Employers use a variety of means to do applicant screening with the goal of ensuring that applicants are providing complete and truthful information in the employment process and that they are not likely to steal from the company or commit another crime. These screening methods include reference checks. Reference checks require applicants to provide the names of individuals the potential employer can contact to verify information provided by the applicant. These individuals should also be able to provide additional information about the applicant. A reference check is when an employer contacts a job applicant's previous employers, schools, colleges, and other sources to learn more about his or her employment history, educational background, and qualifications for a job.