Writing A Reference Letter For A Friend

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A character reference letter for a friend introduces them to a potential employer as someone who is trustworthy and personable. Such a reference can increase your friend's chances of employment since it highlights their individual potential, good character and other relevant information validated by a reliable source. To write an effective character reference, you need to understand their purpose and what employers look for. In this article, we discuss how to prepare a clear, well-structured character reference letter for a friend.

Related: How to Ask Someone to Be Your Reference (With Email Examples)

Character Reference Letter Format

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Character Reference Letter Format

The relationship of the reference to the candidate
How long the reference has known the candidate
Positive personal qualities, including specific examples
A statement of recommendation
The reference's contact information

What is a character reference letter?

A character reference letter is a testimony written by someone close to the applicant who has witnessed their strength of character firsthand. It is not a professional reference letter. The purpose of a character reference letter is not to highlight the applicant's practical experience, professional skills or educational background. Rather, it should focus on aspects of the applicant's personal qualities, such as their work ethic, integrity and reliability.

A letter like this is usually written by someone within the applicant's close social circle. They can be composed by close relatives, colleagues, neighbors and other social contacts. If you are asked to write a character reference letter for your friend, you should know it would likely be included as an important part of their job application. Therefore, it must be honest, professional and objective.

This letter can be intended for a particular job interview or it can be a general character reference useful for any situation, so its content should be directed at anyone who wants to learn about the applicant's personality and work style.

Read more: Character Reference Letter Sample and Tips

How to write a character reference letter

If you are asked to write a character reference letter for a friend, consider following these steps:

1. Make sure you are qualified

Before you agree to write the letter, you should be confident in your relationship with the applicant. You need to know them well to be considered an authority on their character. Depending on the nature of your relationship with your friend, you will be more qualified to speak on some subjects than others. If you have been friends with the applicant for a long time, you could share how their character has improved and grown over the years. If you are work colleagues, you can discuss an occasion when your friend's character was tested in the workplace. Before agreeing to write a character reference, ask yourself three questions:

Do you know enough of your friend's relevant qualities to make the letter impactful?
Do you have the time and inclination to prepare a detailed character reference?
Are you ready to answer any additional questions the employer might ask after reading your letter?

2. Know your audience

Ask your friend if they will submit this letter to a particular employer or if they intend to include it in all of their job applications. If you know your audience, you might be able to tailor your letter accordingly, the way you would a resume. For example, if your friend is trying to get a job as a teacher, you might write about their kindness, patience and approachable personality. If they are applying to medical school, you might emphasize their work ethic, moral values and positive attitude. If the letter is for general use, you can include a variety of comments that apply to multiple industries and job fields.

3. Be honest

One of the most difficult parts of writing a character reference is remaining both positive and objective. Your primary purpose in writing is to recommend your friend as a person of admirable character. However, you do not want to give the employer a false impression of your friend. It can be tempting to write a glowing recommendation that portrays your friend as the ideal candidate, but a surplus of exaggeration can actually hurt their chances later on.

To ensure honesty, it can be helpful to recall specific instances where you witnessed certain aspects of your friend's character. If you can briefly tell a story that showcases their integrity, generosity or selflessness, the employer may be more inclined to agree with your character assessment.

4. Make your letter easy to read

Most likely, the hiring managers who will read your letter will have already read dozens of character references, so they will be skilled in scanning letters to find the information they need. In order to communicate your message clearly and to retain the reader's attention, your letter should be concise and well-structured.

Begin your letter professionally by addressing it "To Whom It May Concern" if you don't have a specific name. Then, write a brief introduction explaining who you are and why the applicant asked you to write this letter. Next, include a short paragraph that sums up your relationship with your friend, including how long you have known them and the nature of your friendship. Then, you will need to compose an easily readable paragraph that speaks to the applicant's character, morals and values. Consider including some brief practical examples that prove your points.

Dense wording, casual vocabulary and repetitive sentences are detrimental to a character reference letter. Keep your paragraphs focused, short and informational. If your letter is easy and enjoyable to read, it is far more likely that the hiring manager will appreciate and remember it.

5. Invite further contact

After you finish writing the body of the letter, you will need an effective conclusion. Reiterate your confidence in the applicant and assure the employer that your friend will be a valuable asset to their team. Make sure to extend an open invitation for the employer to contact you with further questions, and include a phone number and email address. If the letter is on paper, sign it by hand. If it is an email, use your professional email signature.

Related: How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

Character reference letter template

If you are writing a reference letter for a friend for the first time, you can begin by consulting templates and samples to help you to set the correct tone for your own reference letter. Here is a template for an effective character reference letter:

To Whom It May Concern,

[ Introduction: Introduce yourself, explain why you are writing this letter and why you are qualified to do so. ]

[ Paragraph 2: Describe your relationship with the applicant, state your impression of their character and share examples of how they have shown their character in real-world situations. Use relevant keywords when listing the applicant's positive qualities. Be both positive and honest. ]

[ Paragraph 3: Recommend your friend to the employer based on your impression of their character. Assure the employer that hiring your friend would benefit the team. ]

[ Conclusion: Invite the reader to contact you with any questions. Include your phone number and an email address. ]

Sincerely,
[ Sign the letter professionally, either by hand or with your professional email signature. ]

Related: Reference Check Questions: What to Expect

Character Traits

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Positive character traits:
ambitious, creative, compassionate, patient, courageous, flexible, honest, humble, honorable, loyal, conscientious, persistent, resilient, disciplined

Character reference letter examples

Here are two examples of character reference letters written for a friend that you can use to inspire your own:

Example 1

To Whom It May Concern,

I am pleased to recommend Casey Hoff, my coworker and friend, through this character reference letter. I have known Casey for more than seven years. I was introduced to her during her interview at Cornell Tech Innovators, where I work as a human resources manager. She created a high impact during that interview and was hired as a human resources executive.

During her tenure at Cornell, I have found Casey to be sincere, hard-working, diligent and of high moral and ethical standards. She has also demonstrated an ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with mature discretion. When an employee was under surveillance for a suspected breach of work ethics, Casey conducted the entire surveillance exercise successfully and with full-proof confidentiality.

Being compassionate and considerate, Casey was a go-to person for all HR-related matters at Cornell. Once, when a newly hired international employee was finding it difficult to rent a home in a location of their preference, Casey went out of her way to help that individual. After three days of persistent efforts, she did manage to find a good housing unit for that employee.

Based on such experiences, I feel confident in endorsing Casey. She will not let down the employer she works for.

Please feel free to contact me for more details, if needed.

Sincerely,
Jim Cornell
212-358-9706
jimcornell@cornelltech.com

Example 2

Dear Mr. Burlington,

It is my privilege to recommend Jude Smith, who has applied for the role of a B2B technology writer at TechLingo. Jude has been my neighbor for 21 years and also a childhood friend. During the years that we have grown up together, I have observed her innate writing talents manifest as a passion for everything technological and an ability to articulate technology content in a simple and understandable voice.

Jude is a high-minded individual of exceptional character and integrity. She was raised in a family that lived the motto, "Character with competency." I remember she was once asked at an interview, "After accepting a job at a company, would you consider a competitor's offer with a higher pay than the new employer's offer?" Jude did not hesitate before answering in the negative. She added that a job is a relationship, and like any relationship, it thrives when nurtured with honesty and integrity.

There are countless such occasions when Jude has proven to be in a class apart, in terms of possessing an impeccable character. I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending her.

I will be happy to provide further feedback on Jude. Please feel free to call or email at your convenience.

Sincerely,
Dave Gonzales
980-765-3426
davegonzales@email.com