Employers agree that checking references is a critical part of the hiring process.
Applicants with a successful work history are also eager to have their past successes communicated to potential employers. Yet the entire process often frustrates everyone. Because of concerns over legal liabilities, many employers refuse to comment on job performance, and will only verify dates of employment, job titles and possibly salary. Yet those same employers would welcome in-depth reference information from other employers. As a result, good applicants are often unable to get the recommendations they deserve, while candidates with a negative history can go on to a new and unsuspecting employer.