If you are a writer or student and wanna write a character reference but don’t know the complete details about the format and many other things, just follow the article on how to write a character reference.
A friend’s character reference letter is an introduction to them as a reliable, likable candidate for employment. Since it emphasizes your friend’s potential, good character, and other pertinent information that a trustworthy source has verified, such a reference can improve your friend’s chances of landing a job. Hence, you must know what character references are for and what employers want to write useful ones.
Furthermore, a character reference is a recommendation from someone familiar to you who can speak to your qualities and characteristics. You’ll probably require a character reference at some point in your life, so learn how they operate, what they contain, and how to obtain one.
In this article, you will understand how to write a character reference, what is a character reference, some advice for writing a personal reference letter, five requirements for a character reference letter, and finding and getting ready for character reference.
How To Write A Character Reference: A Guide For The Uninitiated
What is a character reference?
How to use a character reference?
Finding character references
Character references and what they contain
How to write a character reference?
Ensure your eligibility
know who they are
Be truthful
A letter should be simple to read.
Invite more communication
Some advice for writing a personal reference letter
Advice on how to ask for a character reference
Five requirements for a character reference letter
Introduction/Address
Your relationship with the candidate & how long you have known them
The candidate’s qualities, skills & personality traits
Use specific, positive examples
Your contact details
Four fundamental guidelines for composing a strong character reference letter
Ask the person what they want in the letter
Consider the implications & make sure you have enough time
Be positive, specific & concise
Proofread
Finding and getting ready for character reference
Who would make a good referee?
Who should I ask?
How do I ask someone for a reference?
How should I start and end a character reference?
Header content for character references
Both the introduction and the body
Content for the signature and footer
Conclusion
What is a character reference?
You can be requested to give a character reference by a prospective employer, school, landlord, volunteer group, or professional association. A character reference attests to your character and interpersonal skills rather than your work experience and talents, like a work reference might. It’s typically offered by someone who has known you long enough to give the requester a sense of who you are.
How to use a character reference?
In particular, a character reference may be requested as part of the hiring process for jobs requiring a high degree of responsibility and dependability. Additionally, you might be required to submit character references as part of an application for a job, a rental home, or membership in a trade association.
Furthermore, the reference requester will frequently contact the person after seeing their contact details on the application to ask for a reference. You often won’t know unless they want to show it to you first.
The recommendation is typically sent in writing via letter or email. However, it can also do it verbally. Ideally, you will have already contacted the individual providing the reference so that it won’t catch it off guard.
Finding character references
Character references might come from coworkers, clients, family members, friends, and neighbors. You could request one from the organizer of your club or another group if you are a member. However, asking a family member to be a reference is typically not a good idea.
Asking someone you’ve recently seen is a good idea because they’ll probably be able to write you a letter that means more than asking an old friend you haven’t spoken to in ten years. To help ensure that the reference is favorable, individualized, and authentic, select someone who is well-acquainted with you and has high regard for you.
Furthermore, consider your strategy after deciding who to approach for a character reference. Ask them to write a character reference rather than merely asking them to supply one. If, for whatever reason, the individual does not feel comfortable reporting the connection, they will have the opportunity to respond “no” in this way. It helps you avoid getting any harmful recommendations since you only want enthusiastic ones.
If they agree, give them all the information required to complete the reference letter. Tell them what position or employment you’re applying for, how to send the letter, and when they must receive it. Additionally, give them background information on the job so they may customize the letter to the position.
Character references and what they contain
Usually, a character reference letter will contain the following details:
- Why I’m writing this: A personal reference letter often starts with a phrase that clarifies why the letter is being written, as with other notes. “I’m writing to provide a personal reference for Jen Smith, who I suggest for any job requiring strong, consensus-building leadership,” as an illustration.
- How long the person has known you, including: For instance, “My neighbor Jen is also the head of our neighborhood association. Since I relocated to the neighborhood in 2015, we have become friends.”
