Home Leadership Turn Archives Me RampUp Solutions  
 

  • Categories

  • Archives
 

Reference checks and selective hearing

by Miki Saxon

We’re all subject to selective hearing at times, i.e., hearing that which confirms what we already think and ignoring anything that upsets our subject-view. It happens frequently in the business world and, almost inevitably, causes problems.

It’s especially common during reference checks.

Back in the dark ages, when I was first a headhunter and references were in written form, a letter making the rounds of headhunters really drove this point home. Because I love to play with language, I saved it as a shining example of wordsmithing; here is a much shortened version of it:

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to confirm Joe Doaks’ employment from 1/5/75 to 8/12/76 with Endure Inc.

Words can not describe our feelings when Joe told us he was leaving. The reaction of his department, in fact, the entire company, cannot easily be written. Joe brought many unique skills to Endure Inc. and his extraordinary efforts and interactions with our customers will long be remembered. We would like to take this opportunity to wish both Joe and his new employer the best of luck.

Yours truly,
Robert Thornton
Vice President

Today, it’s difficult to get any real information when checking references. Many companies will only confirm dates of employment, salary, and eligibility for rehire—if that—so managers often call directly to their peers.

This works well, except when the manager and team really like the person. When that happens, all the red flags will be ignored, the reference will be distorted and the manager will hear what he wants to hear.

The following conversation was sent to me by “Ed,” a client who’s an engineering VP, who thought I needed a good laugh. It relates the conversation between him and “Todd,” a VP who had called for a reference on “Wendell,” a senior-level engineer. Ed told me that he was amazed his name had been given as a reference, since he had terminated Wendell. Ed, who is usually voluble, assures me that this is practically a verbatim report:

Todd: We understand Wendell worked for you for seven years.

Ed: Yes.

Todd: And led a team in the advanced architecture of a new product.

Ed: Yes, he was in that position.

Todd: And that the product is selling well!

Ed: Yes, in spite of being 11 months late to market.

Todd: It [the product] is considered highly reliable and has great manufacturability.

Ed: Yes, we have a superb manufacturing department and world-class quality people.

Todd: Great, we are very excited about Wendell bringing those skills to us. Thanks for your time.

When talking to a peer, Ed will offer many opportunities for the calling VP to follow up for additional information. If asked, he will be completely honest, but he doesn’t volunteer information.

In this instance, Ed said that he was relieved when the call ended, since he was having trouble controlling his laughter.

Ed’s not prone to selective hearing at work and never quite believed the stories I’ve told him, saying that people who reached senior management roles had to have overcome the inclination or they wouldn’t be there. However, since that call, he’s not nearly as prone to making such assumptions.

2 Responses to “Reference checks and selective hearing”
  1. MAPping Company Success Says:

    […] When in doubt use your common sense! Interviews are a holistic function, everything you see and hear should hang together without forcing it; any concerns left can be settled when checking references. […]

  2. MAPping Company Success Says:

    […] a notorious managerial mindset when checking references and accounts for a large percentages of bad […]

Leave a Reply

RSS2 Subscribe to
MAPping Company Success

Enter your Email
Powered by FeedBlitz
About Miki View Miki Saxon's profile on LinkedIn

Clarify your exec summary, website, etc.

Have a quick question or just want to chat? Feel free to write or call me at 360.335.8054

The 12 Ingredients of a Fillable Req

CheatSheet for InterviewERS

CheatSheet for InterviewEEs

Give your mind a rest. Here are 4 quick ways to get rid of kinks, break a logjam or juice your creativity!

Creative mousing

Bubblewrap!

Animal innovation

Brain teaser

The latest disaster is here at home; donate to the East Coast recovery efforts now!

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or call 00.733.2767. $10 really really does make a difference and you'll never miss it.

And always donate what you can whenever you can

The following accept cash and in-kind donations: Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, Red Cross, World Food Program, Save the Children

*/ ?>

About Miki

About KG

Clarify your exec summary, website, marketing collateral, etc.

Have a question or just want to chat @ no cost? Feel free to write 

Download useful assistance now.

Entrepreneurs face difficulties that are hard for most people to imagine, let alone understand. You can find anonymous help and connections that do understand at 7 cups of tea.

Crises never end.
$10 really does make a difference and you’ll never miss it,
while $10 a month has exponential power.
Always donate what you can whenever you can.

The following accept cash and in-kind donations:

Web site development: NTR Lab
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 License.