3 reasons why backdoor references are garbage
Against my better judgment, I'll let Jeff Smith do the talking.
1:05 read | 1:50 video | Chime in on LinkedIn here
Some issues are unfixable. They’re so rooted in human nature that ranting and raving about them won’t make a dent.
Backdoor references are one of these (in my humble, correct opinion…)
Think of this scenario: You’re at the offer stage with someone. You have a friend who worked with them in the past.
Tell me with a straight face you won’t ask your buddy about them. (Ok maybe you’re one of the few who won’t.)
I’m a ‘turnabout is fair play’ kind of guy. It’s going to happen. People are going to backdoor reference you. So as a job seeker, you should backdoor reference the company.
Am I overly pessimistic? Maybe if hiring managers realize why backdoor references are so bad, a few will think twice?
And that’s Jeff Smith’s view. And he summarizes it very well in this clip:
👉Backdoor references jeopardize the individual’s privacy.
You might think “my contact would never out someone for looking.” But we’ve seen it. Lots of times. You don’t know what their relationship may or may not be.
👉They place an inordinate amount of weight on a friendship. Because that’s where most of these convos skew.
You could be asking someone who has zero insight into the individual’s work. And may not have the business acumen to make a good determination anyway.
👉Personal bias plays a huge role.
How close were they with this person? Do they know anything more than corporate gossip anyway? Did they have an personal issues and *gasp* was your contact the one who was to blame?
The question you should ask yourself: do you need this to make a good hire?
I hope not.
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