should I still call Monday? I was thinking Tuesday afternoon. The reason being that they had originally said that they would make the offer this week but the icestorm lost them two days this week.

Go figure, weather is fucking with me at this point...:shrug:

[SOteric]

3. In one of the firms I've worked with

they often shortlist the candidates to 3 and check the references of all 3.

Quite often, the references reveal information that aids in making the choice.

[JanMichael]

6. That sounds reasonable.

But was the final decision really based on references?

[SOteric]

8. Not always, no.

And it very much depends on the position and what they're looking for in an individual.

But in the case of the guy who lied about his references (and rather spectacularly), uhm yeah, that did make the final decision for them.

[JanMichael]

10. Ah! So it's just a "Lie Check"!

Whew! Mine are all legit.

Hell my department director is one, no problems there.

Thanks

[SOteric]

11. Again, not always.

Sometimes it's just a matter of that two people are really impressive and it's hard to chose between them. But one had the bare minimum of pleasantries references and one had references which were happy to glow about him like Hanford after a 40 hour shift. So, sometimes it matters what they say about you, or fail to say about you as well.

[JanMichael]

12. Oh they gushed...I know that for a fact.

For one I'm magnificent, for two I paid them handsomely for ridiculously unabashed praise....

[dmr]

9. That sounds about right

I was on the interview panel at the hospital, and your sequence of events sounds about right.

If we were seriously interested in an individual over the others that looked good, we'd spend more time verifying his/her references and credentials. If we liked what we heard, we hired them. Our minds were pretty much made up before the calls anyway.

Fingers crossed and my best vibes to you, Michael. :)

Edit: Clear up wording (doh!)

[Misinformed01]

13. Denise, you rock

I am glad to see you tonight

[dmr]

14. Who loves ya, baby!

I need a lollipop.

[Misinformed01]

15. Can you believe we have been on DU

for three years?

Or more.

How long has that jackass been in the WH?

[dmr]

16. As long as I've been on DU

and that makes me sick. The nerve to share my anniversary with that asshole! Why, I oughta report him, that carpetbagger!

[Misinformed01]

18. Do you ever go back and look at the old archives

that was some good stuff....Elad, and EarlG. flaming people...I miss DU when it was smaller.

Remember how melodramatic some people used to be?

Oh wait.....