Reference Letter Example

What format should a letter of recommendation be? How do you write a character reference for a friend? Below is an example of a reference letter template. Download and use it as a guide as you write your letter. Make sure to tailor the letter to your specific needs and to include any relevant information about the individual you are writing the letter for.

A job reference letter, also known as a reference letter or employment reference, is a document written by someone who can vouch for an individual's qualifications, work experience, character, and suitability for a specific job or position. These letters are typically requested by employers or hiring managers as part of a job application or interview process to gain insights into a candidate's background and qualifications.

A well-written job reference letter can significantly impact a candidate's chances of securing a job because it provides an additional perspective on their abilities and character, beyond what is presented in a resume and during interviews.

Key components of a job reference letter typically include:

Introduction: Begin with a formal salutation and a brief introduction to identify yourself and your relationship with the candidate. Mention how long you have known or worked with the individual.
Qualifications and Experience: Describe the candidate's qualifications, including their education, relevant skills, and work experience. Highlight their accomplishments and noteworthy achievements during their tenure.
Character and Work Ethic: Comment on the candidate's character, work ethic, and personality traits. Provide examples of their professionalism, teamwork, communication skills, leadership abilities, and adaptability.
Relevance to the Job: Explain how the candidate's qualifications and experiences align with the requirements of the specific job or position they are applying for. This demonstrates that you believe the candidate is well-suited for the role.
Specific Examples: Share specific examples or instances when the candidate excelled or demonstrated outstanding performance. Illustrate their ability to handle challenges, meet deadlines, or contribute positively to the work environment.
Comparative Insights: If possible, offer insights on how the candidate compares to their peers or colleagues you have encountered. This provides context for their performance.
Recommendation: Clearly state your recommendation for the candidate. Express your confidence in their ability to excel in the position they are applying for.
Contact Information: Include your contact information (email and phone number) in case the recipient of the letter has further questions or needs to verify your reference.
Closing: Conclude the letter with a polite and professional closing, such as "Sincerely" or "Yours faithfully," followed by your signature.

A job reference letter is a valuable tool for candidates seeking employment because it provides employers with an independent assessment of the candidate's qualifications and character. When asked to write a job reference letter, it's important to be honest and provide a fair and balanced evaluation of the individual's capabilities and suitability for the position they are pursuing.

Great performance, work and effort deserve to be rewarded! If you want to send a Recommendation Letter for a previous colleague, worker, etc to someone, we recommend that you check out this sample Recommendation Letter. This Recommendation Letter will capture your recipient's attention for sure!

Recommendation letter example:

To Whom It May Concern, / Dear Mr., Mrs.,
As President of the Centre for Student Leadership at the {{University}}, I am extremely pleased to be able to recommend {{Mr/Miss}} {{Name}} for the Scholarship in Leadership Development. I have only known {{Name}} for about two years but have had the opportunity to see her on many occasions, performing with exceptional skill for a person of her age. {{Organization}} provides leadership development initiatives to students by means of introducing them to business practices and allowing them to run their own companies for the course of the term.
I am m writing to recommend {{Name}} for the position of administrative assistant at {{Organization}}. I have had the opportunity to work with {{Name}} for the past few years at Industries, and have been consistently impressed with her diligence, efficiency, and ability to get things done.
{Name}} proved herself very capable as a leader through her role as President of the “Globe Trotters” company that was twinned with a student leadership program in {{Location}}. This was our first experience with a student company running an international business. She did an outstanding job communicating with her team and providing them with direction on this pilot project. At our annual awards night {{Name}} was named salesperson of the year by the {{Name}} Association. This is based not only on her exceptional sales but also her ability to think on her feet and communicate company initiatives in a way that promotes teamwork and product knowledge.
{{Name}} was chosen out of all our delegates to make a speech at the Media conference where our Chairman announced our new initiatives for student development which will include international travel opportunities. She did an outstanding job and received many compliments on her oratorical skills. {{Name}} was then selected to attend the {{Leadership Conference}} in {{Location}} where she represented the whole western region. We were also lucky to have her as a summer student during the summer of {{Year}} and I was delighted with her initiative and overall work habits.
This is an outstanding young woman with exceptional leadership skills, particularly good interpersonal skills, and a wonderful work ethic. I am sure she will benefit from your scholarship and represent your organization well through her work. Should you have any questions concerning {{Name}}, please contact me directly at {{phone number}} or email: {{email}}.
Most recently, {{Name}} has worked for me directly as a receptionist in our main office. In this role, she performed many administrative tasks in addition to greeting customers and other visitors and organizing team events. For example, she currently manages our executive team’s schedules and organizes their appointments, as well as coordinating travel and expense reporting.
I believe that {{Name}} would be an excellent addition to your administrative staff. I have been consistently impressed with her organizational skills and grace under pressure. In our industry, as you know, every position is a customer service position. {{Name}} constantly seeks to learn more about our products and programs so that she can help serve our clients and mitigate issues as they come up. She is also a quick learner who picks up new technology with great speed.
I strongly recommend {{Name}} for the position of administrative assistant at your company. She is organized, detail-oriented, effective, and committed to getting the job done. She would make an excellent addition to your team.
Please feel free to contact me at {{Telephone number}} if you have any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Sincerely yours,
{{NAME}}
{{Signature}}
{{Formal Name + Title}}

There are a few basic requirements for a strong recommendation letter, such as the following:

Structured and written to highlight the person's strengths;
Immediately clear about the purpose and position the person is seeking;
Expands upon their resume; do not repeat it verbatim in your reference letter as well;
Include an appealing anecdote, to further explain the personality of the person you recommend;
Brief, preferably one page in length;
Limited to 3-4 paragraphs and 1 page;
Clean, error-free, and easy to read;
Using common business letter format;
No copying of exact words/phrases from sample letters without checking the context;
Uses the correct name of the organization;
Enthusiastic! Show off the character and personality of the person.

The right stimulation will help you to achieve mutual goals faster and will benefit your results! After downloading this sample letter as Google Docs or Microsoft Word and filling in the blanks, you can easily customize the style, typography, details, and appearance of your Recommendation Letter.

Download this Reference Letter template now and send it out today!

DISCLAIMER
Nothing on this site shall be considered legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is established.

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