Sample Reference Check Questions

A number of sample questions are listed below. You may also tailor questions to specific areas you’d like to probe about each candidate, or to how he/she would respond to specific aspects of the job under consideration. The person offering the reference will be able to tailor his or her responses to what is most relevant if you first give a sense of the position and what would be expected of the candidate.

Though it is helpful to have some sample questions and other written prompts ready as necessary, reading directly from a list of questions may set an unnecessarily formal tone. Do your best to make the person giving a reference feel as though he or she is having a natural, flowing conversation.

Opening the conversation

• Please tell me a little bit about yourself and how you know XX? (How long, in what context; how often were you in contact, etc.)

General impressions

• How would you characterize your experience working with XX?

Personal attributes

• What kinds of personal qualities come to mind when you think of XX?

Achievements

• What impact has XX had on the organization? In his/her department?
• What are his/her biggest accomplishments or key contributions to the organization (examples)?
• How does this person compare with other executives in similar positions in your organization or comparable organizations?
• What kind of legacy did XX leave?

Leadership skills

• How would you describe XX’s style of leadership?
• How is she/he a visionary? Examples?
• How has he/she been able to increase the visibility of the organization?
• How creative is XX in building resources and diversifying funding? Has he/she done fundraising?

Strategic thinking abilities

• What involvement did XX have in developing the strategic plan for the department or organization? What specifically did she/he contribute?
• How has XX demonstrated his/her strategic thinking ability? Examples?

Management style

• How would you characterize XX’s general management style? (e.g., authoritative, consultative, task-master, etc.)?
• How does XX go about managing up?
• What type of work environment does he/she need to succeed?
• How would XX’s direct reports describe his or her management style? Supervisors?
• How does XX go about making tough decisions? Is she/he inclusive? Fair? Abrupt? Random? Other?

Operational effectiveness

• Please describe his/her operational and (if relevant) financial management abilities.
• What types of policies, procedures, or processes did XX implement?

Emotional intelligence

• How does XX deal with conflict? How rigid or flexible is she or he?
• How did you see him/her grow while you were working together?
• How well does XX build consensus among constituents with differing opinions or interests? Examples?

Internal and external communication skills

• How would you describe XX’s communication skills: verbal and written?
• How well does XX listen? How does she/he engage people?
• How often and did XX keep his or her supervisors, direct reports, peers, etc. updated? What methods did he or she use?

Areas for development and support

• Given that no one is perfect and everyone has areas in which he or she can improve, can you describe any areas XX can or should continue to develop?
• From what you have shared, can you tell me how this trait has impacted XX or the rest of the team? Do you see any liabilities or downsides to XX taking this position?
• What have been XX’s biggest professional challenges? How did she/he overcome them? Examples?
• If you were to do an appraisal on XX, what would his/her development objectives be?
• What would you see as the ideal position for him/her? Why?
• Where does XX need the most support?

Closing

• How would you summarize XX as a candidate for this position?
• Is there an experience that you have had with XX that is particularly memorable to you?
• Why did XX leave the company? Was it his/her decision?
• Would you hire or work with him/her again? If not, why not?
• Is there anything else that I should know about before moving XX forward in the process? (A MUST-ASK QUESTION!)
• Is there anyone else you could recommend as a reference who might have seen XX from a different angle?
• Thank you so much for your help and insight. Do you mind if I contact you again in case I have additional questions?