What is a digital reference check?
What is a digital reference check?
A structured check where a candidate's previous employers or clients answer standardised questions digitally. You get a comparable and documented picture of the candidate, without spending hours on the phone.
Why is this better than a phone call?
Traditional reference calls are time-consuming to coordinate, difficult to compare across candidates, and the quality depends heavily on who is calling and what they ask.
With a digital reference check, all references answer the same questions at their own pace. You get standardised assessments that are easy to read and compare, alongside open-ended responses that capture what the numbers alone cannot convey.
How does the check work?
1. The candidate provides references The candidate logs in and provides the name and email address of up to four references from the past ten years.
2. References receive an invitation Each reference receives an email with a secure link to a digital form. No scheduled call is required. The reference responds when it suits them.
3. You follow progress along the way Responses are registered automatically in the system. You can at any time see which references have responded and which have not.
4. The report is generated Once all responses have been collected, or when the deadline has been reached, you receive a consolidated report with all feedback structured for easy reading and comparison across references.
What is asked?
References assess the candidate on a scale from 1 to 5 on areas including:
- Collaboration and communication
- Responsibility and reliability
- Motivation and initiative
- Efficiency and stress management
- Adaptability and punctuality
In addition, there are open-ended questions about strengths, areas for development, and working patterns.
What is the difference between a reference check and employment verification?
The two checks complement each other but measure different things.
Employment verification confirms that the candidate has actually held a given position during a given period, based on objective sources. The reference check gives you insight into what it was actually like to have the candidate in the role — whether they took responsibility, worked well with others, and delivered what was expected.
Both can be ordered separately or combined in a package.
Is this in line with GDPR?
Yes. The check is carried out with the candidate's consent, and all data is handled in accordance with GDPR and applicable Norwegian legislation.
The candidate always receives:
- Information in advance about what the check involves
- The opportunity to give explicit consent
- Insight into how their information is processed and stored
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Updated on: 24/06/2026
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