Over the years, I’ve made many hiring decisions. And while I’ve learned a lot about assessing fit, potential, and craft, there’s one lesson that has been etched in with scar tissue: don’t skip that reference check.
Most hirers are diligent about reference checks when hiring senior talent. But the place where corners get cut is with younger talent.
I’ve learned the hard way that this is exactly where discipline matters most.
Good reference checks – and backchannels where appropriate and possible – are invaluable. They reveal patterns, motivations, and (crucially) red flags that you simply cannot infer from a few conversations.
A little bit of work up front can save a lot of pain later.
A Learning a Day 