A standardized communication used to gather information about a candidate’s skills, work ethic, and overall suitability for a particular role. This structured document ensures consistent questioning across all references and provides a written record of the feedback received. An example includes pre-drafted questions covering areas such as the candidate’s performance, strengths, weaknesses, and ability to work within a team.
Employing such a pre-formatted document ensures a more efficient and unbiased process. It allows for quicker assessment of a candidate’s qualifications by streamlining the information-gathering stage. The use of a consistent format can mitigate legal risks associated with inconsistent or biased reference checks, contributing to a fairer and more defensible hiring process. Historically, informal phone calls were the norm, but the transition to documented templates has increased professionalism and reduced ambiguity.