22 Questions to Ask to Optimize Candidate References

An application, resume, and interview only provide limited insights into who a candidate is and how they operate within an organization. When leveraged properly, a candidate’s references can help you uncover facets of a candidate’s personality or work habits that might not otherwise come out during the screening process. To help you go beyond the standard questions and get a more well-rounded view of the candidate and their likelihood to fit into the culture of your organization, we compiled a list of questions to ask references.