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Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point?

Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point?

Update: 2025-10-14
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Description

Are reference checks worth the effort?

Most HR professionals have never actually changed a hiring decision based on a reference check. So are we wasting our time, or are we doing wrong?

James Lord has spent 10 years in the reference checking industry and argues we're missing the point entirely. Instead of using references to confirm decisions we've already made, he explains how to turn them into a hiring tool that reveals information you can't get anywhere else.

In this episode:

  • Why most reference checks feel pointless (and how timing could fix this)
  • The "highlight reel" problem with resumes and interviews
  • Why James calls references a "SWOT analysis of a candidate"
  • The risks of doing unstructured references
  • How technology can automate the process without losing valuable insights
  • What to do when companies have "no reference" policies
  • The difference between reference checking a CEO vs. a cashier


About James Lord:James works with RefApp and has been in the talent industry for over a decade, specifically focusing on reference checking companies.

Connect with James:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswlord/Email: james@refapp.comWebsite: refapp.com

Connect with Andrea:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-adams1/

Email: andrea@thehrhub.ca

Website https://thehrhub.ca

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Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point?

Reference Checks in Recruitment: Is There Any Point?

Andrea Adams