The Complete Reference Checking Handbook: The Proven (and Legal) Way to Prevent Hiring Mistakes

Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgments......Page 14
Introduction......Page 18
A Major Problem......Page 19
Frequent Questions......Page 20
Part I: Dishonesty—A Major Business and Social Problem......Page 24
The Problem......Page 26
Job Market Distortion......Page 28
The Bottom Line......Page 29
2 Initial Steps......Page 31
Identify Problem Candidates......Page 32
Check Their Education History......Page 34
The '' X'' Factor......Page 39
The Honesty/Competency Matrix......Page 41
Management's View of Employment......Page 43
Don't Be Fooled......Page 44
3 Screening Options......Page 47
Additional Screening Methods......Page 48
Avoiding the Problem Altogether......Page 50
Career Counseling and Outplacement......Page 52
Résumé-Preparation Services......Page 53
Job-Hunting Books, Tapes, and Computer Programs......Page 54
Search Firms and Employment Agencies......Page 55
Appearances May Be Misleading......Page 56
Inflated Salaries......Page 59
Part I Summary......Page 60
Part II: The Legalities and Confusion Surrounding Employment......Page 62
 5 The Real Problem in Employment......Page 64
The Lawyers' Perspective......Page 65
Let's Correct the Problem......Page 66
Why Check an Applicant's Background?......Page 67
Does it Really Happen?......Page 68
Authorization and Release......Page 69
The Cost of Running Scared......Page 70
The Law and Good Business......Page 73
A New Direction......Page 74
Getting and Giving References......Page 75
Negligent Hiring......Page 77
Negligent References......Page 79
Simplified Guidelines......Page 80
7 Legal and Illegal Questions......Page 86
Preventing Employment Discrimination......Page 87
Interview Small Talk......Page 89
Areas Always to Avoid......Page 90
Part II Summary......Page 93
Part III: Honesty—The Best Policy......Page 96
8 The Application and Interview......Page 98
The Interview Itself......Page 110
Identifying References......Page 111
Two Principles to Ponder......Page 112
The Interview in Perspective......Page 116
Interviewing Questions......Page 119
9 Spotting Liars......Page 128
Aggressive Listening......Page 129
Keeping the Applicant Honest......Page 132
How Honest are You?......Page 133
10 Speeding Up Reference Checking......Page 136
Collaboration with Mutual Gain......Page 137
It Really Works......Page 138
The Overall Advantages......Page 140
Advice for the Job Candidate......Page 141
Part III Summary......Page 144
Part IV: Searching Public Records......Page 146
11 Why Public Records Searches are Necessary......Page 148
Criminal Records Checks......Page 149
Workers Compensation Records......Page 151
Educational Attainment......Page 152
Driving Records......Page 153
Screening Directory......Page 155
Understanding the Fair Credit Reporting Act......Page 158
12 Spotting Criminals and Troublemakers......Page 161
How the System Fails Us......Page 162
Employment Eligibility Verification......Page 164
Illegal Immigrants......Page 165
Social Security Numbers......Page 166
Contacting Police Authorities......Page 167
Part IV Summary......Page 169
Part V: Techniques that Work......Page 170
Types of Checking......Page 172
The Benefits of Reference Checking......Page 174
Exchanging Information......Page 176
The Real World......Page 179
Why Give References?......Page 181
Initial Contact......Page 183
Uncooperative References......Page 188
The Voice's Body Language......Page 190
Make it Enjoyable......Page 191
Returning Your Calls......Page 192
Nobody's Talking......Page 194
Letters of Recommendation......Page 196
When you Discover Something Bad......Page 197
Networking References......Page 198
''Don't Call My Employer''......Page 199
A Personal View......Page 201
Personal References......Page 202
Telephone Tips......Page 203
References by Mail, by Telephone, or in Person......Page 204
15 Reference Checklists and Questions......Page 206
Conducting the Reference Check......Page 207
Peeling the Onion......Page 217
Some Good Tips......Page 225
Before the Decision......Page 226
After the Decision......Page 227
Notification Methods......Page 229
Part V Summary......Page 231
Part VI: Creativity—The Key to Success......Page 232
17 Improving Performance in Your Organization......Page 234
Reference Checking Pays Off!......Page 235
Applied Creativity......Page 238
Networking......Page 239
Outsource Screening Tasks......Page 241
18 Companywide Hiring Standards......Page 243
In Conclusion......Page 244
Appendix A: Process Summary and Sample Telephone Script......Page 250
Appendix B: National Credit-Reporting Agencies......Page 260
B......Page 262
D......Page 263
E......Page 264
I......Page 265
L......Page 266
N......Page 267
Q......Page 268
R......Page 269
T......Page 270
X......Page 271
About the Authors......Page 272