Most candidates think reference checks are dead, but the truth is, they're still happening, just not in the way you'd expect. The bigger shift? Back channels, the off the record calls hiring teams make without you ever knowing.

In this episode of Talent Unplugged Across the Pond, Marcus Pask and Megan Conlon pull back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes once you're deep in an interview process, and what every job seeker and hiring leader needs to know about it.

From cross cultural feedback styles to summer holiday job search strategy, this episode covers the messy, human side of hiring that nobody talks about openly.

You'll discover:

• Why US teams thrive on public praise while UK and European teams might cringe at it, and what that means for how feedback should actually be delivered
• The leadership lesson Megan still thinks about years later, and why constructive feedback in a group setting almost always backfires
• Why you should never cancel a holiday for a new job offer, and how to handle time off conversations during an active interview process
• The difference between a reference check and a back channel, and why one of them is riddled with bias
• The guardrails every hiring leader should have in place before letting back channels influence a decision
• Why references should be a data point, not a decision maker, and how to spot when they're being misused
• The legal differences between Europe and the US that change the reference check game entirely

This episode is essential listening for job seekers who want to understand what's really happening behind closed doors, hiring leaders looking to sharpen their process, and TA professionals navigating the murky ethics of modern recruitment.

Don't let outdated assumptions about hiring catch you off guard. The process has evolved, and the people running it are using tools and tactics that most candidates never see.

Join us as we bust the myth: reference checks aren't dead, they've just gone underground. Learn how to navigate them, when to push back, and what every hiring team should be doing to keep the process fair.

Perfect for anyone in HR, recruitment, job searching, or talent leadership, hit play and find out what's really happening when the interviews end and the offer hasn't landed yet.