A simple request for a cell phone video of a business's workplace acts as a highly effective "proof-of-work" test. Legitimate business owners can produce this trivially, generating a huge amount of signal. Fraudsters juggling multiple lies find it difficult, making it a minimally invasive but powerful vetting tool.
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An effective remote hiring funnel weeds out unserious candidates efficiently. After an initial skills test, request a one-minute video introduction—most won't bother. For the final candidates, replace interviews with a paid, task-based trial to assess real-world skills and work ethic before speaking to them.
To avoid disastrous partnerships, propose a radical transparency exercise. Each party agrees to hire a private investigator to vet the other, then discuss the findings. This surfaces red flags and demonstrates a commitment to honesty, saving years of potential pain.
Amidst complex AI-driven infiltration tactics by state actors posing as remote employees, CrowdStrike's CEO says a top best practice is shockingly simple: meet every new hire in person once. This single step can deter bad actors who rely on anonymity and can't risk revealing their identity, solving the problem before it starts.
To combat scams and increase platform trust, LinkedIn now requires users with 'recruiter' in their job title to verify their workplace. This is a targeted safety measure designed to help vulnerable job seekers identify and engage with legitimate hiring professionals.
A common hiring mistake is prioritizing a conversational 'vibe check' over assessing actual skills. A much better approach is to give candidates a project that simulates the job's core responsibilities, providing a direct and clean signal of their capabilities.
The most effective due diligence involves finding franchisees not on the franchisor's reference list and asking them one key question: 'Knowing everything you know now, would you do this again?' Their unfiltered answer provides a clear signal about the business's true challenges, profitability, and franchisor support.
How a founder interacts with waiters and other service staff provides a candid glimpse into their personality and empathy. This simple observation can be a powerful 'poker tell' for an investor assessing their character.
The startup Tour requires users to enter a phone number and a texted code to unlock full video tours. This small amount of friction effectively weeds out competitors, scammers, and casual browsers, ensuring the sales team only engages with high-intent prospects.
For roles where skills are difficult to assess in standard interviews, Clay implements a 2-3 week paid "work trial." This allows the company to evaluate a candidate's actual performance and fit on real tasks before extending a full-time offer, de-risking the hiring process for complex positions.
For high-ticket sales, implement a third-party verification. Have the office call the customer to confirm the purchase amount, verify no pressure was applied, and check for other decision-makers. This recorded call protects vulnerable customers and provides irrefutable proof against later accusations of manipulation.
