Do potential employers call former employers before or after interview? (employment, application)

[hopefulone]

Some have told me they do it after and some have said before. I guess it just depends.

Wouldn't it be better if they did it before the interview so they know what they need to know about the person they are going to interview?

[annerk]

I'll do it casually before I even call the applicant for an interview if I know someone at the company the applicant has worked at in the past, just to get a feel. Otherwise I call after I extend a conditional offer.

[Tracysherm]

I'm pretty sure most of us wait to check references until after we've done interviews. Why bother doing reference checks unless you're already reasonably sure this is the person you want to hire? Or at least the "short list."

Many companies contract out their reference checks and background checks, and they pay a fee for this service. It would be wasteful to pay for a "fishing expedition," doing reference checks on people you have not even met yet.

[manderly6]

We generally do it as part of our final background check after we have extended an offer.

[IMISSNY]

I know in my state NY it is illegal to check reference without someone consent in writing so I would think it should be after you interview or at least after you have there consent in the application process

[OngletNYC]

Anyone who would do it ahead of time is unprofessional with way too much free time on their hands. Obviously it is a poor use of time management to check the references of a candidate you haven't even met yet. At the very earliest they will check once they get down to a very short list of final candidates.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by OngletNYC

Anyone who would do it ahead of time is unprofessional with way too much free time on their hands. Obviously it is a poor use of time management to check the references of a candidate you haven't even met yet. At the very earliest they will check once they get down to a very short list of final candidates.

Like I said, if I have a candidate I'm interested in, and know someone they formerly worked with, I'll make a call to that person--not so much to "check references," but just to get a "feel." It's a combination social call and inquiry, not a formal reference check. Big difference.

I agree, generally speaking I wouldn't waste the time checking references until I decided on a final candidate and extended a conditional offer of employment.

[rulesforrebelsdotcom]

Alot of companies these days have outside companies do the reference checking. My past three employers did this, none actually had HR call.

I imagine its cheaper and also less liability for the company. This may be part of the reason, why pay to have references checked, maybe you know the guy wont be a fit as soon as he walks in the door and you already paid for his reference checks.