Checking a candidate's references? Stop scribbling notes in a doc. PaperKit drafts a proper Reference Check Scorecard you fill in as you talk to the referee — and sign. Pick the reference type — PROFESSIONAL, MANAGER / SUPERVISOR, PEER / COLLEAGUE, ACADEMIC, or PERSONAL / CHARACTER — and the whole scorecard reshapes (the title, the framing, the criteria intro, and the emphasis). Unlike a blank template, it captures THREE distinct people: YOU (the reference checker who signs), the CANDIDATE being referenced, and the REFEREE who gave the reference — with the referee's name, title, company, relationship to the candidate, and the dates they worked together in their own info block. The centerpiece is a clean REFERENCE CRITERIA table: rate the candidate on each criterion on a 1–5 scale (or N/A) — Outstanding, Above average, Satisfactory, Below average, Poor — add the referee's supporting comment, and PaperKit colors each rating and DERIVES an OVERALL AVERAGE candidate score, with a scale legend right on the form. Then record your overall RECOMMENDATION — WOULD REHIRE, STRONGLY RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND WITH RESERVATIONS, or DO NOT RECOMMEND — shown as a bold, color-coded decision badge at the top that also reshapes the closing. Capture the referee's answers to a set of structured questions too — relationship & context, role & responsibilities, key strengths, areas to develop, reliability & work ethic, teamwork & feedback, would-you-rehire, and any concerns — and each becomes a tidy question & answer block. Add your own custom questions, an overall summary, and a short checker sign-off (this reflects the referee's own statements, accurately recorded, referee informed, confidential, and e-signature consent). You're the one recording it, so YOU e-sign the hosted scorecard online and submit it to recruiting / the hiring manager — there's no second signature, and the page is set to noindex to keep it private. (This is a convenience template, not legal, HR, or professional advice — PaperKit doesn't contact any referee, verify any reference, or make any hiring decision; your organization owns its hiring process and must check references lawfully on job-related criteria only.)
The big lever — it reshapes the whole scorecard: the title, the framing, the criteria intro, and the emphasis.
Manager / supervisor reference — from someone who directly managed the candidate (the highest-signal reference).
Your read on the reference — it shows as a bold, color-coded badge at the top of the scorecard and reshapes the closing line.
You are the one recording the reference and signing it — separate from the candidate and the referee.
The person you spoke with about the candidate — a distinct third party from you and the candidate. This is what turns a blank template into a real reference record.
Rate the candidate on each criterion on a 1–5 scale (or N/A) based on the reference. PaperKit colors each rating and derives an average candidate score across the rated rows.
Turn on the questions you asked — each answer you record shows up as a question & answer block on the scorecard. 4 answered.
Each one you turn on becomes a checked ✓ affirmation above the signature.
A real reference check scorecard. The reference type reshapes the title, framing and closing; your recommendation shows as a colored badge; the candidate and the referee each get their own info block; your ratings fill a colored 1–5 table with a derived average; each question you record becomes a question & answer block. Publish to get a hosted link you e-sign online.
$9/mo — remove the DRAFT watermark + “Made with PaperKit” badge, unlimited clean-PDF reference checks, and Pro across every tool.
A reference check scorecard is a template for convenience, not legal, HR, or professional advice. PaperKit does not contact any referee, verify any reference, or make any hiring decision — the organization is responsible for checking references lawfully on job-related criteria only and for its own hiring process, and you are responsible for the accuracy of what you record. Employment laws on reference checking and record-keeping vary, so confirm your own policies. PaperKit is not a law firm and records electronic signature via the signer's typed name.