It's actually surprisingly easy to get a 'good' reference to give honest feedback about your shortcomings as well as your strengths. This has worked about 90% o

It's actually surprisingly easy to get a 'good' reference to give honest feedback about your shortcomings as well as your strengths. This has worked about 90% of the time for me: Me: So, how would you rate this candidate on a scale of 1-10? Reference: Oh, around a 9. Me: A 9? That's great! Tell me, why not a 10? Reference: [... here's what you actually listen to here ...] Sometimes it goes this way: Me: So, how would you rate this candidate on a scale of 1-10? Reference: Absolutely a 10, no doubt about it. Me: Outstanding! But seriously, there's got to be something he's not perfect at... Reference: [... again, the truth generally emerges here ...] Once people have given you what they feel is a good reference, like a high score out of 10, they're generally fine with talking frankly. In addition, if the role's really important, you don't stop with just the references they gave you - you note them and then you continue digging, especially if there's people they really should have given as a reference but didn't.