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Comment by bryanh | Hacker News Reader

We use a service called SkillSurvey for reference checks. It asks the candidate for references in an automated fashion and then the feedback is collected fairly anonymously.

We try to be respectful of people’s situations — EG: it’s never appropriate to contact a current employer without permission. We don’t do that.

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So to be clear, you only contact references that the candidate provided to you and not others such as connections on LinkedIn? Your answer doesn't seem to specifically deny that you contact people not specifically provided, other than employers.

By the way I read a little on your job site and Zapier sounds like a great place to work :-)

“Indirect” references are common in SV.

It would be weird if they randomly found and messaged people from LinkedIn etc. I have, however, seen interviewers and recruiters at a lot of companies reach out to mutual contacts if they find any, and because the SV network is so tight this happens a lot.

> randomly found and messaged people from LinkedIn

We definitely do not do that. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, I'll double check internally and make it super clear that isn't acceptable.

In situations like this, lack of explicit denial is generally confirmation.

That is correct. It is our policy to use the tool I mentioned elsewhere in the thread which only contacts the references provided by the candidate -- I'll check internally to make sure no one is deviating from that process.

I really appreciate this kind of direct transparency

Cool, makes sense to me.

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