Character Reference Letter

A character reference letter is written for you by an individual who you know personally. This person can vouch for your character. These letters may be written for a job interview, for school applications or for various other reasons. They are written by those outside of the work environment; this includes friends, family, religious leaders, even teachers.

Reference Letters

Many individuals use these reference letters when applying for jobs. They are particularly helpful for individuals who may not have other methods of showing that they are a good candidate for a position.

• Use them if you do not have a good reference from a current employer.

• Use them if you do not have reference letters from college professors.

• Character letters are helpful especially for positions where these attributes are important to the specific job.

• Include them in an application whenever an employer requests them.

More employers are requesting these letters because they show not only the skill and training an individual has, but the specific qualities that the employer is looking for including trustworthiness, leadership and other character traits.

Regardless of whether you need to write a character letter or you are requesting one, care should be taken through the process. This one letter may make a substantial difference in whether an individual is hired or not. There are several things to keep in mind through this process.

• Personal and Informal: These letters should be written respectfully. They should also be personal messages, not formal, prewritten letters. The more heartfelt and sincere, the more effective they will be for the user.

• Who Is Writing: The introduction paragraph of the letter should include information about who the writer is. Identify the relationship the individual has to the individual the letter is written about. How do you know them?

• Describe Real Experiences: In the next paragraphs (which should be short, two to three sentences) include personal experiences you have had with the individual. The goal of listing any experience is to share the character traits of the individual during that experience. Use words like "brave," "lead," "responsible," and "reliable."

• Make a Recommendation: In the final paragraph of the letter, a recommendation for the job should be made. Be sure to list why you believe this individual is an ideal candidate for the job, based on the traits you have seen in the individual.

• Be Original: Don't try to write your own character letters. If the letter is being written for you, allow the individual writing the letter to express real feelings. This will ensure that each letter is completely original. Avoid impersonal or form like letters.

• Tell a Story: Perhaps the best way to show just how qualified an individual is, or what their character traits are, is to simply tell a story that expresses these items. Keep it short and to the point, but allow the individual's character traits to come through.

These tips will ensure the character letter is well received by the reader. They want to get a clear picture of the individual, not something that is untrue, exaggerated or otherwise insignificant to them.

As with filling out a job application, using the right words in a character letter will get more results. As individuals write these letters, consider which types of character traits and wording is most appreciated by potential employers. What are they looking for?

• Ambitious
• Polite, courteous
• Determined
• Goal oriented
• Generous
• Self starter
• Good communicator
• Efficient
• Leader
• Hardworking
• Intelligent
• Committed, loyal
• Creative
• Problem solver

These words should only be considered if they do in fact help to describe the individual. The importance here is to pick words that the employer may be interested in. You may ask yourself, "If I was a business owner, what would I wish to see in an employee?" Then, consider how well the individual you are writing about fits those needs.

You have been asked to write a character reference letter for someone that you don't think is a good fit for a job. You just do not have something nice to say. What should you do? In a situation like this, it is often best to be honest with the individual and request that they find someone else. If you feel you need to complete the letter, be positive but do not lie.

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