Professional Reference Check
Professional Reference Checks offer direct insight into a candidate’s past performance, work ethic, and interpersonal skills. While resumes and employment dates may tell part of the story, references reveal how someone actually showed up in the workplace—from collaboration style to reliability and leadership traits.
At Edify Screening, our verifiers contact former managers, colleagues, or peers as specified by the candidate or client. We conduct thoughtful interviews and capture qualitative feedback that helps hiring teams assess culture fit and behavioral risk before extending an offer. These checks also help validate details from employment verifications or interviews.
How It Works
- We contact references via phone or email with a tailored question set.
- Verifiers ask about job responsibilities, strengths, weaknesses, and rehire eligibility.
- Results are summarized and returned in a structured report format.
When to Use It
- For executive or leadership-level hires where character matters deeply.
- When comparing finalists or validating interview impressions.
- In roles requiring high trust, collaboration, or external client interaction.
TAT & Fees
- Turnaround time: 2–4 business days depending on reference availability.
- Flat-rate fee per completed reference.
- Volume discounts available for 3+ reference packages.
Why It Matters
Hiring the wrong person can cost thousands—not just in payroll, but in team morale, customer trust, and productivity. A well-executed reference check adds qualitative depth to your hiring decision. It can confirm strengths, surface blind spots, or even flag behaviors that don’t show up in traditional background checks.
Professional references help HR teams and hiring managers feel more confident—and protect against negligence claims tied to poor performance or workplace conduct.
Use-Cases
- Startups assessing cultural alignment for first 10 hires.
- Nonprofits onboarding program managers who will work with vulnerable populations.
- Enterprise teams vetting remote hires with limited face-to-face interaction.
Professional Reference Check FAQs
Q: Who provides the references—us or the candidate?
A: The candidate typically provides reference contacts, but we can accommodate client-provided names as well.
Q: What questions are asked during the reference check?
A: We ask about job performance, communication style, strengths, weaknesses, and rehire eligibility.
Q: Are references verified for authenticity?
A: Yes. We confirm titles, contact validity, and professional relationship before conducting interviews.
Q: Can we customize the questions?
A: Absolutely. We work with clients to tailor question sets by role or industry.
Q: Is the reference check report compliant with FCRA?
A: Yes. All information is presented factually and with proper documentation for adverse action, if needed.
Authoritative Source
For guidelines on compliant reference checks, consult the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), EEOC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Edify is a proud PBSA member.
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