Sample Letter of Recommendation for a Friend

Everyone has a different and distinct writing style. Some are long winded and love to use the English language in a flowery manner. Others are short and quick to the point, often using shorthand. Writing a reference letter is a sort of mix between the two. You want you letter to be descriptive and specific, but also clear and concise. This balance often calls for the use of a template to write a great reference letter. Ideally, your letter should be no longer than one page. Sometimes there are even restrictions on how long the letter can be, especially if you are writing scholarship or college acceptance letters.

Follow these steps to be fair to everyone involved:

* Though it is generally best to request letters of recommendation from someone in a professional setting, if you are applying for school or just entering the workforce and have little experience and few contacts, you can ask for character references from people who know you from school, church, or community organizations.

* Keep It Short And To The Point

* Though it may seem obvious, ask someone who you are certain will give you a positive recommendation. If you are not sure how strong of a recommendation you might receive, just ask the person outright if she or he would feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you. Be serious in your inquiry, and most people will give you an honest answer.

* Be truthful but avoid doing harm.

Write Character Reference Letter

While the specific information in your reference letter will be unique, most letters of this sort are compiled in the same way. First will come an introduction where the writer will introduce themselves and state the relationship they have with you, the applicant. They will then state how long they have been acquainted with you, and the impressions you have left on them. Next comes the body of the letter. This usually includes three paragraphs that list your positive qualities and attributes. A good reference letter will include anecdotes or examples of these qualities to ensure that they have basis and are not blind praise. This is the part of the letter that is most important, and will be the focus of the person reading your reference. The final part of the letter is the conclusion. In the conclusion the writer will summarize the previous paragraphs and add any additional information that they feel is pertinent. They may mention that they are available for any extra information, should it be needed.

When preparing a reference letter, there are many things to think about. Here are some tips for you to get started.

* Gather and review all other relevant information you may have about the person you are recommending. It is easy to overlook some important accomplishment, so try to be as thorough as possible.

* Highlight your strengths and accomplishments without bragging.

* Find out when the requestor needs the letter and be sensitive to deadlines.

Reference Letter + Sample Tips

To Write a Character Reference Letter

Something to think about is to try to get your letter writers to focus on the possitive rather than the negative. This strategy can be very helpful in some situations, but it is also a double-edged sword that can draw attention to weaknesses in your application. Thus, you should discuss the pro's and con's of this approach with your letter writer before adopting such a strategy, each situation is unique, and there is no single best way, so think it through.

If you have decided to write a letter, however, follow the basics of a good sample reference letter can really help you through the process. Based on some of the best sample reference letters, here are some tips for you.

* The length of letters of recommendation can vary, but five or six paragraphs is usually the minimum.

* If you don't feel comfortable writing a reference letter, don't. A vague or fabricated letter might do more harm than good.

* State the nature of relationship you have had with the job seeker.

* Be truthful but avoid doing harm.

* If for business reasons you're sorry to see this person go, say so.

Reference Letter To Co-op Board For Beginners Sample Of Personal/work Reference Letter The Nuts And Bolts

Writing Recommendation Letters for Students

Typically, if you are going to get a reference letter, the best letters of recommendation are from people who:

Have worked with you closely

Have known you long enough to write about you

Have relevant expertise

Are well known

Have a positive opinion of you and your abilities

Have a warm and supportive of you

Here are some quick tips to help you write a reference or recommendation letter for a friend, co-worker or employee.

* Be honest about your feelings, intentions, and concerns. This will save time and embarrassment for both parties if you feel that you cannot provide a good recommendation.

* Type your reference letter in a standard business format.

* Share your availability for follow up. Let the employer know how to contact you directly in order to follow up.

* It is often worthwhile to have a short interview with the person requesting the letter so that you can get a better idea of his or her accomplishments, background, interests, and other relevant information. An interview will generally enable you to write a more personalized letter and will allow you to discuss the purpose of the letter, his or her qualifications for the position, and the specific format or length of the letter, if applicable. During this interview you might also ask the applicant for a list of adjectives that he or she feels describes his or her personality, work habits, attitude, and so on. Finally, ask the person if there is anything else that he or she would like you to know or would like you to include in the letter.

* If you are not sure what to write, ask the requester to provide a draft letter for you to review, edit, finalize, and sign.

Reference Letter Writing

Providing a reference requires a careful balancing act between giving and gathering useful reference information and protecting oneself from litigation.

By adhering to the following tips, you will increase the chances of getting good letters of recommendation and ultimately securing the position you seek.

* Be objective. Provide the facts and substantiate them. Keep to what you know about the person. Do not generalize or base your statements on your opinions or those of others.

* Gather and review all other relevant information you may have about the person you are recommending. It is easy to overlook some important accomplishment, so try to be as thorough as possible.

* Offer to provide more information.

Writing a Letter of Reference Personal

Perhaps the best thing about sending a letter of recommendation is that writing it can often be more appealing to people than simply being included in a list of references because then they do not have to be put on the spot with an unexpected phone call from your prospective employer. When writing a letter, the recommender has time to carefully consider what he or she wishes to say about you and the best way to say it.

Recommendation Letter Tips

* If you are not sure what to write, ask the requester to provide a draft letter for you to review, edit, finalize, and sign.

* The length of letters of recommendation can vary, but five or six paragraphs is usually the minimum.

* Use a professional vocabulary and style; write as if you were the employer providing the letter.

* If the recommendation letter needs to be written using a certain format or be a certain length, include this information when making your request.

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Sample Recommendation Letter

Letters of recommendation may be written in a classic format that includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. There may also be specific requirements for certain letters that you may need to follow. In most cases, however, any well-organized format will be acceptable.

Follow these steps to be fair to everyone involved:

* If you don't feel comfortable writing a reference letter, don't. A vague or fabricated letter might do more harm than good.

* Use words such as excellent, superior, instrumental, creative, innovative, efficient, dependable, articulate, meticulous, self-starter and confident.

* Always thank the recommender for being willing to write a letter for you. After the letter is sent, you might consider writing a short note expressing your thanks for the writer's willingness to help you achieve your scholastic or career goals.

* Make the ending statement strong without overdoing it. Undo praise can be viewed as biased or insincere.