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“HR Heretics” | How CPOs, CHROs, Founders, and Boards Build High Performing Companies

How Back Channels Really Shape Hiring Decisions

Aug 20, 2024
The discussion centers around the practice of back channels in hiring, revealing how they can impact candidate evaluations. There's a strong emphasis on transparency and ethics, urging candidates to be informed about these processes. Anecdotes highlight the importance of timing and context in gathering insights. The conversation addresses biases in hiring, particularly how homogeneity influences decisions, and calls for a more nuanced approach to candidate assessment.
23:06

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Back channels can provide valuable, candid insights on candidates but may also introduce biases that need careful consideration.
  • The timing and transparency of back channeling in the hiring process are essential for ensuring fair evaluations and candidate engagement.

Deep dives

Understanding Back Channels

Back channels refer to informal reference checks on candidates that hiring managers conduct outside of the official reference process. This method allows recruiters to gather honest and often constructive feedback on candidates that they might not receive from traditional references provided by the candidates themselves. It highlights the imperfections of the interview process, where candidates tend to choose references that will vouch for them positively. However, while back channels can provide valuable insights, they also come with risks, particularly concerning biases and perceptions that may be outdated or contextually flawed.

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