Professional Reference? What, Why, And How To Verify?

Government and corporate companies all around the world ask for professional references. Although, the meaning of professional reference is quite simple. 

It has in-depth information about the employee that can be essential for multinational companies and government organizations. A professional reference is important because it helps the company and HR manage human resources. It helps based on qualities that employees have the best, according to their previous working experience, knowing better.

However, people applying for the job often give their colleague or friend’s number to speak for them as a professional reference. This is unethical and drives the employee’s judgment wrongly in favor of them. 

Multinational or corporate companies must be very careful when judging the work experience as this directly affects the company’s working culture and efficiency. Hence, let us look at professional references’ overall effects and how to verify them.

What Is Professional Reference?

Job seekers quote professional references of experts or seniors who can explain the applicant’s previous working experience and skills. A professional reference is the contact quote in the job applicant’s resume or CV when looking out for the job. Professional reference also helps HR and employers to get details of working habits and patterns.

The hiring company always cross-checks to eliminate the employees who are not suitable and find the optimal employee for their company by calling the references included in the biodata of potential employees. Regular job seekers with minimal experience should give at least three to five references. If the job applicants are applying for a senior post, they should list five to seven professional references. 

What Are The Main Elements Of Professional Reference?

The main elements of professional references are given below for one to check out.

1. Name: The name of the reference is essential as it defines the person’s identity.
2. Company: The company name defines the related organization in which the person who is referenced is working.
3. Job title: The job title is crucial for the employee to fill in the professional references as this determines the weightage of reviews collected.
4. Phone Number: The official phone number of the professional reference should be given correctly for the employer to reach out.
5. Email: Some companies reach out to email IDs first before connecting on the phone. Hence, a working email ID is also important. Employee references can give out the companies’ or personal email IDs for the same purpose.

Why Is Professional Reference Essential?

A professional reference is essential because it helps the employer judge the potential employee better by getting in-depth knowledge. It also helps the employer to get a glimpse of the employee as a long-term worker, carefully observing their working pattern and habits from previous organizations as reference quotes. Although, it also helps to judge how the person is aside from the paperwork and interview.

Loopholes Encountered While Professional Reference Verification

A professional reference is important. However, there are some loopholes related to professional references when the companies are checking through them. Some of the reasons are given below:

• The Company Went Down

The references taken from the previous company are now out of business. Hence the company email ID is not available.

• Change Of Details

The professional reference has changed the number or the email they were previously using.

• Death Of The Employee Or Other Personal Circumstances

Suppose the person is not reachable as the reference given out due to death or left the job due to circumstances. In that case, it becomes very difficult for the hiring company to judge from professional references.

• Biased References

Many times people in their biodata refer to those personal references who are biased toward them. Doing so can help the employee looking out for a job temporarily. However, in the long run, this is unethical.

How To Verify Professional Reference Of The Employee?

Information and verification companies help to verify professional references and give accurate data about the employee to the employer. Different multinational and public companies hire information verification companies to ensure that the employee’s professional references are correct and original. 

A professional reference is also an integral part of background screening as this describes the professional habits of the potential employee. Hence it is important to hire such organizations to double-check the information provided to avoid any kind of mishappenings or confusion during the onboarding process.

Conclusion

A professional reference is integral to employees’ biodata describing their previous experience. Different hiring organizations should take it into maximum consideration.