New Reference Check Form
Overview
Use New Reference Check Form to create a custom reference-check form for collecting referee responses.
You can build a form with up to 25 questions, choose the type of answer you want for each question, arrange the order of questions, preview the form as you build it, and then save it for future use. You can also publish the form when saving so it becomes available straight away.
Quick start
- Enter a unique form name and a short description.
- Add your first question and choose its answer type.
- Mark the question as required if an answer must be provided.
- Add answer options for question types that need them.
- Repeat until your form is complete.
- Reorder questions if needed.
- Review the live preview.
- Choose Publish on Save if the form should be available immediately.
- Click Save.
Main sections / fields / actions
Form details
Start by entering the basic details for the form.
Form name
Enter a clear and unique name that helps internal users recognise the form.
Examples:
- Employment Reference Form
- Senior Manager Reference Check
- Technical Reference Form
The form name must be unique. If the name is already in use, you will need to choose another one before saving.
Description
Use the description to explain the purpose of the form.
This is especially helpful when your organisation uses several different reference-check forms.
Examples:
- General employment reference for office roles
- Technical reference for engineering candidates
- Management reference form for senior hires
Publish on Save
Select this option if you want the form to become available for use as soon as it is saved.
Leave it unselected if you want to save the form first and publish it later.
Questions
Add a question
Use Add Question to insert a new question into the form.
Each question should focus on one clear topic so referees can respond easily.
Examples:
- How long did you supervise the candidate?
- What was the candidate’s main role?
- Would you rehire this candidate?
Question text
Enter the wording of the question exactly as you want the referee to see it.
Keep the wording short, clear, and professional.
Question type
Choose the answer format that best suits the question.
Available question types typically include:
- Plain text — for written answers
- Dropdown — for one choice from a list
- Checkboxes — for selecting one or more options
- Rating (1–5) — for scored responses
Required questions
Mark a question as required if the referee must answer it before submitting the form.
Use required questions only for the most important information.
Answer options
For dropdown and checkbox questions, add the list of available answer options.
Examples:
- Excellent
- Good
- Satisfactory
- Poor
Keep answer labels short and easy to understand.
There can be up to 5 options for each dropdown or checkbox question.
Arrange questions
Reorder questions
You can change the order of questions so the form follows the flow you want.
For example, you may want to place:
- basic relationship questions first
- performance questions next
- final comments at the end
Reordering updates the preview so you can immediately check the layout.
Delete a question
If a question is no longer needed, delete it from the form.
A confirmation message may appear before the question is removed.
Live preview
Preview the form as you build it
The preview area shows how the form will appear to referees.
Use it to check:
- the order of questions
- the wording of each question
- the answer format shown for each one
- whether the form feels clear and professional
Refresh the preview if needed after making changes.
Saving and publishing
Save
Click Save to store the form.
If everything has been completed correctly, the form is saved and a confirmation message may appear.
Publish
If Publish on Save is selected, the form becomes available for use immediately after saving.
If it is not selected, the form is saved but may remain unavailable until published later.
Limits and guidance
Maximum number of questions
You can add up to 25 questions to a single form.
Maximum number of options
Dropdown and checkbox questions can have up to 5 answer options.
Keep forms easy to complete
A shorter, clearer form usually leads to better referee responses.
Try to include only the questions that are genuinely needed.
Best practices
Use clear form names
Choose names that help internal users quickly understand when the form should be used.
Keep questions focused
Ask one thing at a time rather than combining several ideas in one question.
Use required questions carefully
Too many required questions can make the form harder to complete.
Make rating questions easy to understand
If you use a rating question, explain what the scale means in the question itself.
Example:
Rate the candidate’s communication skills, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent.
Review the preview before saving
Always check the preview so you can confirm the form looks correct before it is saved or published.
Troubleshooting
I cannot save the form
Check that the form name has been entered and that it is not already in use.
Also make sure all required question details have been completed.
The form name is already taken
Choose a different form name and try saving again.
My answer options are not showing correctly
Review the question type and make sure the options have been added correctly.
If needed, remove unused options and re-enter them clearly.
I cannot add more options
Dropdown and checkbox questions have a limit of 5 options.
Remove an existing option before adding a new one.
The preview does not match what I expected
Refresh the preview and review the order, wording, and question types again.
Also check that each question has been fully completed.
I deleted a question by mistake
Add the question again and re-enter the details before saving.
My form is saved but not available to use
Check whether the form was published when it was saved. A saved form may not be immediately available unless it has also been published.
FAQ
Q: How many questions can I add to one form?
A: Up to 25 questions.
Q: How many answer options can I add to a dropdown or checkbox question?
A: Up to 5 options.
Q: Do I have to publish the form when I save it?
A: No. You can save the form without publishing it if you are still preparing it.
Q: Can I change the order of questions?
A: Yes. You can reorder questions before saving the form.
Q: What happens if the form name is already in use?
A: You will need to choose a different name before the form can be saved.
Q: Should every question be required?
A: No. Only make a question required if the answer is essential.
Q: Can I preview the form before publishing it?
A: Yes. The live preview lets you review the form while you are building it.