Most well managed Companies have a system of checking references of potential employees. Some Companies do it well, while others do it badly or do too little. Few will call up HR Managers and check out, which I disagree.

A HR guy knows nothing about past employees unless he was involved in some thing notorious! I have checked references with the following:
-3/4 former bosses and colleagues
-2/3 ex subordinates
– Stockists and CFA.

There are positions like GM which I personally reference checked with 8-9 people. While for ASM position, it could be 3-4 people.
In spite of such exactness and meticulous efforts, there are times I failed! There is always a guy smarter than me!

CHECK YOUR POTENTIAL BOSS

Now, let me turn this process upside down.You are doing well current job and is happy. An offer comes along with 20-30% rise in emoluments or higher position, what will you do ?I recommend that you do serious reference check your potential boss before putting your resignation letter.An employee can tell lies which is accepted as universal guidance.

But, what about employer or boss?in my long experience, I can say that employers can be equally or more dishonest than employees.Let me explain with few examples from my life. I was looking at joining a famous Company at senior level. I asked the President as to how much the chairman was involved in the business.He said that he was passionate and deeply involved. He said that he puts on Lab coat and goes to research lab every day.

After joining the Company I gathered that he rarely came to office and if he comes in ,he is more bothered about the type of lunch rather than seeing my 50 pages expansion plan! Chairman was good to me and paid me well. That is not the issue, but, a senior person can not carry on work unless the Chairman and Directors are actively involved in the business. At senior level one is not working for money alone!

A company told me that they were having great expansion plan and wanted to achieve leadership with my talent. The Chairman gave me a” great talk” on the future of the Company. After joining I realised that field expenses were not cleared for 4 months and Doctors PR expenses were not paid for six months.! Bloody liars.!!!

I failed few times in spite of my best efforts.

Remember, most people in the corporate world tell lies. To protect your career and family, before joining any Company “reference check” your potential boss and Company.

What to check? Whom to check with?

COMPANY –ARE THEY BANDITS?

-Check with 2-3 people who have worked with that Company. Are they prompt in salaries and expense statements?[This cannot be done if the position is at senior level as it happened to me]
-How many people “actually “ win incentives? There are many Companies where there are wonderful incentives but, winning is unheard of!
-Do they give long credit periods to stockists or are they strict? If the stockist is happy with the liberal credit period, the Company may get in to trouble soon.
-Check with Hospitals and Chemists about success and movement of new products. If many new products are succeeding, they have mojo in marketing, which is good news for you.
-You can see their share price movement in the past three years and their PL statement from online portals.

BOSSES

– You must check the references of your potential boss. Is he a decent guy in behaviour or “BC/MC “type?
– How many people have left under his leadership and why? Check with his former subordinates.
– How has he progressed in his career? Has he worked with some well-known decent guys for long periods?
– How many people got promoted under him?
– Does he read books or respect training and developing people?
– How many of his subordinates get incentives or foreign trips?
– How is his world view? There are many Pharma bosses with narrow world view in terms of language, caste, religion, culture etc.
Friends, remember, if your potential boss and Company has the right to reference check about, you too have the right to “reference check” about them.

DO NOT TRUST ANYONE.
CHECK ABOUT THE BOSS AND COMPANY BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR CURRENT JOB.

Best Wishes!

This blog is written by Simon Daniel, a double postgraduate in management sciences, Ex CEO and Director of leading Pharma/Healthcare Companies with 30 years + track record.
Under his leadership, around eight Pharma SBU’s were created .He took part in creating more than one dozen top IMS brands. Out of close to 12,000 people who worked in his teams, more than 100 have reached positions like GM/VP/DIRECTOR .
He has established two successful start ups too. In Quora [www.quora.com] , he went on to become World No.1 writer in Personal finance advice and investing advice topics, being called a “personal finance guru”

He is the author of highly acclaimed book titled:

ALL ABOUT MONEY BECOME MONEY SMART!

The book is a comprehensive guide to saving, investing, spending, borrowing and protecting-the
five key financial literacy competencies essential for all people.

Book is sold in all leading online stores in India and globally. It is sold through Author’s website www.simondaniel.in
Also sold in www.amazon.in and www.flipkart.com