Reference checks

[tdtksbp]

None of my references have been contacted either. My interview has not yet occurred.

[julie]

Lee, You are not alone. None of my references have been contacted yet. My interview is next week.

[doctorwho]

Today I was contacted by somebody from YALE ASSOCIATES who was checking a reference on a candidate who had listed me as a reference on his application. I had been listed as an employer. I was told by the very lady that they have broken up the work according to "type of reference." In other words, somebody is checking "education," somebody else is checking "personal references," somebody else is checking "employment references," etc. She said that YA is working hard to meet a deadline established by SSA (that she did not know and that they were working very very hard -- BUT, that there were lots and lots of people that still needed to be contacted.

So, let's review the numbers. There are approximately 450 applicants. Each one has at least 10 people that have to be contacted (I'm using 10 as a nice round number, because in reality it's more -- at least 7 personal, plus 5 employers). That's over 4500 people that need to be called. Forty-five hundred people is a lot of people folks. RELAX. It takes a heck of a lot of time to call people, track them down, listen to them, ask them questions, write down what they say, fill out forms, process paper -- you get the picture.

Aside from that, don't forget that they are verifying your education, bar(s), driver's record, etc. This is a long process. We're getting to the end of it. Just take a deep breath.

[biker]

I received a phone call from one of the investigators a few days ago - apparently they had sent the email regarding drivers license number etc. to my old email address and of course I hadn't received it. They were calling to double check why I hadn't responded-which I thought was nice of them-they could've used my non-response to kick me out maybe(?). Anyway, she also asked for references to confirm some of my past employment. I gave her names and numbers, but they have not been contacted yet. So, I'm assuming they're really behind and it will take time to get through the lists. So, we just have to be patient. I think they are trying to be thorough and will contact references eventually. I really think they're trying to do this right and screen everyone as best they can to find out who we are. With the number of qualified applicants they have, that takes time. Hang in there they'll get into your closets sooner or later! (did you ever think you'd be anxious for the govt' to investigate you? What has happened to us??? )
By the way, has anyone looked at the old ALJ Improvement lately? It's really sad. They're abusing Pixie over there. I just can't understand that mentality (or lack thereof). I'm glad you are all mature adults over here (well, sort of mature-at least you play well with others).

[snowman]

When the investigators do come calling, be aware that they are not confidential about who they are or what they are calling about. This was not a problem for me because I have been open about my application and the process, but I was surprised that the caller identified herself and her reason for calling to the person who answered the phone in the office.

[gromit]

biker said:

By the way, has anyone looked at the old ALJ Improvement lately? It's really sad. They're abusing Pixie over there. I just can't understand that mentality (or lack thereof). I'm glad you are all mature adults over here (well, sort of mature-at least you play well with others).

I frequent a few message boards (this being the only semi-work related board), and I'm astonished at the name calling and general juvenile behavior on that board. I enjoy a good joke or some witty debate, but that stuff borders on the illiterate. My 10 year old can come up with better stuff.

I would like to believe that there is a group of high school kids playing a joke by invading that forum, but, sadly, it appears that there are lawyers who actually behave like that.

As far as abusing pixie, however, I have a feeling that pixie can handle it ;D

[edit] I just went over there - it's not even "safe for work." That was my last visit.

[Pixie]

Wilddog alerted me the other day about the posts, so I took a look. It is all one poster who is posting and then answering him/herself with multiple posts. It appears that he was after me, Troll, Gumby, Chris and Global Panda as being the same person posting under different names on that board. He/she has now gone back to bashing the ODAR attorneys and has forgotten about me. So short lived is fame. Pix.

[morgullord]

If you were all those people, Pixie, how did you manage the different writing styles? I am impressed! LOL

With regard to fame:

"All glory is fleeting." George C. Scott as George S. Patton in "Patton"

but

"You can take glory with you when it's your time to go." Errol Flynn as George Armstrong Custer in "They Died With Their Boots On".

[testtaker]

doctorwho said:

Today I was contacted by somebody from YALE ASSOCIATES who was checking a reference on a candidate who had listed me as a reference on his application. I had been listed as an employer. I was told by the very lady that they have broken up the work according to "type of reference." In other words, somebody is checking "education," somebody else is checking "personal references," somebody else is checking "employment references," etc. She said that YA is working hard to meet a deadline established by SSA (that she did not know and that they were working very very hard -- BUT, that there were lots and lots of people that still needed to be contacted.

That's a relief to me, Dr. Who, for only two folks have fessed up to being called so far, both of them employment related. As you know from reading above, one of them was a complete idiot. I am now hopeful that they will contact the folks I provided on my reference list - ALJs, attorneys, personal. Thanks!

[chieftain]

I interviewed last week and only two of my references have been contacted thus far -- like testtaker, both are past employers. Coincidence? Probably.

