Question: I recently called a friend to ask for information about a candidate for a position whom I thought he knew. He was somewhat uncertain as to whom I was referring, but promised to check and asked me to call him back in a day or two. Hours later I managed to get the information I required and no longer had a need to trouble my first source with another call. What is the right thing to do?

Answer: You must assume that the first source went to the trouble of checking on the matter you asked him about. It is certainly proper, therefore, to call him in a day or two and ask him what information he has. Even if he does not add anything to what you have already heard you will give him the feeling that his effort was not in vain. It is also possible that he was too busy to get around to this matter and you can then thank him for his good intentions and inform him that he need not bother because you believe you have another source.

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