Category: Recruitment
A reference is a letter or short form of writing that validates an individual’s qualifications, skills and experience. The purpose of a reference is to give the employer who has requested it a third-party insight and perspective into that person’s strengths and personal qualities. A reference is typically requested by an employer at the final stage of the recruitment process when they are about to make an offer of employment.
There are different types of references that can be provided for an individual. These include factual, character, professional and academic references. Each of these references will be provided by a different type of person who knows the individual in different manners. As a business, you must make sure that you are aware of the legalities of references and ensure you are utilising them correctly and in an appropriate manner.
Let us help you answer any queries that you may have about the legalities of references and how you should handle them.
What can references be used for?
References are requested from employers when in the final stages of hiring for a job available. They can be used to verify the credentials of the individual, ensuring that everything that is included in their CV and that was discussed in their interview is true.
Ultimately, references can help determine for the employer if they believe that person will be the right fit for the job, as well as how they may fit in with the team they’ll be working alongside. Character references can aid with this, as they provide a deeper insight into an individual’s personality, not just looking at how they are in a professional environment.
Who is eligible to provide a reference?
It is crucial to ensure that only an appropriate person provides a reference. Professional references should always come from a former employer, as they can provide information about the individual’s experience in a professional setting. This is typically a manager, as they are most aware of the individual’s performance and progress over their time working for the business. Factual references also come from an employer, and their purpose is just to confirm that an individual did work for their business for the time they have stated.
Character references are typically written by someone who has known the individual for a long time, such as a long-term acquaintance or family friend. This reference cannot be written by a close family member, as their views on the individual will be too biased. Lastly, academic references are provided by former teachers and tutors of the individual, who will be able to provide details of how the individual fared in education.
The most important part about a reference is ensuring that the person who has written it can provide an objective view and opinion of an individual without bias.
Who is allowed to see the reference?
After receiving a reference for a prospective employee, the hiring manager and team can read and review it. This will help inform their decision about whether the individual is the right person for the job in their eyes. An individual is allowed to ask their new employer if they can read the reference if they wish to. However, they are not legally entitled to ask their previous employer to see this reference.
If you need any advice on the legalities of references, please speak to us to find out how we can help guide you. Get in touch.