The reference call, run on a standardized script

Reference is sourced from the agency's last five engagements. At least two must be decision-makers, not engineering ICs.

Liaison sends the four questions in advance, in writing. References who decline to discuss specifics in advance are scored as a candor signal, not disqualified.

1. Walk me through the last engagement end-to-end. Scope, timeline, outcome, what changed because they were there.

2. Tell me about a moment the engagement was in trouble. How did the agency behave?

3. If you had the same project to do again with the same budget, would you hire them, and would your answer be different at 2× the budget?

4. What is the one thing this agency should fix before the next engagement?

Question 2 is the highest-signal. References who cannot recall any moment of trouble are scored low on candor, regardless of glowing answers elsewhere.

Question 4 must produce a substantive answer. 'Nothing comes to mind' is recorded verbatim and treated as a coached reference.

Notes are filed verbatim. Paraphrasing is the death of a reference check.