I’m building a custom PHP web application that automates the employee reference-checking process from start to finish. The core goal is to replace manual calls and spreadsheets with a streamlined, browser-based workflow. Scope of work • Develop the main PHP application (framework choice is flexible) that lets hiring managers enter candidate details and trigger reference requests. • Implement automated email and SMS notifications to referees, candidates, and internal users. • Provide a real-time status dashboard that shows which references are pending, in progress, or complete. • Generate detailed, filterable reports and basic analytics so HR can spot bottlenecks and export data to CSV/PDF. What I expect – Clean, well-documented code (PHP 8 preferred) tied to a MySQL or PostgreSQL database. – Responsive front-end using standard HTML/CSS and a light JavaScript framework or components of your choice. – A functional prototype deployed on a staging server so I can test flows end-to-end before we move to production. – Clear communication and version control via Git. If you have experience with similar HR tech, email/SMS gateways (e.g., Twilio, SendGrid), and data-driven dashboards, I’d love to see your past work. I’m ready to start immediately and will iterate quickly, so please outline how you would tackle the notifications, tracking, and reporting pieces, along with an estimated timeline.