After the interview, references are to be obtained from those applications considered qualified. The order of recommended candidates is not decided until after the reference discussions have taken place. You as the closest superior, or another representative of the employer, will make the reference calls.
Together with the expert assessment and the interview, the reference discussions are an important part of the selection work, which is why these should be prepared thoroughly. It is important to keep in mind the requirements from the job advertisement, as well as use notes from the summary of the job interview. If there is any matter to be clarified, this should be noted down
Reference calls should contribute to a deeper understanding of the candidate’s weaker and stronger sides. The reference call also gives the opportunity to compare the candidate’s self-evaluation with the evaluation given by his or her present/prior workplace.
In addition to the candidate’s present manager, it is recommended to retrieve references from previous workplaces as well since this can add important information. For any managerial positions, references from co-workers or subordinates also give valid information. It may be a good idea to use the standard reference checklist but make sure to adapt the questions you wish to ask to what you need to clarify about the candidate’s qualifications with regards to the position in question.