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SULAIR Human Resources

Sample Reference Questions

Hiring Officers:

Here is a sample of a reference form with questions to ask based on the required and desired criteria you have listed on the requisition. Some of the questions below will address your criteria; you will have to come up with questions to address the other criteria. As a reminder, you will want to ask the same questions of all referees although you may need to probe more on some than others.

APPLICANT'S NAME:
DATE:

REFEREE'S NAME:

RELATIONSHIP TO APPLICANT:

If supervisor, length of time you directly supervised this applicant?

Period of Employment:
Applicant's Title:

*Give a brief description of the position for which the appplicant is being considered.

Can you give me a brief description of applicant's current duties?

How would you describe the applicant's performance regarding the following? (These questions should address the required & desired criteria for your position -- the following are example questions)

1. Organizational/clerical skills:

2. Attention to detail:

3. Ability to communicate & interact effectively with:
   
   1. patrons: Students & faculty
   2. co-workers
   3. other depts on campus

4. Workplace interactions:
   
   1. How well does applicant function in a team effort?
   2. How flexible is applicant?
   3. How would you characterize applicant's ability to adapt to changing priorities?
   4. Have you observed the applicant in a stressful situation? Describe how the applicant handled situation.

5. Supervisory/training skills:

6. How well the applicant performs current duties?

7. Any performance problems in current position? If yes, what?

8. Applicant's reason(s) for leaving current position?

9. Would you rehire?
   

   If yes, is there anything about your training or supervision of the applicant that you would do differently? If yes, what? If no, why not?

TO HIRING SUPERVISOR: appropriate information from references should be included in the appropriate strengths/weaknesses columns for each candidate.

Last modified: February 17, 2006