reference_questions.md

Reference Calls

1. Talk to 1 manager, 1 direct report (if applicable) and 1 peer

Questions

1. What was the time you worked together and what was your relation?
2. Was there a particular project that this person did that really impressed you?
   • Follow up: was it their own initiative? Or did they just execute on someone else's idea really well?
   • Follow up: on the flip side, was there ever a project where they didn't live up to your expectation? Maybe took longer or was more buggy or wasn't according to the spec.
3. Was there a time when this person brought a new idea to the team or showed initiative?
4. What was your reaction when this person left?
5. Did you (or the company) try to keep this person?
6. Would you hire this person again if they came back saying they changed their mind? Or if hypothetically whatever circumstances that made them quit (e.g. compensation/location) wasn't an issue any more.
7. If you started your own company, would this be one of the first people you would call?
8. Is there anyone that's even higher up on the list? What does that person have that this person doesn't have?
9. What do you think is this person's motivation? Is it coaching or making the business successful, or something else?
10. In what kind of company do you think this person will be the most successful?
11. On the flip side, let's say this person ends up leaving {COMPANY}, or even worse, gets fired. What do you think is most likely to cause that?
12. Can you describe this person's relationship with peers and with management? Follow up questions: on how this person dealt with conflicts, differences in opinions etc.
13. Is there something that would be useful to know given that I might potentially manage this person in the future?