About this template
A character reference form is essential for gathering detailed insights into an applicant's work ethic, interpersonal skills, integrity, and overall suitability for a position, program, or organization. Whether you are hiring employees, vetting volunteers, or reviewing scholarship candidates, collecting standardized feedback from trusted references helps you make informed, objective decisions.
Traditionally, reference checks involve endless phone tag and unstructured notes. This digital character reference template replaces that friction with a structured, easy-to-complete form. Reference providers can securely detail how long they have known the applicant, evaluate core traits like leadership, reliability, and communication, and provide qualitative feedback on strengths and potential areas of growth.
Doc2Form lets you instantly convert this template into your Google Drive, enabling you to organize responses, share evaluations securely with hiring panels, and speed up your vetting process without losing the depth and nuance required for high-stakes decisions.
Key features
- Standardize trait evaluations across multiple references for objective comparison.
- Collect detailed qualitative insights on applicant strengths and weaknesses.
- Capture electronic sign-offs and contact preferences effortlessly.
- Organize and review all reference submissions directly in Google Sheets.
- Deploy instantly to referees with a simple, secure web link.
Use cases
Screening job applicants during executive hiring or sensitive recruit…
Screening job applicants during executive hiring or sensitive recruitment processes.
Vetting volunteers and staff for non-profit organizations and youth p…
Vetting volunteers and staff for non-profit organizations and youth programs.
Evaluating scholarship candidates and academic program applicants.
Collecting character testimonies for legal proceedings or professiona…
Collecting character testimonies for legal proceedings or professional licensing.
What this form collects
- Applicant Full Name (Short answer)Enter the full legal name of the person you are providing a reference for.
- Reference Provider Full Name (Short answer)Enter your first and last name.
- Reference Provider Email Address (Short answer)We may use this email if we need to follow up regarding your feedback.
- Reference Provider Phone Number (Short answer)Include your area code (e.g., 555-123-4567).
- Relationship to Applicant (Dropdown)Select the capacity in which you know the applicant.
- How Long Have You Known the Applicant? (Short answer)Specify the duration of your acquaintance.
- Familiarity Level (Multiple choice)How closely have you interacted with the applicant?
- Applicant Strengths (Paragraph)Describe the applicant's key strengths, talents, or standout qualities.
- Applicant Growth Areas (Paragraph)Describe any areas where the applicant could improve or develop further.
- Work Ethic & Reliability (Linear scale)Rate the applicant's dependability and commitment to tasks.
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills (Linear scale)Rate how effectively the applicant communicates with others.
- Integrity & Professional Conduct (Linear scale)Rate the applicant's honesty, ethics, and trustworthiness.
- Overall Recommendation Status (Multiple choice)Select your level of endorsement for the applicant.
- Recommendation Explanation (Paragraph)Please provide additional context or reasoning for your recommendation.
- Additional Comments (Paragraph)Share any final remarks you feel would be helpful for our evaluation.
- Reference Provider Signature (Short answer)Type your full legal name to serve as your electronic signature.
- Signing Date (Date)Enter today's date.
FAQ
How do I share this character reference form with a referee?
Once you copy the template to your Google Forms account, simply click 'Send' to email the link directly to the reference provider or share the URL via email or messaging platforms.
Can I customize the evaluation criteria and traits?
Yes! You can fully edit, add, or remove any questions, ratings, or text fields in Google Forms to match your organization's exact evaluation standards.
Where are the completed reference responses stored?
All submissions go directly into your secure Google account. You can view individual responses in the form dashboard or automatically route them into a Google Sheet for easy review.
Is this template free to use?
Yes, this template is completely free to convert and use via Doc2Form and Google Forms.
Get this form in your Google Drive
Save a copy to your Google Drive with one click (uses 1 credit). Or build from a PDF or description in the app.