#39: The Art of Reference Checks with Joel Peterson

2021-09-30

I am thrilled to have my good friend and colleague, Joel Peterson back on the show this week. Joel is the Founder and Lead Consultant of Arbutus Search Group, a boutique search firm in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Joel and I spoke last year about all things recruiting and during our conversation, we agreed that an episode on Reference Checks was in our future. Unfortunately, a lot of employers and HR professionals see the reference check process as a box to tick rather than the huge opportunity it is. When they are done right, references can provide you with valuable insight into your potential candidates that would be impossible to glean from other sources of selection information. In this episode, Joel and I talk about how to approach this important step in the selection process, how to engage your hiring managers, what types of information you should be looking for from referees, and a few stories from our own recruiting trenches. ...

Unfortunately, a lot of employers and HR professionals see the reference check process as a box to tick rather than the huge opportunity it is. When they are done right, references can provide you with valuable insight into your potential candidates that would be impossible to glean from other sources of selection information. In this episode, Joel and I talk about how to approach this important step in the selection process, how to engage your hiring managers, what types of information you should be looking for from referees, and a few stories from our own recruiting trenches.

I also learn a few things about Joel that I did not know before this conversation; things I am never going to forget!

It was a really fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it; as well as learn a few tips and tools to help you in your recruitment efforts.

Here are helpful links to help you connect with Joel, listen to relevant episodes, and a link to sign up for my weekly newsletter!

Episode 14: Interview with Joel Peterson Part 1
Episode 15: Interview with Joel Peterson Part 2
Connect with Joel on LinkedIn
Watch Ace Ventura Pet Detective on Netflix - "alllrighty then!"
Get on the Waitlist for the HR Career Academy
Sign up for my weekly newsletter!

To see a summary of this episode and all previous episodes of the HR Mentor you can visit my www.unicorngroup.ca/episode-39.

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