I am now retired but would really like to put an old situation from my work life “to bed”.

Some time ago, I got a job as a manager in a government instrumentality recovering from a major reshuffle. One of my early tasks was to recruit my direct reports. I advertised internally and got several responses, many of which came from applicants I knew. One, however, I had never heard of – their submission was first class and their actual prior experience seemed unbeatable. In their references they had listed a senior manager I knew and trusted. I decided to give this manager a call.

In this scenario, management may have had good reason to take such a conservative approach.Credit: John Shakespeare

I was told this candidate’s submission was a pack of lies. I considered myself forewarned and didn’t waste any time interviewing them. End of story, as far as I was concerned. But the candidate complained, arguing they should have been interviewed. Senior management ruled that I was wrong to follow up the reference and proclaimed that in future all interviews were to take place before approaching referees. By implication, I had seriously erred and was to blame.

I’d like your thoughts.

You mentioned in your longer email that you were,........

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