Former boss wont give reference . .?

Question

So I was offered a great job. I have been going through the background check process. They asked for 10 years of employment history after the offer was extended to me. I provided a list of all of my former jobs since 1997. They were concerned that there were so many jobs, so they wanted to have some professional references. The specificially asked for 2 from the current state that I live and 2 from the previous state that I lived in. I provided 6 references all together, just in case they could not reach someone. I was mainly concerned with one reference that I put down from 6 years ago. (since they asked for 2 from my former state, I had to provide this person) They called her and she said she could not remember me but she thought it was a good reference. She asked the HR people to send her an email and she would get back to them. Well, she hasnt. The HR department called me and asked that I call her to refresh her memory. I have left her 2 messages and sent 2 emails.

She has not gotten back to me. I am concerned that her refusing to cooperate will reflect poorly on me. I am also concerned that if she does decide to call HR back, that her lack of memory of me will lead to her misrepresenting my time there.
I am thinking that she doesnt want to be bothered with ancient history or she doenst want to be subjected to liability for giving a reference on someone she does not recall.
Could this lead to my offer being revoked? Even though I have 5 other references that are impeccible?

I totally agree that you should never list a reference without giving them notice first. however, since pressed to provide 2 references from my former state, I didnt feel like I had a choice, and I added extra references in case she could not be reached.

Answer 1

You should always tell people that they will be expecting a phone call about a job reference before they get the call. But anyway, don't worry about it. Call her and tell her.

Answer 2

Having a reference from an employer is entirely different from misrepresenting whether or not you were there. Not all employers will provide references, and good companies know that if you have put in the effort to obtain said reference, you have done everything within your power to accomdate their request. It shouldn't interfere with your being hired (not one company, anyhow).

Answer 3

HR managers take care of this concern daily. There must be many motives that guy or woman has no longer spoke back - the main probable is that she is amazingly busy and your request is far down her checklist of priorities time-honored. it could additionally be that the organisation has a coverage that supervisors and bosses are no longer unfastened to offer references because of the fact of legal duty subjects. tell the recent employers which you have tried to get the references numerous situations. you additionally can call the HR branch on the former organisation and ask them to ascertain employment.

Answer 4

I don't understand why you are providing your former boss as a reference. The only thing that employers who are conducting reference checks can ask by law is the length of your employment. They cannot provide a character reference.
You should have left her out. Human Resources at your former job is who you should have listed.

Answer 5

After contacting the HR department, she may have been advised not to comment on you, simply because even if you left the company on good terms, they are legally not allowed to divulge any information other than to verify dates of employment.

Answer 6

You should be okay.

However, I'm not sure on the time-line here...but maybe that person took a vacation, or left the company, after first contact?

There is more than one reason for not answering back right away.

Or maybe they really can't remember you.