Oops!

Interviewers are free to ask anything they wish of candidates as long as they stay within the law. During a recent interview, a hiring manager asked my candidate about his performance at a job almost 15 years ago. The candidate was terribly honest and said he was released for inaccuracies in his work. Since then, his history has been solid but it cost him the chance to get this job.

A few questions come to mind. Why would the hiring manager dig that deep into someones past? Did the candidate need to be so specific about his performance over a decade ago? What are the chances that his track record back then would be indicative of his current ability to be successful? Feel free to share your thoughts on any or all of these questions.