Toronto

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Check your references!

Five tips for flying through the reference check process.

May 14, 2009 – Background checks - or reference checks - are often more dreaded than any other step in the job search process. "They are designed to expose red flags and risks" says Randall Craig, author of the best-selling career planning book Personal Balance Sheet. "Discovering them can derail an otherwise successful job search"

To gain more control over this part of the job search process, consider the following strategies:

1) The value of pre-emptive disclosure: Background checks can be as simple as a few calls to references, all the way to a detailed investigation by an independent professional. It's important for the candidate to understand that the more critical the position, the more important it is for them to identify any risk you might represent. It is naive to assume that there will be no background check of any type.

2) A clean slate is best: For a no-surprise background check, resolve any outstanding disputes or pending items. Two simple things that can be done would include reviewing credit reports for discrepancies and ensuring any legal actions are settled.

3) Social Media profile review: With Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, ZoomInfo, etc, much of our private lives have moved into the public domain. Since recruiters and background-checkers will be looking for the candidate on these sites, candidates should spend time "looking at how they look", removing questionable content, adding appropriate (and consistent) professional information, etc.

4) Google review: Candidates should periodically do a "Google Search" on their names, to see how (and where) they appear. The more senior the person, the greater the number of references there will be - and not all of them positive. Armed with this information, the candidate can address any issues during the interview process beforehand. Craig continues: "Google even has a free service called Google Alerts that can be set up so that every time your name is newly mentioned online, an email link to it is sent"

5) Prep your references: While the candidate's career and the job responsibilities might be clear to them, they are not likely top-of-mind with their references. Candidates should provide details of the new position to their references, reminders from their time working together, and any other important details. (And afterwards, of course, they should send a thank-you note.)

Says Craig: "Of course, being completely truthful in your interviews and on your resume is critical. But following a few additional guidelines can reduce your stress - and improve your chances - considerably"

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Randall Craig is North America's foremost expert on career planning and work-life balance. He is the author of the popular Leaving the Mother Ship, The Working Resume, the best-seller Personal Balance Sheet Practical Career Planning Guide, and the just-released Online PR and Social Media for Experts. For more information, please visit http://www.PersonalBalanceSheet.com

Randall Craig can answer all questions about career planning, networking, job search, and workplace issues.

Randall Craig, CFA, MBA, CMC

President

Pinetree Advisors Inc.

416-256-7773 

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Randall Craig, CFA, MBA, CMC

President

Pinetree Advisors Inc.

Toronto

416-256-7773

416-256-7763

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