Pre-Employment Referencing Tutorial

Delegate - Case History #4265

The Buck Should Stop Somewhere!

Thursday A.M.

My phone rang. It was John Wells, V.P. Marketing.

"Oh Bill, did you check the new Regional Managers's references? I think you have the list of names on his application.

"I have it John. I've got my secretary working on it. It will be finished by Monday."

Damn it, I can't do everything! Check the references! Get the new price list done! Finish the commission structure for the fall campaign! Where the devil's Joan got to this morning? Perhaps Miss Jordan will know, she knows just about everything else around here!

"Miss Jordan?" I hated calling that woman. "Miss Jordan, d' you happen to know here Miss Jordan is today?"

"Why Mr. Brown, you must have forgotten. She is due for her doctors appointment today. She told me on Tuesday. Can I help you?"

I thought for a moment. Tomorrow’s Friday and I promised John the references would be done by Monday. I’m going to be away at South Park tomorrow. Yes I need help.

"Well Miss Jordan, you really could be of great assistance to me. I need to check out a couple of references on our new Regional Manager. It’s a pretty routine matter y’know, but I’m so backed up at the moment, with Joan being out today."

"Mr. Brown, I can arrange to get them done for you. It’s really not a problem. I will have the papers picked up from you before noon. Will that be OK?"

"Thank you Miss Jordan, that will be fine."

Well that’s got that job out of the way. Now, let’s see about this new commission structure. That must be completed by tonight got to get my priorities straight.

Tuesday A.M. - In John Wells Office

"Who checked out these references, Bill? Didn’t you say your secretary was working on them?"

"Well actually John, when I spoke to you I thought she was going to, but she was out on Thursday, and I was going to be over at our South Park office all day Friday, I asked Miss Jordan in Administration to help me out. She’s done that sort of thing in the past, John. Is there a problem?"

"I’m not sure, it’s just that I wanted a first hand report. Let’s call Miss Jordan."

I phoned Miss Jordan who said she’d come straight over to John’s office. She arrived five minutes later. She asked what she could do to help.

"I understand," John said, "that you were kind enough to check out these references on our Regional Manager. Miss Jordan could you give me your opinion of the attitudes of the people you spoke to?"

Miss Jordan stammered and blushed looking hard at me before replying. "In point of fact Mr. Wells, I didn’t personally speak to anyone myself. You see, when I told Mr. Brown, I could arrange to have the matter taken care of - to help him out, that is..... I meant that I would get one of my own staff to handle the matter. I thought you understood that, Mr. Brown."

John Wells sighed, slowly he rose from his desk and walked to the window. After moments of silence, he turned and asked in a very quiet voice, "Who actually did do the references Miss Jordan?"

Why, it was Anne Todd, Mr. Wells."

"Could you make arrangements for me to talk to her, Miss Jordan?"

"Unfortunately Mr. Wells, she went back to the Temp Agency yesterday."

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