Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Practice Exam

When should reference and background checks be conducted?

1. 1 week before start

2. 2 weeks before start

3. 4 weeks before start

4. 5 weeks before start

The correct answer is: 5 weeks before start

Conducting reference and background checks five weeks before the start date is advisable to ensure a thorough evaluation process. This timeframe allows ample opportunity to gather and verify the candidate's information adequately. It also provides time for potential follow-ups on any discrepancies or issues that may arise during the checks. Additionally, completing these checks several weeks in advance helps mitigate risks associated with hiring, such as the candidate being a poor fit or having a problematic history that could affect their job performance. By starting this process five weeks ahead, organizations can also accommodate any delays that might occur in contacting references or obtaining necessary documents, ensuring that the hiring process remains on track without causing unnecessary last-minute stress. Conducting checks too close to the start date, such as one or two weeks before, may not allow sufficient time to address any concerns and could result in rushing through the verification process, thereby undermining its effectiveness.