What is a reference check?
A reference check is when an employer contacts people who know a candidate's work, usually former managers or colleagues, to confirm dates and role and ask about performance. It is separate from a background check, which looks at records such as identity, education or criminal history, often through a report provider.
How it works
Candidates usually provide names and contact details, and a good practice is to tell them when you will call. Recruiters ask the same set of job-related questions of each referee. Some former employers only confirm dates and title under their own policy, so a limited answer is not necessarily negative.
Fair process
The EEOC advises employers to apply the same standards to everyone and to treat all applicants equally when checking backgrounds. Medical questions should not be asked before a conditional offer. If a consumer reporting company supplies a report, the Fair Credit Reporting Act adds notice and consent steps.
Example
After a final interview, a recruiter calls two former managers named by the candidate, asks the same five questions about the candidate's work, and records the answers in the hiring file.
Related terms and guides
Sources
- EEOC, Background checks: what employers need to know, https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/background-checks-what-employers-need-know, accessed 31 October 2026
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.