Describe the applicant, role, and evidence you need. Makeform creates a confidential reference form with relationship details, ratings, examples, declarations, and review routing.
Route completed references to Google Sheets, Slack, and Zapier.
Sample prompts for the builder
Choose a prompt, tailor it, or send it to the builder. The field preview shows an example structure.
Audience
Former managers commenting on a job applicant
Format
Structured assessment with examples and declaration
Prompt size
366 chars
Example form structure
Structured assessment with examples and declaration
Your relationship to the applicant
When did you work together?
Rate five work behaviors
Give a specific observed example
Declaration and signature
Suggested routing tags
Reference requested
Reference received
Review needed
Ask for observed examples and relationship context; a score without evidence is difficult to interpret.
Step 1
Invite
send each referee a dedicated form link
Step 2
Verify
capture identity, relationship, and work contact
Step 3
Assess
collect ratings backed by observed examples
Step 4
Review
route the completed reference to the right team
Better reference evidence
Give every referee the same role context and core questions, with room for evidence a rating cannot capture.
Ask how, where, and how long the referee knew the applicant, so reviewers understand the source.
Show the actual duties before ratings. Conditional follow-ups request detail only where context matters.
Explain who reviews the response and why. Avoid secrecy promises you cannot control.
One structure, several decisions
Keep identity, relationship, evidence, and declaration fields consistent, then use relevant competencies.
Assess role-specific work behavior, dates, responsibilities, and willingness to work together again.
Collect academic context, response to feedback, community contribution, comparison, and recommendation.
Ask about dependability, boundaries, teamwork, procedures, and issues staff should review.
Capture permission and suitable times so reviewers can clarify material answers.
Reference workflow
Turn the role brief into a consistent request, test it, and route completed references to reviewers.
Name the opportunity, responsibilities, and qualities reviewers need evidence about.
Use consistent scales with a not observed option. Remove irrelevant or overly broad questions.
Share the form with the named referee, deadline, applicant name, and support contact.
Alert the designated reviewer and keep examples with their ratings and declaration.
Choose a collection method
An online form establishes a repeatable baseline before reviewers seek clarification.
Field guide
Start with these six sections, then adapt language, competencies, access, and retention to your process.
Referee identity
Collect name, position, organization, work email, phone, and relationship type so reviewers understand the source.
Observation context
Record dates, contact frequency, and setting. Include not observed wherever a referee may lack direct evidence.
Role competencies
Turn the role brief into observable behaviors, with plain-language scale endpoints and consistent core questions.
Narrative evidence
Pair ratings with observed examples. Conditional detail after low or high scores keeps responses focused.
Notice and declaration
Name the purpose and intended reviewers. Add an accuracy declaration without absolute secrecy or outcome promises.
Review routing
Capture the applicant identifier and destination, then alert the responsible team. Keep follow-up consent with the response.
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Open toolFAQ
Practical answers for hiring teams, admissions staff, and volunteer coordinators creating a referee workflow.
It is an online questionnaire for someone who knows an applicant. It collects relationship context, structured assessments, examples, and a declaration for the selection team.
State the purpose, intended reviewers, and handling practices you follow. Avoid absolute secrecy promises; make the notice match your actual process and policies.
Include referee identity, relationship, observation context, not observed choices, role-relevant ratings, examples, overall assessment, follow-up permission, an accuracy declaration, and the applicant identifier.
Define each rating and ask for an observed example. Use conditional detail after unusually low or high scores, and provide not observed so referees need not guess.
Yes. Keep identity, relationship, context, and declaration sections, then use competencies suited to employment, admissions, or volunteering.
You can add a file upload when a selection process genuinely needs supporting material. Explain what file is requested and avoid collecting unrelated personal information. Many references are clearer when the form asks for focused narrative evidence instead of an unrestricted document upload.
Yes. Makeform is unlimited free for creating, editing, publishing, and collecting responses. The paid tier removes the Makeform badge, so you can run the full reference collection workflow on the free plan.
Responses arrive in the Makeform inbox and can route through Google Sheets, Slack, or Zapier. Configure recipients so material reaches assigned reviewers.
Give every referee a clear, consistent request.
