Asking About Calling References

Interview Question: If we call your references, what would they say about you?

Reference calls in this day and age may not be made all that often anymore — so this is a classic hypothetical question designed to get the candidate to talk about themselves and how others perceive them. I look for a confident and steady response vs. one that comes out uneven and unclear. Probe on each item where it makes sense. Look for red flags like negatives, especially since we asked about references, not areas for improvement or weaknesses. A candidate that includes those weak links can be telling you they may not be the solid fit you were seeking.