- Details about your personality and skills, including illustrations: Ideal information would match the qualifications needed for a post. “Jen’s tact and sense of humor helped resolve potential confrontations at neighborhood meetings and enhanced our community,” may be the opening sentence of this paragraph. So, the letter should give specific instances where you demonstrated the talents and qualities you requested.
- Contact details: The person should include a phone number or email address at the end of the letter if the requester has more questions.
How to write a character reference?
Consider the following guidelines if you’re asked to write a character reference letter for a friend:
- Ensure your eligibility
- know who they are
- Be truthful
- A note should be simple to read.
- Invite more communication
Ensure your eligibility
You should feel comfortable with your relationship with the applicant before committing to writing the letter. Moreover, to be regarded as an authority on their character, you must be well acquainted with them. You will be more qualified to speak on some topics than others depending on the nature of your friendship with your friend. If you and the candidate have been friends, you may talk about how their character has evolved and grown. If you and your friend work together, you can talk about a time when it put your friend’s moral integrity to the test.
Ask yourself the following three questions before deciding to write a character reference:
- Do you know enough about your friend’s pertinent traits to impact the letter?
- Do you have the time and desire to write a thorough character reference?
- After reading your message, the employer may have more questions. Are you prepared to respond?
Know who they are
Inquire as to whether your friend plans to submit this letter to a specific employer or whether they’ll include it with all of their job applications. If you are aware of your audience, you may be able to customize your letter in the same way that you would a resume. Write about your friend’s generosity, patience, and approachable nature, for instance, if they are applying for teaching jobs. You might highlight their work ethic, moral principles, and optimistic outlook if they apply to medical school. If the letter is intended for general distribution, you are free to include various remarks related to various business sectors and occupations.
Be truthful
Being neutral and optimistic while writing a character reference is one of the most complex elements of the process. Your recommendation of your friend as a person of wonderful character is your letter’s primary goal. You do not want to misrepresent your friend to the employer. It can be alluring to write a glowing recommendation that presents your friend as the ideal candidate, but going overboard with hyperbole may end up hurting your friend’s chances.
Moreover, it can be beneficial to go back to specific situations where you saw particular traits of your friend’s character to ensure honesty. The employer might be more likely to agree with your judgment of their character if you can short relate a tale that exemplifies their integrity, kindness, or selflessness.
A letter should be simple to read
The recruiting managers who will read your letter have probably previously read dozens of character references, so they are adept at skimming letters to obtain the required information. Your letter needs to be concise and organized to convey your point clearly and keep the reader interested.
If you don’t have a specific name, professionally start your letter by addressing it “To Whom It May Concern.” After that, include a concise introduction outlining your background and why the applicant asked you to write this letter. Then, provide a summary of your friendship with your friend, mentioning how long you’ve known them and what it is you share with them. Therefore, the next step is to write a clear paragraph that discusses the applicant’s morals, values, and character. Think about supplying some succinct real-world examples to support your arguments.
Hence, a character reference letter should not have long phrases, informal vocabulary, or dense wording. Your paragraphs should be informative, concise, and well-focused. The hiring manager will likely appreciate and remember your letter if it is simple to read and fun.
Invite more communication
You’ll need a firm conclusion once the letter’s body has been written. Tell the company that you remain confident in the application and that your friend will be a great addition to their team. Include a phone number, email address, and an open invitation for the employer to contact you if they have any additional queries. Sign the letter by hand if it is written down. Use your formal email signature if it is an email.
Some advice for writing a personal reference letter
Think carefully before agreeing. Make sure you write a good, truthful character reference letter before deciding. If you are unable, it is wiser to decline so you can ask someone who can write a more vital letter. I don’t feel competent to write a note on your behalf; you can state if you don’t want to go into detail about why you’re saying “no.”
If you decide to send the letter, you ought to
- If you want to compose the letter: Be sure you have all the required information. Ensure you know the letter’s purpose (whether for a specific job, a college application, etc.), how to send it, and the deadline. Inquire whether the person has a resume or another document outlining their qualifications that you can use as a guide while writing the letter.
