Why Is it Important to Have References to Get a Job?
If you do not place a high importance on references to get a job, rethink your position. A 2009 survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management shows that 75 percent of human resources professionals check all interviewees' references. A potential employee's references gives interviewers an idea of what kind of person they can expect to hire, whether the candidate will perform well and whether he will be more trouble than he is worth.
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Legal Liability
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If an employer neglects to do a background check on a candidate and the candidate subsequently causes injury or damage to a third party after being hired, the employer can be held legally liable for the subordinate's actions. For example, if a hospital hires a nurse without thoroughly checking into his actions and it turns out the nurse had previously been accused of sexual assault, the hospital could be sued if the nurse attacks a patient.
Red Flags
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When a company hires someone, it invests time and money into training the individual. Therefore, companies want to invest carefully. Interviewers or human resources want to pick the right person for the job. Calling references allows the potential employer to learn about disciplinary offenses, violations and whether the candidate's former boss has any reservations about her. Checking references saves a company time and money.
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Verification
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People lie; it is a fact of life. Candidates, to make themselves sound more impressive, fabricate previous work experience on their resumes frequently. Human resources professionals verify references to make sure that the potential employee really has worked where he said he worked. No one wants to hire someone who does not possess the proper qualifications.
Filling in the Blanks
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An employer can only find out so much during an interview. References help him gain a fuller understanding of a candidate. By talking to former employers and coworkers, the interviewer will better understand the applicant's weaknesses and strengths. The references might also reveal that the candidate would not be a good fit for the position or for the company.
Tiebreakers
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Two highly qualified applicants might be in line for the same position. A good reference can help one candidate snag the job. Glowing praise from a former employer makes the interviewer think more highly of the applicant and could be the icing on the cake. Conversely, a weak reference makes an otherwise great candidate look less like a good fit for the company.
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References
- How Good References Can Make All the Difference. "The Globe and Mail." Marjo Johnref. Oct. 8th, 2010
- The Liability of Negligent Hiring
- 12 News: Importance of Job References. Dave Cherry. Apr. 21st, 2009
- Jobdig: The Real Purpose of References. Judi Perkins
- The University of Texas at El Paso: Reference Checks
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
