Listen Top Shows Blog

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

Update: 2025-08-22

Share

Description

Are references the most important part of hiring...or totally overrated?

In this episode of 10x Recruiting, Nolan and Siadhal debate:

Why references can be the highest-signal part of hiring—or a dangerous trap
When to use "front door" vs backchannel references
How to ask questions that actually reveal the truth (and not just polite praise)

Check it out and let us know how you run references.

To learn more about Metaview, the AI platform for 10x recruiting teams, head to www.metaview.ai/10x

Comments

In Channel

The real job of a recruiter? Just two things.

The real job of a recruiter? Just two things.

2025-11-2535:45

GV’s Rhys Hughes on why hiring should actually be your last resort

GV’s Rhys Hughes on why hiring should actually be your last resort

2025-11-1842:41

Vibe sourcing is here

Vibe sourcing is here

2025-11-1432:41

Talent Partner 2.0: VCs don’t want advice. They want hires.

Talent Partner 2.0: VCs don’t want advice. They want hires.

2025-11-0740:42

Are scorecards killing your exec hiring?

Are scorecards killing your exec hiring?

2025-10-3037:42

The next great recruiters will be grown, not hired

The next great recruiters will be grown, not hired

2025-10-2343:45

How to stop wasting your outbound at-bats

How to stop wasting your outbound at-bats

2025-10-1442:02

Personio's Fritz Singer on the hard-won lessons of global scaling

Personio's Fritz Singer on the hard-won lessons of global scaling

2025-10-0935:58

How to get inside the brain of your best interviewer

How to get inside the brain of your best interviewer

2025-10-0129:41

The recruiter behind the best GTM execs

The recruiter behind the best GTM execs

2025-09-2438:49

CEO hot takes + Nolan’s AI hacks

CEO hot takes + Nolan’s AI hacks

2025-09-1617:04

Are AI interviewers better than humans?

Are AI interviewers better than humans?

2025-09-0520:24

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

2025-08-2218:50

Slow fills, high bars, and AI’s next big leap

Slow fills, high bars, and AI’s next big leap

2025-08-1534:55

Hardcore hiring: An inside look at how Elon companies recruit, with Charles Guillemet

Hardcore hiring: An inside look at how Elon companies recruit, with Charles Guillemet

2025-08-0436:20

Toast's Jeff Moore on what Big Tech gets wrong about recruiting

Toast's Jeff Moore on what Big Tech gets wrong about recruiting

2025-07-3034:42

Shiv Brodie’s playbook for AI-powered recruiting leverage

Shiv Brodie’s playbook for AI-powered recruiting leverage

2025-07-2428:58

Andy Pittman: Stop selling jobs. Start selling better lives.

Andy Pittman: Stop selling jobs. Start selling better lives.

2025-07-0249:00

The truth about getting ahead: Lessons from Deepali Vyas on power, politics, and promotion

The truth about getting ahead: Lessons from Deepali Vyas on power, politics, and promotion

2025-06-1847:49

"How I AI in recruiting” with Qonto's Samy Aumar

"How I AI in recruiting” with Qonto's Samy Aumar

2025-06-1234:29

00:00

00:00

1.0x

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

References: The highest signal in hiring…or totally overrated?

Metaview