I recently started a new position to lead the marketing efforts at a home care services organization, The CareSide, headquartered in Australia. As the first full-time marketing hire, I was responsible for building a new marketing department from scratch. One key aspect of this process was conducting employment reference checks with previous professional connections of our top candidates. Reference checks are conversations with applicants' previous professional connections or forms filled out by those connections. They provide valuable insights into a candidate's skills, work style, and potential fit within the organization. I found that doing reference checks earlier in the process helps uncover blind spots missed during interviews and allows for more nuanced discussions. When conducting reference checks, it's essential to ask open-ended questions that encourage honest feedback, such as those outlined in this article, which include evaluating skills, identifying areas for improvement, and assessing the candidate's fit with the company culture. By making reference checks a crucial part of the hiring process, organizations can make more informed decisions and set their new employees up for success.