Ivanka Trump expressed her opinions on hiring practices in the workplace in a conversation that included this quote. She is an American author, businesswoman, and former White House advisor who has worked on a number of well-known projects over her career.

In her remarks, Trump emphasized what she perceives to be a worrying pattern among employers: failing to check references for candidates they are thinking about hiring. In her experience, it's unexpected when someone hires someone without first speaking with their former employer or coworkers to learn more about their work ethic and professional conduct.

It's similar to constructing a home on quicksand rather than firm ground. In the same way that you would want a solid foundation for your house, employers should make sure that their hiring decisions are well-founded by confirming an applicant's qualifications. References serve as an additional safeguard against hiring the wrong person by offering insights that interviews might overlook.

Trump's grasp of business ethics and her conviction that thoroughness is crucial when making significant decisions are reflected in this quote. She stresses the value of doing due diligence and identifies a procedure that, in her opinion, employers ought to use more frequently to make sure they are hiring qualified candidates for their positions.