PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE CHECKS

We ask the tough questions–so you don't have to

Reference checks save your team valuable time while delivering detailed, high-quality feedback on your candidates. We go beyond surface-level responses to uncover real insights into work ethic, reliability, and team fit—so you can hire people you can count on and keep your business moving forward.

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Honest Insights from Past Employers

Make Confident Hiring Decisions, Backed by Real Feedback

Conducting reference checks is an important step in acquiring the best employees for your company. But for many companies, reference checking and verification can be a game of telephone tag, taking up precious time and resources.

  • What’s Included In A Reference Check?

    As a part of our pre-employment reference check services, our team confirms the accuracy of information provided by applicants, including previous job title, compensation, and employment dates. We also gather information including:

    • Reason for Leaving
    • Job Duties
    • Strengths
    • Weaknesses or Areas for Improvement
    • Work Habits
    • Management Style
    • Attendance and Punctuality
    • Honesty and Integrity
    • Stress Management
    • Attitude and Interactions

    Our reference checks can be customized with specific questions based on the position you are looking to fill. They can also be customized to focus on any specific areas of importance, so you are able to gather more in-depth data on applicants of specific positions or departments.

  • How Long Does A Reference Check Take?

    Our researchers are available to make and receive calls, providing a quick turnaround time so you get your results as soon as possible. Once the reference has been taken, reports are completed in just minutes.


    When complete, you will be able to access the results of the reference check directly online.

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Reference Verification Services Businesses Can Trust

Hire Performance has been providing businesses with quality, in-depth professional reference checks across Canada for over 20 years, helping companies:



  • Provide information about applicants’ work experience
  • Gain insight into applicants’ past work performance
  • Gain insight into candidates’ interpersonal and technical skills
  • Find the best fit for the open position
  • Build a cooperative, successful business team
  • Mitigate risks to the business and its clients


We don’t provide cookie-cutter information. We always aim to complete references via telephone, allowing for a more personalized approach that provides our clients with unique reference information in each report.

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Make The Best Hiring Decisions For Your Business

The hiring decisions you make can have a dramatic impact on your business’s success. Our job reference checking service provides you with the information you need to make the best decisions when building your team.

Checks as low as $21

Reference Check Blogs

Woman in suit speaking to person at a table, natural light, holding pen, serious expression.

Turning Exit Interviews into a Successful Blueprint for 2026

By Maria McParland • December 10, 2025
Learn why exit interviews matter and how to turn raw feedback into actionable strategies for the new year.
Woman hands a shopping bag to another woman at a store counter.

Holiday Hiring Tips for Retail in 2025

By Aarti Arora • November 3, 2025
Learn how thorough background screening and employment verification can help retail employers hire smarter, faster, and safer during the holiday rush.
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Spotting Fake Employment Records for Remote Jobs

By Amanda Pinto • October 10, 2025
Discover how to spot fake employment verification records for remote jobs. Learn common habits & how Hire Performance simplifies the verification process.
Person handing a resume on a clipboard to another person. White desk.

Is It Legal for Canadian Employers to Provide Negative References in 2025?

By Maria McParland • July 8, 2025
Discover what Canadians’ past employers can legally provide when it comes to negative references. Know what to expect, your rights & see an HR template.
Two women in a job interview and the employer is reviewing a resume

False References: How Concerned Should Employers Be?

By Alexis Hill • November 19, 2024
Finding and addressing fake references can save your business time and money by preventing hiring mistakes. Learn how fake references can negatively affect your business, how to recognize an imposter reference, and what to do when you find one.
Can an Employer Give a Bad Reference in Canada?

Can an Employer Give a Bad Reference in Canada?

By Tim Hardie • July 21, 2022
The short answer is yes. An employer can give a "bad" reference as long as the feedback is true and given in good faith. So, rest assured, you can and should conduct reference checks with Hire Performance.
Why it is Better to Conduct References over the Phone

Why it is Better to Conduct References over the Phone

By Tim Hardie • March 14, 2019
Written communication has its merits. People can communicate with each other regardless of the fact that they may be several time zones away and do not have to worry about whether a person is available or not. Next time you need to conduct references, pick up the phone! Calling references is the most effective way to get high-quality reference reports and efficiently make your hiring decisions.