4 Tips to Write a Powerful Character Reference Letter

Many large companies expect applicants to submit their character reference letter apart from the cover letter for the application and CV. Some companies, however, ask for a letter of character reference after the interview. Usually, CVs or resumes highlight a candidate’s professional skills and qualities. Nonetheless, it does not highlight their personal traits.  Hence, a third-person’s reference to the applicant’s character is essential to judge the fitness of the candidate in the organization. Due to the high significance of character letter, it has now become a part of the academic curriculum. However, writing a character letter is quite a difficult task. If you are struggling to understand the nuances of this letter to craft your academic assignment, this blog is for you. You can learn about its components, method for writing it, fine tips to craft an excellent document, and many more. Read this blog to uncover these details

What Does A Character Reference Letter Contain?

A layout of a character letter is similar to any business letter. However, the body contents differ. It starts and ends with salutations. The letter body consists of 4 paragraphs, consisting of the following elements:

1. 1^st paragraph –It states your relationship with the applicant and how many years you know him personally.
2. 2^nd paragraph – Highlight the candidate’s personal traits in this section with suitable examples to support the candidature. You can include qualities like attitude, dedication, commitment, efficiency, creativity, and patience.
3. 3^rd paragraph – Includes a statement of recommendation
4. 4^th paragraph – Has a thank you note for the reader for spending their time reading your letter.

The template below will help you better understand the contents.

Template for Character Reference Letter

Here is the template to reference a character:

[Address of the sender]

[Date]

[To whom it may concern]

[Name of the company]

[Address of the company]

[State, City, Zip]

Dear [Professional Title]

[Paragraph1]

 [Paragraph 2]

[Paragraph 3]

Sincerely,

[Signature of the sender]

[Name]

[Phone number of the sender]

[Sender’s email address]

Learning the template of a character reference letter will be useless unless you know how to write an excellent one.

How to Write A Character Reference Letter?

To make your character reference writing stand out, take the following steps while crafting it:

Step 1: Begin with a heading-

Address the letter to the company’s hiring manager. In case, you cannot find the contact in the job description, use a generic salutation like “To whomsoever, it may concern.”

Step 2: Be Specific About What You Highlight –

An individual may have several traits that are appropriate for the applied job role. However, the hiring officer might look for specific traits in his ideal candidate. Analyze the skills that your friend has mentioned in the resume and highlight their strengths accordingly.

Step3: Mention Your Connection –

Mention how you are connected to the applicant. State whether the candidate is your family member or friend, or whether you have worked with him.

Step 4: State the Purpose of Writing –

Finally, state the purpose of writing your letter. It is to recommend someone for a specific job. Hence, close out your reference by stating that the applicant will be a valuable asset to the organization.

Step 5: offer your contact information –

Finish your letter by providing your contact information – email and phone number. It will let the hiring manager know that you are comfortable discussing the candidate and answering any further queries over the phone or through email.

Follow these steps to craft a flawless letter for character reference. However, if you want to make your letter stand out, you must follow some tips.

Tips To Craft a Powerful Character Reference Letter

Knowing how to write a letter for character reference will help you write a generic copy. However, to make your writing distinct from the rest, write your copy from the writer’s perspective and adhere to the following tips:

1.      Make it positive –

A letter for a character reference to highlight an applicant’s candidature for enhancing the chance of selecting the candidate for the applied job role. Hence, make it positive. Do not highlight their shortcomings.

2.      Exemplify the qualities –

Listing out the qualities is always helpful. But, bear in mind that the applicant has already done it in the resume. Hence, detail the highlighted qualities with examples. It will uplift and illustrate the skills to the employer and help him to analyze how the candidate might perform in practical scenarios.

3.      Keep it crisp –

It is a rule of thumb to never exceed a reference letter beyond one page. You must keep in mind that a hiring officer gets thousands of reference letters to read. Extending the letter beyond that will reduce the chance of being viewed by them. Hence, try to put your message across without lengthening them.

4.      Don’t add private details –

A reference letter is a formal and official letter. Hence, you must never mention or explain personal struggles or intimate matters that the candidate does not want to share with the employer.

These tips will help you create an excellent and strong character reference letter, whether you use it for writing your assignment or for referencing an individual.  However, if job seekers need a reference letter, they must know who to approach.

Whom Should You Ask For Writing A Character Reference Letter?

Anyone who can best highlight your personal attributes can write a character reference for you. They can be from your personal or professional network. Here are a few examples of individuals who can develop great character references:

1. Coworker
2. Co-volunteer or volunteer leader
3. Coach
4. Client or customer
5. Vendor or business acquaintance
6. Professor or academic advisor
7. A personal or professional mentor
8. Fellow student or graduate from an educational program
9. Neighbor or friend

However, don’t ask anybody in your family, including your spouse to reference you. Companies do not consider the references with seriousness. Consider the example to get a better understanding.

Read more: Steps To Build A Flawless Business Letter Format

Example of a Character Reference Letter

If you still have doubts about what a letter for character reference must look like, read the example below.

18/16 Perl Villa

Hudson Street

Washington 27889

30 August 2022

The Hiring Manager

Star Hotel

California 90201 

Dear Hiring Manager,

I have known Linda for the past 7 years. She was my classmate at the Sour Bakers Institute.

Until now, Linea has showcased devotion, persistence, and integrity. She is obsessive about food and always takes leadership to kill the hunger of others. Linea is a bright and diligent individual who loves to perform work flawlessly.

In my network, Linea is one of the finest chefs I have ever known. She is a specialist in altering terrible food into a delectable one. During my brother’s graduation party, when the chef I have hired ruined the main dish, it was Linda who rescued the party. With extreme patience, she worked and served tasty food at the right time.

For these reasons, I would like to recommend Linda for the post of Sous Chef in your hotel. Also, I believe that her input to your hotel in the future would be praiseworthy.

If you wish to know more about Linea, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Shannon Smith

+1 2347-278-369

Shannon@email.com

Conclusion

Hopefully, by now you clearly understand the character reference letter writing tips and know how to write an excellent paper topics. If you struggle with recognizing the nuances of a character reference or lack the skills to draft a good one, connect with our experts.