Great advice. This is why it's VERY IMPORTANT to actually call references if you're considering hiring someone (or co-founding with someone, I suppose.) <side

Great advice. This is why it's VERY IMPORTANT to actually call references if you're considering hiring someone (or co-founding with someone, I suppose.) <sidetracking into hiring lessons-learned...> If you're nervous about calling, just remember that IF the person is great, their references will be falling all over themselves to tell you so. They'll be happy to talk to you. (In small companies, big companies may be HR stonewalling...) You're not bothering them, you're giving them an opportunity to tell you about this GREAT person and why you'd be insane not to hire them. The clues are often found in the pauses, and what's unsaid. People don't like saying bad things about other people, so don't listen for that so much as cautious answers... Eg. "Would you hire them again?" a) pause Uh, yeah, I'm sure we would. versus b) In a heartbeat. We would absolutely hire them again. I'm hoping we can someday when our department gets more funding. Lastly, a trick when you don't reach someone on a reference call. Say who you are, and ask that they call you back if the person was incredible That way they can send you a message without saying anything bad directly (and this happens...) </random hiring lessons-learned>