One of the crucial parts of hiring a new employee is calling each past employer that the applicant discloses to find out what kind of employee the applicant has been during his career. It is true that some former employers won’t give out specific information about past employees, mainly because their employment attorneys have advised them to keep quiet. Even if the former employer won’t talk, you still need to document that you made the attempt to investigate to avoid any kind of negligent hiring claim.

However, in many small towns, like those in the Texas Panhandle, you can get a former employer to talk, mainly because you probably attend Rotary with, go to church with, or coach t-ball with the former employer. But even if you know you can find out something about the applicant, what do you want to know? Here are suggested questions to ask about an applicant: Continue reading Checking An Applicant’s Past Employers →