What to do about my references and lack of response to possible employer

October 27, 2014 10:08 PM

I had a job interview last week on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 and it went well. I was told that I would hear from them, even if I didn't get the job, to at least thank me for applying. So I find out on Friday , October 24, 2014 that the supervisor from this job called two of my references, but neither of them answered the phone. I was told by both of my references that they are "very busy" and would try to call back later.

Both are personal references, I have no professional ones, and both have agreed to be my references (earlier this year) and be willing to speak to employers about me.
Well, I texted both references today (Monday, Oct. 27) and asked if they were able to contact back the employer. One said they called back, but reached nobody and had to leave a voicemail. I told the reference thank you and that hopefully the employer will call back again, to which the reference did not say anything. I am concerned that once the employer calls back, this reference will once again not answer the call.
As for the other reference, she claimed once again to have been too busy to call today and would try when she is available (no set day/time)


This is all very frustrating considering how long I have been looking for a job and both of my references are well aware of this too. I am worried too that all of this will make me lose this job opportunity.

So, I'm thinking to call up the employer tomorrow and apologize for the unavailability of my references, and give them 2 other references of mine for them to reach out to.
Should I do this ?
Or is there something else I can/should do about this?
I really don't want to lose this job :(

Also, I have been very nice to my references even through this worry and frustration I am having. I have told them both many times thank you and that I was appreciative of them even giving the okay to be my reference. However, seeing that they are not actually Being a reference when it is needed is very disheartening for me :(

posted by little_miss_m to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Yep! I really like this idea. Can you send the potential employer a short email with your new references?

Did you give personal cell phone numbers for your references? In the follow-up, please try to give business numbers for your references.

Here's why you should do this:

I almost never pick up numbers I don't recognize. Likewise, I'm lazy about voicemails, unless they go through my Google Voice which transcribes them and sends me a text w/ the transcript.

"Dear Potential Employer,

I'm aware from my references there's been some trouble connecting with you.

Here are two additional references and their landline business contact phone numbers.

*insert info here*

(And if it is possible to provide this..)

Please do contact my original references again, too. Here are their direct business phone numbers.

*Insert business phone numbers*

Thanks for your consideration,

little_miss_m"

Then, absolutely follow-up with a phone call.

I'm trying to figure how you can say, "my references did not answer their personal cell phones when you called because your number was unfamiliar" without making you look like a flake, so I'm leaving that out.

Maybe someone else has a better idea on that?

But, yeah. Cell phones. Electronic leashes! I think this is why most people text and don't call, anymore!

When my personal cell number rings through to my phone, I rarely pick up, even if I know the caller. I def do not answer if the number is unfamiliar and I am in transit (driving) or in a meeting/ in the middle of anything.

Try to provide business phone numbers in the future for references.

I'm hoping for you this all works out!!
posted by jbenben at 10:38 PM on October 27, 2014 [1 favorite]

First of all, they called them on *Friday* and couldn't get a hold of them. Today is Monday. For all intents and purposes, a single business day has passed. My primary advice would be to cool your jets and not hit the panic button already. I don't know what sort of job you are applying to, so I'm not sure if I am off base, but to me, if you start freaking out already, it will just look a little desperate and off-putting. Your prospective employer has other stuff going on. They will work on getting back in touch with the references.

Second, personally, no, I would not tell the prospective employer that you're sorry the references are busy. Again, it's only been a day. But let's assume a whole week or more goes by and your references are busy. In that case, the fact that your references aren't answering the phone or responding to reference checks makes me think they aren't enthusiastic references, which doesn't look good in the first place. If you intervene and say you heard they were busy, it raises the question that the references had the time to talk to you about being busy, and then even after talking to you, still did not feel compelled to try to get in touch with the prospective employer, which again indicates a lack of enthusiasm to vouch for you. But furthermore, that raises the question -- are they really busy, or did they not know that little_miss_m was using them as a reference and once they found out, they told her they don't want to be a reference for her, so now little_miss_m is back tracking on it? You already gave them as references so just leave it be.

I'd let the employer work out speaking to them on their own. But if enough time passes -- say a week (more than one day) -- then if you want, I think it's fine to reach out and say you wanted to send a couple additional references who can speak more to your X experience than the ones you sent before. Let them know you'd be happy to provide any additional information or answers any other question they might have -- keep the email short and sweet -- and then wait.

Part of applying to jobs is waiting. You just need to wait. Also, I can't disagree more with the advice to call. Do not call. That is just kind of annoying, especially, again, after a day. They are working to make this hire on their timeline, not yours.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:42 PM on October 27, 2014 [6 favorites]

For this application, I think you will have to just sit tight. I know it can be frustrating.

For the future, it's a good idea to periodically touch base with people who agree to offer references, to keep those contacts warm, and to let them know what you're up to, that you're still looking, and that they might expect a call. Because these people don't know how you work, it might also help if you give them an idea of what kinds of jobs you're applying to and what you might like them to say -- these individuals might be putting it off if they aren't sure what you need. Volunteering is one way to get references / referees that you might feel more secure about, because they'll have a clearer idea of what you can do.
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:07 AM on October 28, 2014

Hi, little_miss-m.

I am the kind of hiring manager/reference-provider whom you refer to, in this question.

Relax, and take a deep breath. If the company is calling your references, then they are considering offering you the position. Busy managers understand that other busy managers won't necessarily be able to prioritize random calls from strangers, immediately.

A standard rule in business is to never bother someone on a Monday. Things that have accumulated over the weekend will need immediate attention.

Also, never bother someone on Friday afternoon. Their focus is on getting out of the damn office.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 3:37 AM on October 28, 2014 [3 favorites]

Part of my old job involved on-boarding new employees. I always expected references to take a couple of weeks. If anyone responded quicker -- great. If not, no big deal. If I truly felt that a reference wasn't being responsive, I would double back and ask the interviewee for another one. Please don't send them new references right away. That makes it look like you have something to hide. Wait it out. If they don't get a response in the time frame that they deem appropriate, they'll ask you for additional references.
posted by batbat at 7:46 AM on October 28, 2014 [1 favorite]

Did you warn your references that they might be called in the next few days before it happened? I've always found that to be really helpful in getting folks to answer unfamiliar numbers, if they're prepared for it.

It sounds like you are trying to fast-track this process (the reference check) as though it will guarantee you the job. It may not. I hope you are still applying to jobs.
posted by sm1tten at 4:30 PM on October 28, 2014