Private Skill References
The evolution of 360-degree feedback. Collect structured, private skill validation from the people who know your work best.
Born from 360-Degree Feedback
Skillrater pioneered social skill ratings — structured, multi-source feedback from supervisors, peers, clients, and stakeholders.
Private Skill References takes the rigorous, evidence-based core of that original system and reimagines it for today's self-directed professional world. Read the history.
What Are Private Skill References?
- Structured Validation: You invite trusted colleagues to rate specific skills based on observed work.
- Complete Privacy: Ratings are confidential. You control exactly who sees your aggregated evidence and what you share.
- True Credentials: Unlike LinkedIn recommendations (public, generic, unstructured), Private Skill References are evidence-based signals that strengthen your overall Skill Evidence Profile.
How Private Skill References Work
A secure, professional flow to capture the reality of your capabilities.
Invite References
Select colleagues, managers, clients, or mentors who can speak to your skills. They receive a private, secure invitation.
Structured Validation
References rate specific skills based on work they've actually observed. Ratings use a structured framework tied to your goals.
Confidential Results
All responses are private. You see aggregated insights about your validated skills and gaps. Individual responses remain confidential.
Strengthen Profile
Validated skills are added to your Skill Evidence Profile, giving you stronger career credentials and accurate opportunity matching.
Why Private Skill References Matter
Beyond Self-Reporting
Most career platforms rely on what you claim. Private Skill References add what others confirm. This is the critical difference between a mere assertion and verified evidence.
Portable and Private
Unlike company-owned 360 reviews stored in an HR system, your Private Skill References belong to you. Take them with you across jobs, industries, and career pivots.
Actionable Development
See exactly which skills are strongly validated by your network and which need strengthening. Connect these reference insights directly to your career development plan.
From Skillrater's Roots
The original Skillrater collected ratings from 8–15 stakeholders per user, using 1-to-5 structured ratings tied to competency models. Organizations like Becton Dickinson utilized it for rigorous leadership development. Private Skill References brings this enterprise-grade approach directly to the modern professional. Built by Louis Carter and the Best Practice Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get started with your skill evidence today.
Build your foundational profile so you're ready when Private Skill References launches.