{"id":"hr-reference-check-questions","audience":"hr","category":"planning","track":"productivity","technique":"context","title":"Write reference-check questions that test real concerns","free":false,"task":"You're calling a candidate's former manager for a reference. Write exactly 4 numbered open questions, each under 20 words, plain text, that ask for specific examples about the two concerns the panel raised and the two strengths you want confirmed. Every question must be job-related, with nothing about health, family, age or time off, and none can be answered yes or no.","materialLabel":"Panel notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Reference check - Omar Haddad, Logistics Coordinator finalist\nReference: Grace Liu, his manager at Swiftway Freight for 3 years.\n\nWhat the panel liked (confirm):\n- Built routing plans that cut delivery miles (he said 11%).\n- Calm with angry drivers and customers on the phone.\n\nPanel concerns (probe):\n- Seemed unsure about managing deadlines when 3+ urgent requests hit at once.\n- Little experience training others; this role trains 2 junior coordinators.\n\nOff-limits (HR reminder):\n- One panelist wanted to ask \"how many sick days did he take?\" - NOT allowed. No questions about health, medical leave, family, age or other protected traits. Check with HR/legal if unsure.\n- Don't ask the reference about salary.\n\nFormat: 15-minute call. Grace is busy; she agreed to 4 questions max.\nLast reference call, my questions were \"Was he reliable?\" and \"Would you rehire him?\" and I got one-word answers.","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":4},{"type":"maxWords","max":90},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking for 'reference questions'","why":"The AI writes a generic 10-question script with headings.","fix":"Be exact: \"Exactly 4 numbered questions. Plain text.\"","checks":["numberedItems","plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each question instead: \"each question under 18 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Generic questions","why":"The AI asks 'What were his strengths?' instead of testing what the panel needs to know.","fix":"Add: \"2 questions confirm the strengths, 2 probe the concerns, each asking for an example.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Yes/no questions","why":"AI writes 'Would you rehire him?', which gets a one-word answer.","fix":"Add: \"Open questions only, no yes/no.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Off-limits topics","why":"The panelist's sick-day question is in your notes.","fix":"Add: \"Job-related only. Nothing about health, leave, family, age or salary.\"","checks":["r2"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Targets the panel's concerns","patterns":["concern","probe","urgent","training"]},{"label":"Asks for examples","patterns":["example","specific","tell me about"]},{"label":"Forbids yes/no","patterns":["yes.?no","open"]},{"label":"Keeps it job-related","patterns":["job.related","health","sick","protected","off.limits"]},{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]}],"hint":"Reference calls are short, so every question must test something specific. Tell the AI what to confirm, what to probe, and what's off-limits.","rubricLabels":["Two questions confirm the strengths (routing plans that cut delivery miles; staying calm with angry drivers or customers) and two probe the concerns (handling several urgent requests at once; training or coaching others), each asking for a specific example","None of the 4 questions can be answered yes or no (none start with Was, Is, Would, Did, Does, Can)","No question touches health, sick days, leave, family, age or salary, and there is no intro or call script beyond the 4 questions"]}