1) What is this Character Reference Letter Form used for?

The Character Reference Letter Form is used to collect structured feedback from referees about an applicant’s character, reliability, and suitability for a role, program, tenancy, or other opportunity.

2) What should be included in a Character Reference Letter Form?

A Character Reference Letter Form should include the applicant’s name, the referee’s contact information, details about their relationship and how long they’ve known the applicant, and space for written comments about the applicant’s character and suitability.

3) When to use a Character Reference Letter Form?

You should use this form whenever you need a personal or professional reference to support an application, such as for employment, housing, volunteering, licensing, or educational programs.

4) Who can use a Character Reference Letter Form?

Employers, landlords, property managers, schools, volunteer coordinators, licensing boards, and nonprofit organizations can all use this form template to gather consistent character references.

5) What are the benefits of using a Character Reference Letter Form?

Using this form template standardizes data collection, makes it easier to compare applicants, reduces manual follow-up with referees, and keeps all reference information in one place for quick review.

6) How do I customize the Character Reference Letter Form with Jotform?

You can open the form template in Jotform Form Builder and use the drag-and-drop interface to edit questions, add new fields, adjust instructions, and apply your branding without any coding.

7) Is it possible to make some questions optional or conditional?

Yes, you can mark questions as required or optional and use conditional logic in Jotform to show or hide certain fields based on how the referee answers earlier questions.

8) How do I receive notifications when someone submits the form?

Set up notification emails in Jotform so that each form submission triggers an instant email to your chosen recipients, helping your team track incoming references in real time.

9) Can I share this Character Reference Letter Form online?

Yes, you can share the form via a direct link, send it by email, or embed it on your website so referees can complete and submit their reference from any device.

10) What happens to the data after a form is submitted?

After each form submission, the data is stored automatically in Jotform, where you can view, search, filter, and export responses for further evaluation or record-keeping.

11) Is this Character Reference Letter Form mobile-friendly?

Yes, the form template is responsive, so referees can easily complete and submit their character reference on smartphones, tablets, or desktop devices.

12) Can I add extra questions specific to my organization?

Absolutely, you can extend the Character Reference Letter Form by adding custom questions in the no-code form builder to capture any additional information your process requires.

Character Reference Letter Form Template

Reference Forms

14 Templates

Employee Reference Form

Our employee reference request form is designed to get references from referees listed in candidate applications, in order to get a better approach during the hiring process. Make the most of your references with Jotform!

Human Resources Forms

Rental Reference Request

A Rental Reference Request form is a valuable tool for property managers, landlords, and real estate agents to verify rental history and assess tenant reliability.

Real Estate Feedback Forms

Professional Reference Form

Collect feedback from job applicants’ professional references online. Great for employers or HR professionals. Get responses on any device. Customize with no coding.

Human Resources Forms

Reference Check Authorization

Get reference check authorization by collecting e-signatures online with a free Reference Check Form. Easy to customize and share. Great for HR departments.

Human Resources Forms

Employee Reference Request Form

The Employee Reference Request Form is a document that can be used by businesses to request information about an employee from a previous employer.

Human Resources Forms

Tenant Reference Verification

A Tenant Reference Verification Form composed of questions regarding their experience with the tenant.

Services Forms

Credit Reference Request

Financial organizations use a credit reference request form to collect information about their credit history from potential clients.

Credit Application Forms

Trade Reference Form

Copy, edit, publish and start receiving submissions for trade references using this Trade Reference Form template. This form is easily customizable and ready to receive submissions. Get this template here in Jotform!

Business Forms

Bank Reference Form

A Bank Reference Form is used by banks to take into consideration a prospective client's previous banking experience.

Banking Forms

Employment Reference Request

This form can be used for collecting requests for employee references.

Human Resources Forms

Staff Reference Form

Referee / reference form for camp staff applicant

Summer Camps

Character Reference Letter Form

Character Reference Letter Form helps employers, schools, landlords, and organizations collect consistent character references online with organized responses and easy review.

Reference Forms

Reference Check For Team Members

Reference Check for Team Members Form helps HR teams and managers collect structured feedback from references about a team member’s performance, relationship, and experience for hiring or evaluation decisions.

