When hiring new staff, don’t underestimate the value of a verbal referee. A professional referee should be someone who was in the same position as you will be in with your potential hire, and who understood how they approached work and interacted with colleagues.
Don’t be afraid to ask for another referee if you are not satisfied.
The questions that will tell you the most about the hire are:
- Would you hire him/her again? Why or why not?
- What kind of position would this person suit at this stage of their career?
- Under what kind of team environment or management style would this person work best?