- Be precise: Focus on two or three traits or skills the applicant possesses that makes them a good fit for the position or program in your letter.
- Look into the position: For a sense of the traits, the employer or school may be seeking, visit the job listing or the school website. Give an instance where the person displayed each of these traits.
- Give your contact details: Give the company or group a way to contact you if they have any additional questions.
- Use business letter format: When composing your letter, use business letter format if you are mailing it. Include the date, your contact information, and the employer’s contact information at the top of the document. Finish by signing in both your handwriting and typed signature. You are not required to follow this format if you send the reference letter by email.
- Proofread and edit: Your letter carefully to ensure that it is polished and businesslike. Before you send the letter, have a friend, or family member read it.
Advice on how to ask for a character reference
- Select a person familiar with you: Consider carefully who you want to ask to serve as your reference. In addition, make sure the individual you choose is friendly with you well enough to comment on your personality. Select a connection you believe will be favorable to you. You could speak to a relative, close friend, or neighbor. Ask a professor, counselor, volunteer leader, coach, pastor, or professional acquaintance.
- A time to ask: Ask for your reference as soon as possible to give them time to prepare the letter. If they would like additional information, offer to send them your résumé or provide an update on your life. Also, make sure they know the due date for your reference.
- Give the information: It’s a good idea to let them know about the positions you are applying for or the programs you are interested in so they can talk about how your character and personality make you a good fit for these roles.
- Thank you: Send them a thank-you note after that to express your gratitude.
Five requirements for a character reference letter
- Introduction/Address
- Your relationship with the candidate & how long you have known them
- The candidate’s qualities, skills & personality traits
- Use specific, positive examples
- Your contact details
Introduction/address
A character reference has the most significant impact when targeted to the app’s most important individual. If you’re unsure who to address, simply write “To whom it may concern.” Furthermore, Mention that this is your character reference for XYZ and the position they are applying for after that has been completed. You might say, “I am writing this character reference on behalf of Mr. Tony Stark, and I’d highly suggest them for the post of Operations Manager.”
So that the recipient can determine how recent the letter is, don’t forget to include the date while writing it.
Your relationship with the candidate & how long you have known them
Declare your connection to the person and how long you’ve known them in the letter to increase the integrity of your recommendation. For instance, you may say, “Natasha and I have been coworkers in Acme Company’s sales department for more than five years.”
Furthermore, you could prove that you are a dependable source of information by bringing up these two points. When explaining your relationship with the candidate, be as precise and concise as possible. Therefore, choose the most appropriate method if you know each other in more than one way.
The candidate’s qualities, skills & personality traits
Without question, this is the most crucial section of the character reference letter. This is where you attest that the applicant is qualified for the position. In addition, it must emphasize the candidate’s essential skills, qualities, and abilities. Give examples of the personality attributes that make the applicant the ideal choice for the position.
The candidate’s soft skills should also be mentioned, including creativity, commitment, leadership, empathy, patience, and anything else you see pertinent. Hence, you must have observed these characteristics while working with them. For illustration, you may write:
Moreover, Steve’s ability to resolve conflicts always created a good work atmosphere. When things heated up at work, Steve was usually the first to step in and diffuse the situation. His ability to mediate disputes and bring parties together is admirable.
Use specific, positive examples
Effective reference letters go beyond simply listing the applicant’s qualities. You must also offer proof of these attributes! Mention a time when the candidate displayed these traits in your presence. Moreover, providing in-depth tales is unnecessary; a few straightforward, focused examples will serve. You will be able to make your point more clearly if you give examples to support the attributes of a person.
Your contact details
Provide the reader with your contact information in the letter, such as your phone number, email address, or mailing address, to make it simple for them to check references or seek further information. Therefore, including your contact information in the character reference makes a good impression on the reader. It demonstrates that you are genuine and can attest to someone’s character.
