Reference checks are back.
How use reference checks.
With deepfakes and AI resumes on the rise, good ole fashioned reference checks are back.
Here’s what we do proactively to ensure reference checks are more useful than talking to someone’s BFF claiming to be their manager:
Phone Number: Research the reference phone numbers and verify what names come up as associated to the number
Work Email: Schedule/contact via work email with company domain whenever possible
Match LinkedIn and Company Website Info: use multiple sources to verify identity and background as listed
Listen for consistencies between the calls/projects. Once one reference mentions a project, ask the next one about that same project and listen for consistencies
Note speed of response. Someone taking a week outside of a true emergency is very bad signal.