Millennials and the generations to come over are known for many things – both good and bad – and one of them is a distinctive propensity to avoid answering the phone. It extends to a general unwillingness to respond to strangers. We won’t answer the door if we aren’t expecting someone, sometimes leave texts on read for months or until someone tries us multiple times, and will screen calls from unknown numbers (and rarely answer the phone if it’s someone we know, actually).
But no matter your generation, if you are applying for a security clearance, you will need references that answer the phone or doorif a background investigator comes knocking.
This subscriber on the ClearanceJobsBlog was nervous that a previous work reference would be unreachable:
I am currently in the middle of a background screening for clearance. I am worried a reference I provided for a past job won’t answer. What will happen if they can’t contact my past manager for one of my past jobs?
SF-86, FIELD INVESTIGATORS, AND REFERENCES
When filling out the SF-86, it is imperative to pick the right people. This includes choosing people who can paint a clear picture of who you are – unfortunately, that can pose problems if the best person to paint a picture of who you are – or perhaps the only one who can verify your employment – is known for being unreachable.
If you need to list a person like this on your form, provide as much contact information as possible, including potential alternates who may be more likely to answer. If you know the person to be unreachable, go ahead and provide that awareness on the form so a background investigator knows what they’re getting into trying to contact that reference.
Your background investigator could proactively ask for another reference or another colleague (even if that person no longer works there).
Remember, many investigators are familiar with tracking people down through multiple means and have probably run into this scenario before. If they require more information than you’ve been able to provide, you will hear from them and learn what next steps you should take. Also keep in mind that sometimes references don’t need to be contacted for a background investigation at all. It’s not a red flag if a reference isn’t contacted. Your job is to provide the information requested on the form – it’s the background investigator’s job to track down the right individuals.
Also, consider contacting your references as you list them on the SF-86 and make sure they know they are looped into this process.