Four fundamental guidelines for composing a strong character reference letter
- Ask the person what they want in the letter
- Consider the implications & make sure you have enough time
- Be positive, specific & concise
- Proofread
Ask the person what they want in the letter
Make sure you have all the pertinent information regarding the position the applicant is applying for before you start drafting the letter. You can request their resume or CV because it is filled with details that will make it simple for you to write an effective reference letter.
Ask them to describe the position for which they require the letter briefly. Don’t forget to look over the job description to obtain a better understanding of the position that the applicant is seeking. You wouldn’t be able to compose a letter pertinent to the job profile until after that.
Additionally, confirm the proper format for submitting the letter. In some circumstances, it must return the reference to the person you wrote it for. However, there are some situations where the letter-writer must transmit the document directly to the business.
Consider the implications & make sure you have enough time
Think about the consequences before deciding to write a character reference for someone. The letter you send could make it more difficult for someone to get a job. Therefore, only take the assignment if you can give a favorable and helpful reference!
Simply said, you should only agree to write the letter if you are pretty sure you can do an excellent job and won’t let the candidate down with a subpar letter. Once you’ve agreed, follow through on your pledge and deliver your delivery on time.
Be positive, specific & concise
It doesn’t matter if someone is the state chess champion if it has nothing to do with the job they’re applying for. Simply mention the traits that make the applicant suitable for the position. Spend some time reading and comprehending the job description before you start writing!
Keep the letter upbeat throughout, and convincingly and truthfully describe the candidate’s qualifications. Try not to mention more than three attributes in your letter because hiring managers won’t have time to read it all.
Proofread
Go back and review your writing when you’ve finished the letter. Do you think the letter accomplishes its objectives, or are there better examples you might use? Is there a more concise way to state this? Are there any grammatical or typing mistakes?
You must verify that the reference is error-free before transmitting it. Proofread the letter several times because sending one that is subpar and contains grammatical and typographical errors could provide the wrong image of the candidate. Correct any faults you detect right away.
Now that you know all the components of a strong character reference letter, you should consider whether you have the ideal tool to assist you in producing one. Confused? Are you unsure of what we mean by “the ideal tool”?
Finding and getting ready for character references
Before deciding whether to offer you a job, interviewers are more and more likely to request character references. Often, after passing numerous rounds of interviews with success, this is the last obstacle to overcome. Planning allows you to ensure that the character reference you provide to the recruiter is as favorable as possible, whether you are the candidate or their referee.
In addition, it may also request a professional reference from a previous employer; It will cover the distinction in greater detail below. Similar to a CV, making minor edits to a character reference is frequently preferable to make it more specifically applicable to the position you seek.
By doing so, you can go above and beyond the essential minimum to maximize your character statement’s influence on the hiring manager. However, the referee shouldn’t have to put in a lot of effort, so it’s helpful if the applicant can provide straightforward guidelines regarding the things they’d like their character reference to highlight.
Nevertheless, we examine some of the fundamentals of character references in this manual for both candidates and referees so that you will know where to begin if you are requested to offer a reference for a future job application.
Who would make a good referee?
It might be just as crucial to pick the correct references for a job application as what they have to say about the applicant. The recommendation should not come from a friend or relative who is likely biased but rather from someone who knows the individual well and can talk candidly about their positive qualities.
In addition, it’s frequently a good idea to ask someone with expertise in giving personal or professional references or both and who knows how to speak positively of your character while seeming neutral because of this need to be both positive and impartial.
Here are some suggestions for who to pick, both because they may be well-known to you and because they are likely to come off as reliable to the interviewer:
- Academic counselor
- Career advisor
- Tutor in life
- Advisor
- Religious authority figure
- Supervisor teacher
Moreover, even if a personal reference is not about your professional qualifications, it is acceptable if it comes from a previous line manager or a fellow employee who is familiar with you on a personal level and can speak favorably of you.
Who should I ask?
Never forget that just because you ask someone to provide a character reference for you, they are not required to. Unlike professional recommendations, which employers are accustomed to offer without question, personal connections are a little more “above and beyond.”
