REFERENCE checking form

North Carolina General Statute 126 specifies that pre-employment references obtained by agencies and universities are confidential and may not be released to the applicant, employee or public.

Date:

Position:

Reference Completed by:

Candidate Name:

Reference Name:

Reference Phone #:

Reference Title and Company:

Dates of Employment:

Starting/Ending Position:

Starting/Ending Salary:

Introduce yourself, explain the reason for your call and specify that the applicant has signed the applicant statement on the NC State government application authorizing you to obtain reference information or that you have obtained a reference release form. Say that the applicant is a finalist for the position - not that the applicant has been selected. Verify the reference information, employment dates, titles, etc, above. If necessary, offer to fax a signed release or to have the reference call you back. Customize this form as needed, but ask only job and performance related questions. Remember the guidelines.

Ease into it – briefly describe the position for which the applicant is a finalist. Ask the reference to discuss how they think the applicant might perform the position you have described.

Please describe your reporting relationship with the candidate. If note, in what capacity do you observe the candidate’s work?

Please discuss the responsibilities of the position the candidate has at your company:

Please tell me how the candidate performs in regard to: [insert most relevant behaviors, skills, competencies here], (Consider asking a couple of questions here, each based on the most relevant behaviors, skills, competencies required in the prospective job; possibly word you question(s) based on information gleaned in the interview)

Please tell me about the candidate’s job strengths:

Please tell me about areas where he/she most needs mentoring or development:

Our position interacts with (co-workers, clients, or X) under the following conditions (while dealing with irate public, tight deadlines, multiple priorities, or X). How does this compare with the interactions and conditions he/she handles for your company? How well do you think they will handle these (interactions/conditions) for me?

Please comment on the following regarding the candidate’s performance while at your company:

Independent work:

Performance as a team member:

Communication skills (or a technical/software/clinical or other directed related job skill(s) you identify here):