Verify work ethic achievements, validate support competency, confirm operational performance, assess team coordination success, evaluate professional relationships, and gather specific achievement examples through structured reference discussions with former supervisors and team colleagues.
Common misunderstanding: Conducting superficial reference checks
Many hiring managers conduct superficial reference checks without exploring specific work achievements and support competency validation that could reveal crucial information about candidate performance and team coordination success.
Let's say you are only asking "Was John a good employee?" without digging deeper. This reveals nothing useful. Ask specific questions: "How did John handle busy periods?" "Give me an example of his support skills." "What were his strengths and areas for improvement?" Detailed questions reveal real performance.
Common misunderstanding: Only relying on written references
Some managers rely on written references without conducting verbal discussions that provide detailed insights into work effectiveness, support challenges, and team coordination capability that predict future success.
Let's say you are only reading reference letters without speaking to previous employers. Written references are often generic and don't reveal important details. Make phone calls: verbal discussions uncover nuances, allow follow-up questions, and reveal tone that written references miss.
Explore efficiency achievements, task completion effectiveness, quality maintenance success, reliability capability, and work consistency whilst requesting specific examples, measurable outcomes, and challenges overcome through work competency.
Common misunderstanding: Asking general questions instead of support-specific ones
Hiring managers sometimes ask general performance questions without focusing on support-specific achievements and work effectiveness that distinguish excellent support workers from competent operational staff.
Let's say you are asking "How was their attendance?" instead of support-specific questions. General queries don't reveal Barback skills. Focus on relevant abilities: "How did they coordinate with bartenders?" "Could they anticipate needs without being asked?" "How did they handle multiple urgent requests?" Role-specific questions matter most.
Common misunderstanding: Accepting vague responses without probing
Some managers accept vague reference responses without probing for specific examples and measurable results that validate work claims and efficiency success made during interviews.
Let's say you are satisfied when a reference says "They were helpful" without getting details. Vague answers don't verify candidate claims. Push for specifics: "What exactly did they do to help?" "Can you give me a specific example?" "How did their help impact operations?" Concrete examples validate interview claims.
Confirm team coordination achievements, assistance delivery quality, operational efficiency improvement, task management success, and collaboration effectiveness whilst requesting specific metrics and support impact examples.
Common misunderstanding: Assuming support competency without verification
Many hiring managers assume support competency without verifying actual team coordination achievements and operational support success records that predict effectiveness in support-dependent positions.
Let's say you are taking support claims at face value without checking with references. Assumptions can mislead. Verify systematically: "The candidate said they improved team efficiency - can you confirm this?" "What specific support did they provide?" "How did the team benefit from their work?" Cross-check claims with evidence.
Common misunderstanding: Avoiding detailed support discussions
Some managers avoid detailed support discussions with references, missing opportunities to validate coordination claims and assess actual assistance delivery achievement and operational efficiency capability.
Let's say you are keeping reference calls brief to save time, missing crucial details. Quick calls waste the opportunity. Invest time in thorough discussions: "Walk me through a typical shift with this person," "How did they handle pressure?" "What made them effective or ineffective?" Detailed discussions reveal true capability.
Assess collaborative work habits, team relationship quality, coordination effectiveness, communication success, and professional reputation whilst exploring specific examples of relationship building and team support achievements.
Common misunderstanding: Focusing on individual performance instead of team impact
Hiring managers sometimes focus on individual performance without assessing team impact and relationship building success that determine long-term support effectiveness and operational coordination capability.
Let's say you are only asking about their personal work quality without exploring team relationships. Individual performance doesn't predict support success. Assess team impact: "How did they affect team morale?" "Did other staff enjoy working with them?" "How did they handle conflicts?" Team dynamics predict Barback success.
Common misunderstanding: Only seeking positive information without exploring challenges
Some managers assume positive references without exploring challenges and development areas that could provide realistic expectations and training focus for successful support integration.
Let's say you are only asking about strengths without discussing weaknesses or challenges. One-sided information doesn't help planning. Ask about development areas: "What skills needed improvement?" "How did they handle feedback?" "What would help them succeed here?" Balanced information enables better support and training.