Reference Check Templates

Templates for conducting effective reference checks.

What's included

Reference request template
Question frameworks
Red flag indicators
Documentation template
Decision integration

Best used when

Final hiring decisions
Senior hires
Validating concerns
Risk mitigation

Why this is Gold

References reveal truth interviews miss. These templates surface real performance patterns.

The template

The Template

REFERENCE CHECKS

Reference Call Script

REFERENCE CHECK

CANDIDATE: _______________
REFERENCE: _______________
RELATIONSHIP: _______________

OPENING:
"Thanks for taking my call. [Candidate]
is being considered for [role]. I have
about 15 minutes of questions."

QUESTIONS:

1. "How did you work with [candidate]?"
   _______________

2. "What were their key strengths?"
   _______________

3. "What areas did they need to develop?"
   _______________

4. "How did they handle [pressure/conflict/
   ambiguity]?"
   _______________

5. "Would you hire them again?"
   _______________

6. "Is there anything else I should know?"
   _______________

RED FLAGS NOTED:
_______________

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
☐ Strong positive
☐ Positive
☐ Mixed
☐ Concerning

Reference Red Flags

Signal	Meaning	Action
Hesitation on rehire	Concern	Probe deeper
Generic praise only	Limited relationship	Get more refs
Unwilling to comment	Major concern	Investigate
Inconsistent with interviews	Possible issue	Additional ref

Frequently asked questions

What is the Reference Check Templates?

Templates for conducting effective reference checks.

Who is the Reference Check Templates for?

It is built for Cross-Functionals and their teams working on Hiring. The AI coach adapts it to your company, stage, and goals.

How long does the Reference Check Templates take to use?

It saves roughly 20+ hours versus building from scratch. Our AI coach can tailor the template to your situation in minutes, then hand you a step-by-step plan.

Is the Reference Check Templates free?

Yes. You can read the full template and start getting coached through it for free. Sign in to save your tailored version and track your next steps.

How does the AI coach help with the Reference Check Templates?

The coach teaches you the framework, asks a few questions about your business, tailors the template to you, and gives you measurable next steps to execute.