If you anticipate needing a character reference for a job you’re applying for, talk to possible referees now. A university lecturer might be expected to supply many references right after graduation when they might also be swamped preparing for the new academic year’s intake of students, so make sure you know if they will be busy during the period when you are job-looking.
Moreover, depending on how personal you want the reference to be, you might even have a shortlist of potential referees that includes former teachers, employers or managers (even from your part-time student job, if appropriate), and individuals from your personal life like a mentor, life coach, or religious leader.
To ensure that your references are still willing to speak to recruiters on your behalf, stay in touch with them via phone, email, or in-person meetings. Hence, knowing when someone is booked up enables you to substitute another referee from your shortlist. Additionally, it’s an excellent method to network with every referee you’ve named and can open up unforeseen chances.
How do I ask someone for a reference?
Depending on how well you know them, you may want to ask them to serve as your referee. If you routinely interact with the individual in a casual or personal situation, such as at church or because you socialize with them, you can bring up the subject to them initially, relatively casually and without any pressure. Hence, when asking someone you don’t often interact with for a character reference, like your former instructor, remember that they are helping you out.
Furthermore, make it clear that they are free to decline but that you would like it if they would be willing to be contacted if a potential employer asked for a character reference. Once you know someone is ready to serve as a reference, it’s a good idea to discuss what they might say about you, especially if they haven’t done so for you or others.
In addition, it can include background information, such as how long they had known you or particular instances from your shared past when you acted generously, compassionately, or just showed that you are lovely. We’ll go into more depth below. Sending someone a copy of the job description or advertisement will allow them to adapt their reference to the position you are applying for when you ask them to provide a reference for a particular job or application.
Furthermore, keeping your communications professional is a good idea even if you know the individual well. It establishes the proper tone, which you may maintain throughout the process to improve your chances of earning a reference that sounds professional and is free of grammatical and spelling issues.
How should I start and end a character reference?
A character reference often follows a letter’s format and should contain a header and footer.
Header content for character references
You should put the following information at the top as a minimum:
- Top-right: The sender’s complete name, occupation (if applicable), and contact information
- When It sent the reference, or when (also usually at the top-right)
- Upper-left: The recipient’s complete name and any pertinent contact information
- The opening line: Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear [full name]
- First sentence: Information about the relationship’s context
Both the introduction and the body
Your opening sentence might be relatively brief, but it must have sufficient details to demonstrate that the referee is familiar with the applicant to express an objective, well-informed judgment of them.
You might wish to include the following data points in this:
- How/where you met
- How long you’ve known each other
- whether you still communicate often
Avoid becoming too personal; for instance, it’s acceptable to indicate that you communicate frequently, but you should refrain from calling each other “excellent friends” since this could impair the referee’s ability to judge the candidate’s character.
The reference’s main body follows, which includes the categories of personal traits we covered earlier in this essay.
Content for the signature and footer
It’s a good idea to conclude with a summary that places the applicant’s qualifications in the open position context.
Example: They possess the transferable skills to function successfully in a team environment in a company that values individual drive and a desire for professional advancement, for instance.
The referee should make one final comment, adding more details if the recruiter requests them.
Example: “Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the things I’ve mentioned or the other qualities that make this person a good fit for your business”
Just as you would when concluding a formal letter, end on a standard, business-like note by choosing one of the following:
- If you don’t know the recipient’s name, use “Yours faithfully” or “Yours sincerely” instead.
- Warm regards or kind regards
- Another equivalent that is acceptable for the business of your choosing
In addition, it’s a good idea to sign your name. If you’re emailing the referee, you can either paste a scanned or photographed copy of the referee’s ink signature or type in their full name.
Conclusion
Candidates must submit their CVs as part of every job application, even though technology has substantially altered the hiring and job-search process over the past ten years. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the first CV in the late 15th century, and the idea hasn’t altered much since then. Furthermore, we can assist you if producing a CV seems complicated. You may learn the fundamentals and the best practices for creating, formatting, and organizing a CV with this guide to CV writing.