> If possible, find people who have worked with the candidate that the candidate did not suggest you talk to.   You need to do this discretely - e.g. don't call

> If possible, find people who have worked with the candidate that the candidate did not suggest you talk to.   You need to do this discretely - e.g. don't call their current boss to ask how good they are thereby screwing over the candidate, or alternatively causing their existing employer to make a big counter offer. You are not doing a security clearance background check on your future employee. It's one thing if your friend bill worked at company X and you casually ask him about bob when you have a chance encounter one day. But it's completely unacceptable to engage in this kind of espionage. The reason is that the candidate has not been informed of it, plain and simple. What you're advocating is tantamount to spying. This person might not think it's worth you digging through the coffers of his past just to work at your company. Did you ever stop to think that?