Work Reference Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a letter from an experienced and authoritative person that can explain a person's character and qualifications. This is a letter from someone who knows the person and confirming that he/she is eligible to apply for a position or program. Recommendation letters can take many forms. When applying for a job, internship, degree or similar position, a reference letter is usually required.

What is the purpose of a Work Reference Letter?

Job references are often required by employers during the hiring process and can play a key role in determining whether a relevant candidate is offered a job. A cover letter is best written by a supervisor or manager who has had direct contact with the candidate and witnessed their skills firsthand. A meaningful letter of recommendation clearly states why the recommender is eligible, it is as suitable as possible for the new position required, and provides specific examples of the applicant's suitability for employment. A job recommendation letter should outline the qualities that make the person a good fit for the position they are applying for.

Hiring managers want to know what experience a candidate will bring to the new role, how she will contribute to the company or organization, and how she will perform in her day-to-day job. Recommendation letters can indicate a candidate's future performance by talking about her past achievements.

What to include in a Work Reference Letter?

Some important aspects are discussed in a reference letter. The letter should make clear who the writer is and what kind of relationship he or she has with the candidate. Only then can we go deeper into the reason why the candidate is suitable for the job. To build a good reference letter, it is best to stick to the following order:

• The relationship with the candidate. It goes without saying that you only write a reference letter if you really know the candidate in question. The reference letter outlines your relationship with the candidate, whether you are a supervisor, colleague, or teacher.
• The duration of the relationship with the candidate. A reference letter should describe the length of your relationship with the candidate, especially if you are a professional referee.
• The candidate's positive personality traits. The main purpose of a reference letter is to describe a candidate's good qualities. The qualities that you yourself have observed as a referent are especially important in this context. It is best to describe at least three positive qualities of a candidate, ranging from soft skills to technical skills. Keep in mind that potential employers are usually looking for flexible, dedicated employees with excellent communication skills.
• Specific examples. The mention of positive qualities about a candidate is important. However, you should also demonstrate these with specific examples, because additional details support the qualities of the candidate.
• Recommendation. Close the reference letter with a strong recommendation.
• Contact details. If you are not familiar with a candidate's potential employer, be sure to include your contact details: an email address and a personal phone number will suffice. It is not necessary to state your work address. Are you sending an email directly to the candidate's potential future employer? Then include your contact details in the text. Using email is a convenient and quick way to contact the candidate's hiring manager or prospective supervisor.

See below for a sample Work Reference Letter Template:

Dear Sir/Madam {{Name}},

I highly recommend {{Applicant’s Name}} as a candidate for employment. {{Applicant}} was employed by {{Company Name}} as a {{Position Title}} from {{year}} - {{year}}. {{Applicant}} was responsible for office support including word processing, scheduling appointments and creating brochures, newsletters, and other office literature. 

{{Applicant}} has excellent communication skills. In addition, {{he/she}} is extremely organized, reliable and computer literate. {{Applicant}} can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. {{He/She}} is flexible and willing to work on any project that is assigned to {{him/her}}. {{Applicant}} was quick to volunteer to assist in other areas of company operations, as well.  

{{Applicant}} would be a tremendous asset for your company and has my highest recommendation. If you have any further questions with regard to {{his/her}} background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call me.

Yours sincerely,

{{Signature}}

Download this sample Work Reference Letter Template for free from our website. Make some changes in the document available in Microsoft Word format. If you like this letter, please give us a big thumbs up. Your valuable feedback matters a lot to us. Head towards our website for some useful content.