These days most employers conduct reference checks for a very good reason. Studies have shown that over one-fifth of job applicants falsify their resumes in one way or another. One of the simplest and cheapest is to enlist the help of friends to stand in as references for prior employment opportunities that never existed.
Putting your HR staff on the job for checking each of these phone numbers against listed business data and rosters is an unpopular move to say the least. No matter how talented that department, chances are they dont have the time or wherewithal to devote days at a stretch to checking references for people who may not ever get hired. Most employers now outsource this important work to a company that does nothing but.
Following Up
Why does it matter if the references check out? Besides the fact that former coworkers are the most effective rubric for evaluating someones performance, the very fact of those numbers being inaccurate can speak volumes about that applicants integrity. If you are going to demand accountability from your employees, you had better start in the hiring process.
Some of the best screening tools devised are now available through online portals for fairly low prices. If you want to protect your company from the ravages of disingenuous applicants, you may want to work with a professional firm that can alert you to red flags as they arise. Knowing before you hire is generally considered far safer than discovering in discrepancies after the fact.
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