Free for all users

Own Your References

Collect verified professional references before you need them. See exactly what your references say. Share a polished Reference Verification Report with any recruiter.

Reference Verification Report

Generated May 2026

ReferenceSarah Chen, Engineering Director
RelationshipDirect Manager, 3 years
VerificationProfessional email confirmed

Skill Ratings

Leadership
Communication
Problem Solving
Technical Skills

Would work with again?

Yes, without hesitation

The reference process is broken

Traditional references put candidates at a disadvantage at every step.

You never see what they say

Recruiters call your references and you never learn what was discussed. You are completely in the dark about what is being said about your work.

Last-minute scramble

Recruiters ask for references at the worst possible time - when you are deep in the interview process and scrambling to track people down.

No standard format

Every company asks different questions. There is no consistency, no structure, and no way to prepare your references for what they will be asked.

Not portable

References collected for one job disappear into that company's process. You cannot reuse them for the next opportunity.

How Aptivance Reference Check Works

Four steps to a portable, verified reference portfolio you control.

1

Request a Reference

Enter your reference's name, email, and relationship details. Optionally add custom questions and specific skills you want rated. Your reference receives a branded email with a secure, single-use link.

You choose who to ask and what to ask them. Add as many references as you want.

2

Your Reference Responds

No Aptivance account needed. They click the link and fill out a short, professional form. They confirm the relationship, answer your questions, and rate your skills on a 5-point scale.

Professional email domain verification ensures authenticity. The form respects their time.

3

Review Your Results

See everything - full answers, skill ratings, relationship confirmation, and the "would work with again" response. Nothing is hidden from you. All responses are timestamped and verified.

This is your data. You have complete visibility into what your references said about you.

4

Share Your Report

Generate a polished Reference Verification Report. Share it as a PDF or a secure link. Use the same references across multiple applications without asking your references again.

One reference response powers every future application. Build once, share forever.

What Your Reference Sees

A short, professional form that respects their time. No account needed.

Aptivance Reference Check

Alex Johnson has requested a professional reference from you

Relationship Verification

Confirm how you know the candidate, your working relationship, and the duration

Custom Questions

Answer specific questions the candidate has selected about their work and contributions

Skill Ratings

Rate the candidate on specific skills using a 5-point scale: Not Demonstrated, Basic, Competent, Proficient, Advanced

General Reference

Share your overall impression: "How would you describe their work?"

Would Work With Again

A simple yes/no question that carries significant weight with hiring managers

Consent Checkbox

Explicitly agree that the response may be shared with recruiters and hiring managers

Average completion time: 5-10 minutes

The Reference Verification Report

A professional, standardized document you can share with any recruiter.

What the report includes

Candidate and reference names
Relationship type and duration
Verification method (professional email domain)
Skill ratings displayed as a visual grid
Full question responses
"Would work with again" response
Aptivance verification footer with timestamps

What the report does NOT include

The reference's personal email address (only domain shown)
Internal scores or analytics
Any branding that implies Aptivance endorsement of the candidate

The report is designed to present facts, not opinions. It verifies that a real professional provided a structured reference - nothing more.

Why it's different

Aptivance Reference Check compared to the traditional process.

Candidate visibility

Traditional

None

Aptivance

Full transparency

Timing

Traditional

Reactive (recruiter asks)

Aptivance

Proactive (build anytime)

Format

Traditional

Unstructured phone call

Aptivance

Standardized verified report

Portability

Traditional

Single use

Aptivance

Reusable across applications

Verification

Traditional

None

Aptivance

Email domain + timestamps

Cost

Traditional

N/A

Aptivance

Free for all users

Trust & Security

Built with verification, consent, and transparency at every step.

Single-use secure links

Every reference link is unique and expires after 14 days

Email domain verification

Professional email domains are identified and noted on the report

Independent confirmation

References independently confirm the relationship type and duration

Timestamped audit trail

Every action is recorded with a precise timestamp for verification

Consent-based process

References explicitly agree their response may be shared with recruiters

Candidate-controlled

You decide when to share, who sees it, and which references to include

Aptivance is not a consumer reporting agency. Reference Check is a candidate-controlled tool for collecting and sharing professional references. It does not constitute a background check, employment verification, or consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Common Questions

Yes. Reference Check is free for all Aptivance users, including free accounts. We believe everyone should have access to verified professional references.

No. Your reference receives a secure link via email and fills out the form directly. No signup required.

Yes, completely. You see every answer, every skill rating, and every piece of feedback. Nothing is hidden.

They can still respond. We note the email domain on the report - professional email domains carry more verification weight, but personal emails are not blocked.

Yes. Once a reference submits their response, you can generate and share the report with any number of recruiters.

The secure link expires after 14 days. You can send a new request if it expires.

No. Aptivance is not a consumer reporting agency and does not perform background checks. Reference Check is a candidate-controlled tool for collecting and sharing professional references.

Start building your reference portfolio today

It's free. It takes 2 minutes. And you'll never scramble for references again.