Employment Forms

Submit Your Recommendation

Use the Submit Your Recommendation Form from Jotform to collect structured recommendations with contact details, type of recommendation, file uploads, and consent, built easily with Jotform Form Builder and its no-code drag-and-drop interface for streamlined data collection.

Recommendation Forms

About Reference Forms

Reference forms are structured documents used to request, collect, and review reference information about a person for hiring, admissions, internships, volunteering, or other selection processes. They help organizations gather consistent feedback from referees about a candidate’s skills, character, performance, and fit, while keeping the reference process organized and traceable. Reference forms are commonly used by employers, HR teams, universities, scholarship committees, and program coordinators to collect professional references, academic references, recommendation details, and verification inputs. By standardizing reference collection, these forms reduce incomplete responses, improve evaluation consistency, and streamline decision making.

With Jotform, reference forms can be created quickly using a no-code, drag-and-drop Form Builder and customized for different roles or programs. Conditional logic can tailor questions based on position type, and file upload fields can collect recommendation letters when needed. Submissions are stored in Jotform Tables, allowing teams to track which references have been received and review responses in one place. Automated emails can send reference requests to referees and confirm submissions, helping the process move faster with less manual follow-up.

Use Cases of Reference Forms

Reference forms support recruiting, admissions, and verification workflows across many organizations. Below are common ways these forms are used and the challenges they help solve.

Possible Use Cases:

Employment reference collection for hiring
Academic reference forms for admissions or scholarships
Internship and volunteer program references
Character reference collection for organizations or programs
Professional verification and background reference checks
Recommendation letter and supporting document collection

Problem-Solving Points:

Standardize how references are collected and reviewed
Reduce follow-ups by guiding referees through required details
Improve consistency in evaluation with structured questions
Create a clear record of reference submissions and completion status

Possible Owners and Users:

HR and recruiting teams
University admissions and scholarship committees
Program coordinators and hiring managers
Referees completing reference submissions
Applicants or candidates initiating requests (depending on workflow)

Differences of Creation Methods:

Professional reference forms focus on work relationship, role context, performance feedback, strengths, reliability, and role fit evaluation.
Academic reference forms emphasize coursework or research context, academic strengths, learning ability, and readiness for a specific program.
Verification and recommendation submission forms prioritize structured ratings, short written endorsements, confidentiality acknowledgments, and optional file uploads for letters.

How to Create a Reference Form

Creating a reference form with Jotform helps you collect references consistently while tracking responses efficiently.

1. Choose a Template or Start from Scratch

In My Workspace, click “Create” and select “Form.” Start with a reference or evaluation template and customize it.

2. Collect Candidate and Referee Details

Add fields for candidate name, role or program applied for, and referee name, title, and relationship to the candidate.

3. Add Structured Evaluation Questions

Use rating scales, dropdowns, and short text fields to capture strengths, areas for improvement, and overall recommendation level.

4. Use Conditional Logic for Different Roles

Tailor questions based on job level, department, or program type so references are relevant and comparable.

5. Enable Attachments if Needed

Add file upload fields for recommendation letters or supporting documents.

6. Track Submissions in Jotform Tables

Store submissions in Tables and filter by candidate, referee, and submission status.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are reference forms?

Reference forms are documents or online forms used to collect feedback from referees about a candidate for hiring, admissions, or selection processes.

2. Why are reference forms important?

They standardize reference collection, improve evaluation consistency, and reduce delays caused by incomplete or unstructured responses.

3. What information is typically included in reference forms?

Common fields include referee details, relationship to the candidate, performance or character feedback, rating scales, and overall recommendation.

4. Who uses reference forms?

HR teams, admissions committees, program coordinators, referees, and sometimes applicants use reference forms depending on the workflow.

5. Are reference forms only for job hiring?

No. They’re also used for academic admissions, scholarships, internships, volunteering, and other selection processes.

6. Can reference forms include recommendation letters?

Yes. Jotform supports file uploads so referees can attach recommendation letters or supporting documents.

7. Can Jotform automate reference requests?

Yes. You can send reference request links by email and use notifications to track when references are submitted.

8. Can reference forms be customized for different roles or programs?

Yes. Conditional logic and custom fields can tailor questions for different job levels, departments, or program requirements.