How to Write A Character Reference Letter for Employment

How to Write A Character Reference Letter for Employment

When writing a character reference for an employee, coworker, friend, or otherwise, it's important to keep in mind what you would want to read if you were the one doing the hiring for this position. What kind of candidate would you be looking for in that situation?

Now, take what you've come up with, and apply it to the subject of your letter. Do you know that they possess the basic qualifications to do this new job? If so, write that.

Do you have specific reasons for thinking the subject will be able to do the new job well? Include as much specificity as possible, as this only serves to make you look like you're knowledgeable when it comes to the subject.

What about the subject's personality? Does the subject possess certain personality traits that will help him/her succeed in this job, or in the workplace in general? Highlight those traits.

Perhaps include a sentence or two as to why you would hire this person. Or, if you're a former or current employer, why you already did hire this person.

Remember that a character reference letter should ONLY be about the positive aspects of the subject. No need to include weaknesses along with the strengths. Just highlight the positive.

A potential employer wants to hear things that go beyond just what's on the resume. Anyone can write that he's "hard-working and dedicated," but if that same person can provide written proof of such, that might get him one step closer to that job.

Index of Character Reference Letter Examples