Automated reference checks, from request to report
A manual reference check means calls, voicemails and notes typed up by hand. Ours runs on its own once you start it, and every candidate is asked the same questions.
- Your team · 30 seconds
Start a check
Enter the candidate's name, email and mobile number from the dashboard, or start it from your ATS when a candidate reaches the offer stage. Choose a question set and how many references you need.
- Candidate · minutes
Consent and referees
The candidate receives a branded email and text message, reviews and signs the authorization, and enters contact details for each referee, such as a former manager, a peer and a direct report.
- References · 10 to 15 minutes
References respond
Each referee gets a secure link by email and text message to a short questionnaire that works on any phone. Rating scales plus open comments. Automatic email and SMS reminders go out until they finish.
- Your team · usually under 24 hrs
Review and decide
The report is ready as soon as the last reference finishes. You get competency scores, verbatim answers, an AI summary and flags where references disagree.
A report a hiring manager can read in two minutes
- Overall confidence score drawn from every reference response
- Competency scores for reliability, communication, leadership, problem solving and any you define
- Verbatim comments from each referee, labeled by relationship
- AI summary of where references agree, plus growth areas they mention
- Consistency flags when one reference differs sharply from the others
- PDF export for your applicant file or your client
confidence
Ask the questions that matter for the role
Start from a template and adjust it, or build your own. Structured questions make answers comparable across candidates and fairer to them.
Role templates
Ready-made sets for clerical, sales, management, healthcare, skilled trades, technology and executive roles.
Reference types
Ask managers about performance, peers about collaboration and direct reports about leadership.
Your competencies
Add the competencies your organization hires for and score every candidate against them.
What changes when you automate
| Step | Manual reference check | OnlineReferenceCheck.com |
|---|---|---|
| Reaching referees | Calls, voicemails, scheduling | One link by email and text, automatic reminders |
| Questions asked | Varies by recruiter | Same structured set for every candidate |
| Documentation | Handwritten or typed notes | Verbatim answers, saved and timestamped |
| Turnaround | Often several days | Most checks under 24 hours |
| Recruiter time | Hours per candidate | About 30 seconds to start |
See the difference on your next hire.
Book a 30-minute demo. We'll run a live reference check on a sample candidate and show you the finished report.