How to Write a Personal Character Reference Letter

I had a friend ask me to write a character letter of reference for a job...a personal letter of reference as to how qualified he was for the position he was seeking. I was delighted to do this but wondered how to write a reference letter that would give him the best edge for getting the job he wanted.

The first thing I did was ask what kind of job he was applying for. A reference letter for one position may read differently than another position. It is much like a resume, you tailor it to the position you seek and highlight the appropriate qualifications.

When writing a reference letter ask these questions:

What kind of job are they seeking

What kinds of skills or qualifications is the employer looking for

What strengths does the person have that can be applied to the position

What personal involvement have you had with the person that you can refer to that would be similar, if possible, to the position applied for

What other interactions have you had with the person

What personality strengths does the person have that would relate to the job

What character qualities do they have (honest, on-time, sincere, kind, trustworthy, diligent, etc.)

The following reference letter can be tailored to suit your particular needs:

DEF Corporation (The name of the Company who is doing the hiring)
321 Main Street
Somewhere, NY 30303
333-555-1212

DATE

To whom it may concern:

I am delighted to recommend Bob Jones as an excellent candidate for the position he is applying for. My association with Mr. Jones has been on a professional level during his position as Marketing Director at the ABC Corporation. Throughout my association with Mr. Jones, I found him to be sincere, trustworthy, and willing to go the extra mile.

He always exhibited excellent leadership and management skills. I had the opportunity to work with Mr. Jones on many projects that required the ability to manage several people at once, often under tight budget and time constraints. Each time I came away with a sense that he is one of those rare people in life who takes any subject, task, or project and sees it through to completion, always delivering more than what was expected. While he is goal oriented and very capable as a leader and manager, his mannerisms are always easy going with a sincere concern for others as well as doing a superb job for his clients.

If you decide to include Mr. Jones as a member of your staff, you will have chosen a highly qualified candidate in my opinion. If you have any questions, or need further information, please do not hesitate to call me at the number below.

Best Regards,

SIGNATURE

Sue Right
Graphics Corporation
123 Main Street
Somewhere, NY 30303
222-555-1212

As you determine what the position is, what qualifications the person has and what skills and experience would apply to the job, tailor your character letter of reference to suit that criteria.