[happy]

Okay, now this is new.

I've been contacted twice about the same applicant. When the caller identified herself (and I think it was the same person I had talked to before), I informed her that I had already given the reference a week and a half ago. She assured me that different calls were being made for different purposes and asked that I please bear with her. Of course, I graciously agreed. However, she then asked me almost precisely the same questions. I say "almost" because the questions were, in fact, worded slightly differently, but seemed designed to elicit precisely the same sort of information.

Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. Why not just ask me all the questions you have in a single phone call? Or would it be too much trouble to look down the list and note, "Oh, this person is both a former supervisor AND a legal community reference"?

[nightowl]

Everyone needs to be patient. I have not interviewed yet, but my employer was called last week. None of my other references have been contacted yet. They have a lot of references to call, so it's just going to take time. Just think, in around four short weeks, the whole process will probably be over. WOW!

[counselor95]

happy said:

Okay, now this is new.

I've been contacted twice about the same applicant. When the caller identified herself (and I think it was the same person I had talked to before), I informed her that I had already given the reference a week and a half ago. She assured me that different calls were being made for different purposes and asked that I please bear with her. Of course, I graciously agreed. However, she then asked me almost precisely the same questions. I say "almost" because the questions were, in fact, worded slightly differently, but seemed designed to elicit precisely the same sort of information.

Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. Why not just ask me all the questions you have in a single phone call? Or would it be too much trouble to look down the list and note, "Oh, this person is both a former supervisor AND a legal community reference"?

Thanks, Happy, I was wondering because one of my former bosses was contacted twice; he was listed as both a former supervisor (furnished in response to the last, OMNISEC email) and as a Judge who knew my work ethic (furnished in response to the SSA email). He thought the questions were quite similar, also, with one or two differences.

Query: what about a reference who may have had two messages left on his/her voicemail, and failed to realize two responses were necessary? (I.e., the reference returned one call but not the other?) Has the investigator from Yale Associates whose phone call was not returned called a second time?

[happy]

Gee, they got hold of me both times, so it wasn't a "returning the call" scenario. If your reference hasn't already deleted both messages, you might just let them know what's going on and ask whether your reference recalls whether it was the same or different person(s) who called.

[jagghagg]

happy said:

Or would it be too much trouble to look down the list and note, "Oh, this person is both a former supervisor AND a legal community reference"?

Is it just my military training or am I the odd person (don't answer that, privateatty) who assumed that the request for references, co-worker, supervisory and legal, wanted different people for each area requested ? It was tough, but I didn't "double book" anyone.

[southerner]

An earlier post noted a minimum of 7 references. I, also, did not double-book on references, but there was some overlap between references and the verifiers cited with the AR's posted with initial online application.

After the DL e-mail inquiry was made, I did furnish an update to background/reference investigators as to three names/numbers, one of which was current supervisor who was also judicial reference.

[privateatty]

counselor95 said:

happy said:

Okay, now this is new.

I've been contacted twice about the same applicant. When the caller identified herself (and I think it was the same person I had talked to before), I informed her that I had already given the reference a week and a half ago. She assured me that different calls were being made for different purposes and asked that I please bear with her. Of course, I graciously agreed. However, she then asked me almost precisely the same questions. I say "almost" because the questions were, in fact, worded slightly differently, but seemed designed to elicit precisely the same sort of information.

Seems like a waste of time and resources to me. Why not just ask me all the questions you have in a single phone call? Or would it be too much trouble to look down the list and note, "Oh, this person is both a former supervisor AND a legal community reference"?

Thanks, Happy, I was wondering because one of my former bosses was contacted twice; he was listed as both a former supervisor (furnished in response to the last, OMNISEC email) and as a Judge who knew my work ethic (furnished in response to the SSA email). He thought the questions were quite similar, also, with one or two differences.

Query: what about a reference who may have had two messages left on his/her voicemail, and failed to realize two responses were necessary? (I.e., the reference returned one call but not the other?) Has the investigator from Yale Associates whose phone call was not returned called a second time?

I'm in the "thanks happy" counselor 95 scenario. My first and really only, boss, my chief competition for years and now a big-shot State ALJ-type Judge who knows me very, very well. Didn't give it a second thought until now. We had a saying in a place long ago and far away: "There it is."

I guess in jagghagg's book, now's the time where I line up behind shadow.

[jagghagg]

privateatty said:

I guess in jagghagg's book, now's the time where I line up behind shadow.

Hey - I was just wondering; what seemed pretty clear to me was not pretty clear to others.....besides, I prefer my cauldron (to my book), thank you very much.

[judicature]

Anyone receive negative feedback on the reference checkers?

[nightowl]

My current employer is the only one who has been contacted. He did not receive any negative feedback. He told me things went well.