Checksterís automated reference checking tool has been nominated hot trend for 2009 by SHRM

Checkster, the market and technology leader in automated reference checking and personal feedback tools, has been seen by SHRM as offering the hot trend of 2009 with its automated reference checking tool.

2009 HR Trendbook: Staffing ManagementAutomated Reference Checking Puts Onus On Candidates

By Adrienne Fox, former managing editor of HR Magazine, is a freelance writer in Alexandria, Va.

Reference checking is getting a lot easieróand some say more accurateóthanks to web-based automation. Reference checking is a critical step in the hiring process, but the time involved in tracking down contacts and the difficulty of getting them to do more than confirm dates of employment can be frustrating.

Online automated reference checking, however, offers anonymity for the reference, efficiency for the recruiter and a more comprehensive report on the candidate.
ìItís simply automating one of the last elements of recruiting that used to be heavily manual,î said Yves Lermusi, chief executive officer of Checkster in Mill Valley, Calif., whose company offers a product called Reference Checkup. ìBecause it is confidential, people are more forthcoming. And because itís online, the process goes faster.î Drawbacks of such systems include the inability of a recruiter to follow up with a reference for clarification or to hear the referenceís tone of voice. But automated reference checking offers many benefits to employers.

Time Efficiencies
Traditional reference checking is ìvery time-consuming and intrusive to the reference,î said Babak Dehnad, vice president of human resources at Phoenix Technologies in Milpitas, Calif., and a client of Checkster.
With automation, the recruiter takes about two minutes to send an e-mail link to the job candidate. It is then the candidate, not the recruiter, who contacts five or more references to fill out a tailored questionnaire online. The vendor collects the surveys and creates an analytical report for the employer.