About this template
Streamline your hiring process with this Professional Reference Form, designed specifically for HR professionals, recruiters, and hiring managers. Collecting candidate feedback from past employers and managers is a critical step in vetting top talent, but phone tag and unstructured notes can slow things down. This template provides a standardized way to capture valuable insights regarding a candidate's past performance, communication skills, teamwork, and reliability under pressure.
The form collects essential details including the candidate's name, the reference's contact information, specific skill evaluations, and overall performance summaries. By standardizing your reference checks across every hire, your hiring team can make more objective, informed decisions while maintaining a clean, digital paper trail for compliance and review.
Built to work seamlessly with Doc2Form, you can deploy this template in seconds, share it directly via email with references, and automatically organize all responses into a secure spreadsheet for easy evaluation by your hiring panel.
Key features
- Standardize reference feedback across all open roles
- Capture ratings on key traits like teamwork and problem-solving
- Accessible on any device for quick referee completion
- Automatically organize submissions into a structured spreadsheet
- Speed up hiring decisions with clear, consistent data
Use cases
- Pre-employment background vetting for corporate roles
- Evaluating executive leadership candidates through past peers
- Collecting reference checks for internal promotions and transfers
- Screening applicants for non-profit or volunteer positions
What this form collects
- Candidate Full Name (Short answer)Enter the full name of the person applying for the position.
- Position Applied For (Short answer)The job title the candidate is applying for at our organization.
- Reference Full Name (Short answer)Enter your full name.
- Reference Company & Title (Short answer)Your current organization and job title.
- Reference Email Address (Short answer)We will only use this if we need to clarify any of your feedback.
- Reference Phone Number (Short answer)Include your area code.
- Working Relationship (Dropdown)What was your professional relationship to the candidate?
- Dates Worked Together (Short answer)Approximate start and end dates of working together.
- Performance Evaluation (Linear scale)Please rate the candidate on the following professional attributes.
- Candidate Strengths (Paragraph)What are the candidate's primary professional strengths?
- Areas for Improvement (Paragraph)Are there any areas where the candidate could grow or develop further?
- Performance Under Pressure (Paragraph)How does the candidate handle tight deadlines, high-stress situations, or shifting priorities?
- Overall Recommendation (Multiple choice)Would you rehire or recommend this candidate without reservation?
- Additional Comments (Paragraph)Please share any other insights regarding the candidate's character or work ethic.
FAQ
How do I send this reference form to a candidate's references?
Once your Google Form is generated via Doc2Form, you can simply copy the form link and email it directly to the reference, or share it via your applicant tracking workflow.
Can I customize the skill evaluation questions?
Yes! You can easily edit, add, or remove questions in Google Forms to match the specific competencies required for your open role.
Where are the reference responses stored?
All submitted responses are automatically collected in a secure Google Sheet linked to your form, making it easy for your hiring team to review and collaborate.
Is this form mobile-friendly for references?
Google Forms are fully responsive, meaning references can easily complete the form from their smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer.
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.