Managers all know that reference checks are usually worthless. Companies fearing law suits prohibit their managers from taking reference calls. Weak performers can easily hype their candidacy by submitting references who are their buddies.
But Dr. Brad Smart, founder of Topgrading, suggests two powerful truth serums that motivate candidates to be honest. At managerial and higher levels, Smart suggests using the Topgrading
Career History Form (www.SmartTopgrading.com, Topgrading Shop), which asks for a lot of information not provided in resumes - full comp
history, boss ratings, and a lot more. And the truth serum is a clear statement that in order to get a job offer the CANDIDATE will have to arrange personal reference calls with bosses. C
player candidates drop out, which Smart says is terrific, and A players are happy to arrange those calls.
But what about hiring at lower levels, where reference checking is not ordinarily done Smart recommends Checkster (www.Checkster.com), which does
email surveys of anyone you, the hiring manger, want surveyed including former bosses. Although the hiring manager pays for it, the survey is for development, and the fact that the person
is looking for a job is not mentioned.
Smart says that development, and not just truth serum, should be the motivation - that the information from previous bosses and others should be used to help the new employee become
productive fast.
For a free 50-page eBook, Avoid Costly Mis-Hires, describing Topgrading hiring methods, just go to the home page of www.SmartTopgrading.com.