Recently I had some questions as to whether a previous school that I worked at was giving me a fair reference. I have never had a problem finding a job as I interview well, I walk in a door, interview, and am pretty much guaranteed the job. However lately I have been having some problems. It could be that the teaching profession in my state is competitive, or that I am a mid life career changer with very little teaching experience or it could be that a school is not giving me a glowing reference. How could I go about checking to find out if the problem lies with a reference? A friend advised me of several companies that legally call and check for references. So That is what I did.
There are several companies that will call and ask for a reference. The questions they ask are of course related to your job. However, the first part of the process is to call these companies and to go through a preliminary counseling interview. The representative can tell you if your situation would qualify for the service. I was informed they not only check references for wary job seekers, but also check for job seekers who want to use the most glowing reference.
When I called, the representative asked me a few questions. She asked the name of the employer, their address, phone number and the contact person. In addition she asked why I needed the reference. Usually they ask what sort of business the company is, but they of course knew mine was teaching. They then explained that their service would call your employer with a preset list of questions. They then will type up a report and send it to you, informing you of their findings.
How do they legally do this? The companies are legitimate, either being run by a detective agency or a law firm. They function under the name of a referral service. So when they call your employer, they state that they are a referral service. Nowadays, companies contract a lot of services, and some do have referral services that call for reference checks however, there is a catch. Nothing in this world is free. So how much are their services? The companies charge anywhere from $60 to over $100 for their services. They also offer you the chance to choose the type of service you desire. I was informed that the basic service is just asking if the person worked there, or if they could be rehired. The more complex service entails asking specific questions and a written report that will be mailed to you.
What are these companies and how do you find them? I am a bit hesitant to divulge their names, as employers would then know who these people were. However you can contact your local attorney or check the Internet to come up with the names of companies offering this service.
Does their service work? I am presently in the process of hiring a company. My friend has just received her report from her company, which I have read. The report states the questions and the employer's answers. The final result was that they suggested she contact an attorney as she most likely has a lawsuit.
Of course, what information an employer divulges depends on the state laws. In the state of Florida, an employer is suppose to only verify dates of service, what your position was, and if you are rehirable. But school boards seem to have an exemption to this policy, asking for detailed references from schools.
Hopefully you won't need the service of a referral company, but if you do, they are legitimate and worth the small amount you pay. Be sure to check the Internet for the company nearest you.
