I am part of the membership committee for my local BNI chapter (a networking group). We had a new member apply, and I was given her application for approval. As I work through the process, I have to call her two references and ask them the same simply five questions.
Tuesday, I left messages for both references (a lawyer and a doctor). I left a detailed message explaining who I was and why I was calling. Neither called me back. I called the woman applying and left her a message letting her know I couldn't complete her membership application until I spoke to her references and asked her to give them a call so they would know I was legit and call me back. Still nothing. I left messages again this morning.
Fast forward to five minutes ago, when the wife of the doctor calls me back demanding to know why I've been leaving messages for her husband (obviously they have their own issues). I go through the whole process of explaining WHO I was calling on behalf of, what I needed from her husband, etc... She had no idea who I was talking about and asked me not to call back. I assured her that I did need to speak to her husband, that I had a legitimate reason for calling, that her husband HAD to know who had put him down as a reference since she'd given me his name and telephone number, etc... I explained that I couldn't go any further in the membership process until I'd spoken to the reference. She totally blew me off. I don't think I'm getting a call back, which means that the woman who wants to join my group is losing her $100 application fee and not getting approved for membership.
Make sure your references KNOW you're putting their information out there and that they know someone will be calling!
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Comments: 30
Take care.
My experience with references has always been with people I use as job references. I've kept in touch with people I've worked with all the way back to 1985 if I think I might need to list them for a job reference. And I always contact them before I list them to be sure it's still fine with them to do so. Then, after I give a prospective employer their names, I email them to tell them I did and when they might expect to hear from them.
I'm not only doing myself a favor; that's common courtesy.
Kind of crazy about this one thought - jealous wife? Probably for good reason.
Sorry this woman is not giving her husband the messages. It sounds like she is not believing you are who you say you are....it also makes me wonder why she would give his home phone number out if she worked for the man.......I would be wondering as well.
Hopefully the woman who put the app in can get you another references shortly.