REFERENCE CHECKING

A word about reference checking.  The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act defines reference checking for employment purposes as compiling an "investigative consumer report" subject to the Act and requires any recruiter who checks references to disclose, in writing, to the candidate that they are doing so.  The candidate is also entitled to request a detailed description of the reference check process used by the recruiter.  Please consider this to be both.

At O'Connell Group, LLC we usually encourage our clients to check references directly, both as a quality control check on our efforts on their behalf, as well as to be fully satisfied that you are the best candidate for them.  We encourage them to check references after mutual interest has been established, i.e., after at least one round of interviewing has been completed and you both wish to proceed.

Our clients do occasionally ask us to do the reference checking for them, and of course we do accommodate them when they request that.  Because some of our clients do insist on our checking a candidate's references prior to submitting the candidate for a position, we reserve the right to conduct references at any point in the recruiting process.

When we do check references, we usually ask you to furnish us with the names and contact information (phone number) of your references. It is usually easier to have you notify your references in advance of our calling in order to expedite the process.

Most clients request references be provided who can speak to your business performance as it relates to the position and career path for which you are being considered.  Typically, clients ask for references from three former supervisors.  Sometimes, you may not have three former supervisors who can be contacted without revealing the fact you are conducting a confidential search.  In those instances, we ask you to try to identify other appropriate references who can speak to your current experience and future potential.

Some clients ask us to check references independent of those provided by the candidate, so we must reserve the right to do this also.  Whenever we might check references other than those provided by you, we make every effort to respect the confidential nature of your search.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about reference checking at any time.  It is our goal to serve both you and our clients as professionally as possible at all times.