Candidate referencing: 360 and beyond

Maybe we're mildly amused that people over-exaggerate their CVs to get onto The Apprentice, with at least three instances of candidates trying to pull the wool over Lord Sugar’s eyes in recent series.   That’s entertainment.  In the real world it can be less than amusing to discover that a new senior recruit has fictitious information on their CV and embellished their experience during the interview process. It could mean that they are not genuinely equipped with the necessary experience or skills to perform in the role. 

Increasingly, 360° reviews provide reassurance that self-reported achievements and capabilities have been accurately represented.  Evidence from independent sources ascertains that you really have identified the right person for the job.  Whether the objective is to benchmark shortlisted candidates against each other, or to perform due diligence on a final candidate, taking references above and beyond those listed on a CV can reveal aspects of personality and performance that would otherwise have remained undiscovered until later – possibly when it’s too late to avoid a mistake.