When hiring, is it important for you to contact a candidate's professional references?

"When interviewing candidates, I believe a critical step in the process is checking their employment references. This step gives the interview team a deeper view of the candidate from an outside professional source. If the hiring manager has uncertainty about any aspect of the candidate's qualifications, contacting their references provides beneficial insight. This information becomes highly useful when coming to a hiring decision, especially when two candidates seem equally equipped for the role. A solid reference can be the difference between rejection and a job offer. For these reasons, I am sure to check employment references for every candidate after their second interview. This action ensures that I have a well-rounded view of their strengths and reputation before moving them into the final interview stage with our hiring manager."