Anyone can get 3 people to say something nice about them. So what are we really expecting to find out with the good old fashioned reference check?

 

It's perhaps the biggest example of “we’ve always done it this way” pointlessness in hiring.

 

And don’t get us started on “backdoor” reference checks. (Asking someone the job seeker didn’t provide, behind their back). Actually, we’ll go there too. More garbage.

 

Jeff Smith and James Hornick will tear down the pointlessness in  The 10 Minute Talent Rant, "Reference Checks Are Stupid"