Many HR and recruitment professionals believe traditional character
references to be inaccurate, according to a study carried out by NOP for the
Association of Search and Selection Consultants.
Despite this, the study found that 71 per cent still use character
references when recruiting for a senior position and do nothing to compensate
for their inaccuracy.
Conducted among players in the recruitment and employment industry, the
survey shows that HR professionals give referencing only a six on an accuracy
scale of one to 10.
They also expect references for top-level positions to be more accurate,
although they do not use a different method of obtaining references for this
category of candidate.
Results also reveal a difference of opinion between HR professionals and
recruitment consultants. Recruiters have more faith in a reference sourced
through a recruitment consultant who is trained in questioning.
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Despite the flaws in character references, they are still used when making
senior appointments.
Greater value appears to be placed on references when recruiting for top
management positions – 65 per cent of recruiters value references at this level
while only 56 per cent value references for the appointment of more junior
grades.
