Reference Check Archives - The Nonprofit Recruiter

Creating and Utilizing a Strong Reference List

by 0187289787602 | Apr 19, 2016 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers

We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village.” While most often applied to building community and raising children, this adage can be widely applicable to many other life endeavors including the job search process. You probably already seek at least a little...

Reference Check

by Karen Alphonse | Dec 2, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Management

Question: Our company is about to hire a new COO who will manage the whole finance department. We want to be very sure she has strong interpersonal and technical skills. We have spoken to all of her listed references, and, while they have been off the charts, I...

The Killer Reference

by Karen Alphonse | Mar 25, 2014 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers

Q: I have a feeling one of my references is not giving me a good evaluation. In my last set of interviews, the prospective employer seemed very enthusiastic about hiring me. But, after conducting reference checks, he refused to return my phone calls. What can I do...

One Poor Reference

by Karen Alphonse | Oct 8, 2013 | Advice, Featured, Management, Recruiters

Q: I am part of the senior leadership team at a national not-for-profit. We are hiring a new executive director, and I was asked to review references for the two finalists. Most of the references were superb. However, there was a reference for one of the candidates...

References: How To Get Great Input, The Conclusion

by Karen Alphonse | Feb 6, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers

This series covered all aspects of the reference process. Part One covered working with references as they relate to the candidate. Part Two focused on engaging with the references themselves, and Part Three put the ideas into practice through the reference check...

References: How To Get Great Input, Part Three

by Karen Alphonse | Jan 23, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers

In parts One and Two of this four-part series, I outlined the “homework” required to best prepare yourself, a candidate and a reference for a formal reference interview. In this entry, details of the actual process, from questions to ask to delivering the results, are...

References: How To Get Great Input, Part Two

by Karen Alphonse | Jan 16, 2012 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers

In Part One of this series, I outlined the homework I do with regard to references before placing the formal reference checking call as it relates to the candidate. Today, that homework process continues to unfold with a focus on the references. Preparing the...

References: How To Get Great Input, Part One

by Karen Alphonse | Dec 5, 2011 | Advice, Featured, Job Seekers, Recruiters

Many organizations are familiar with using references in the final phases of search to support or eliminate one winning candidate. References can serve equally critical functions, however, beyond giving you data about your proposed “winner.” In this four-part series,...