Letter of Reference
A Well Written Letter can Help You Become a Champion
Why a Letter of Reference is so Important
Competition in the job market is at an all time high. A letter of recommendation on your behalf from
one who can verify your work ethic and skills will set you apart from the other thousands
of job seekers. A well written letter will give an overall assessment of your qualities,
characteristics, and capabilities that can help champion you and spur you on to success with potential
employers.
Here is an example of
a Letter of Reference for a Professional,
from Microsoft.com's templates.
When to Use a Letter of Reference
I suggest including two letters of recommendation when you send your resume to an employer. Make sure you
include a cover letter in which you have noted the enclosed letters of reference.
Letter of Reference
Vs.
Letter of
Recommendation
I have used the the two terms interchangeably on this web page, and I encourage you to
utilize both types of letters in support of your job search, those to a general audience and those
written to a specific person.
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia gives the following distinction between the two terms:
The term "recommendation letter" is often used interchangeably with the
term "reference letter"; however, there is a difference between the two types.
Letters of recommendation are very specific in nature and normally requested/required and
are always addressed to an individual,
whereas
letters of reference are more general in nature
and are usually addressed "To Whom It May Concern".
You should bring several copies of the letters with you when interviewing. Doing this will help you appear extra prepared and start the
interview on a positive note.
Who to Ask For A Letter of Reference
As you are gaining experience in your field of work, always be on the lookout for someone who
compliments you on the quality of your work, skills or abilities. Keep those people in mind as candidates
to write your letters of reference. Usually you will ask your current or former employer; of course you
will choose those who will give you a great recommendation.
For example, when I worked as a Contract Manager, I handled several large accounts for my employer.
Not only did I ask my immediate Supervisor for a letter of recommendation, but also the Manager of the
Company account that I handled, who was a Vice President. Because they were both
pleased with my performance and customer service, I felt that I might as well capitilize on the hard work
I had done by asking for a great recommendation!
If you are at the start of your career, you can ask former Teachers, Principals, or Sports Team Leaders
to assist you by writing a letter of reference. They would be able to speak about your persistance,
being on time for activities, your character, and ethics.
How to Ask For A Letter of Reference
It is helpful to put in writing your request for a letter of recommendation.
Microsoft Word has a helpful
Request for Reference Template
that you can utilize. This particular one gives an example of how to ask your current manager for a
positive letter of reference as your final day of employment approaches. You can download this template
and customize it with your own wording and skills.
Be sure to include a copy of your current resume with this letter, and then follow up with
a telephone call if you do not see the person on a day to day basis. Also, remember to send a thank you
note once they have completed this task for you. Gratitude paves the way for
future requests when you need them!
A Few Extra Tips
1. Whenever possible, ask to have the letter customized to the type of work you are applying for. You can
make this easier on the person writing it by giving them a list of skill sets and characteristics you believe
you exemplify. They can use that list as a guideline as they are writing the letter for you.
2. After your supervisor, who else do you ask for a letter of reference?
If you have worked with someone
who is well noted in the business community, human service, religious, or volunteer organizations,
you might ask one or two of them for a letter of recommendation. They also might be willing to put in a
call on your behalf to the hiring manager prior to an interview.
3. Always send a copy of your resume to the person writing the letter of reference for a reminder of your
accomplishments when they are composing the letter.
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