Reference Calls as a Critical Hiring Tool: A Structured Approach with 25+ Questions

This article argues that reference calls are an underutilized and undervalued component of the hiring process that, when approached strategically, can be more reliable than interviews for assessing candidate capability. The piece provides 25+ structured questions and advice from experienced leaders like Marco Zappacosta to help hiring managers move beyond checkbox reference checks and conduct rigorous, insightful conversations with references.