How to Write a Character Reference
At some point in your life, you're bound to be asked to write a character reference for a friend or relative. A character reference is more informal than an employment reference and allows you to focus more on a candidate's personal attributes. Despite this air of informality, writing your reference will require some planning.
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Instructions
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Request information about the person who asked you to write a character reference. You may know a lot about his activities outside of work, including any organizations he is a part of or hobbies he participates in, but make sure to have a copy of his resume as well. Knowing all of this will give you a well-rounded picture and may give you insight into talents and skills you didn't know he had.
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Request information about the job. Knowing the roles and responsibilities of a position will allow you to elaborate on how your candidate's traits will help fit with prospective employers' needs.
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Address your letter as personally as possible. While there's nothing wrong with starting a letter with "To Whom it May Concern," a personalized greeting makes a more powerful impression, as does the appearance of your letter. Make sure it's typed and proofread.
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Identify your relationship with the person you are recommending. Specify how long you have known her and in what capacity, as well as how that relationship qualifies you to write a character reference on her behalf. Explain what you think qualifies her for this particular position and why you are willing to recommend her, backing up your words with specific examples.
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Be detailed in your description of the job candidate's positive attributes, choosing your words carefully. Speaking of the applicant in too many glowing terms may make a potential employer wary of the legitimacy of your recommendation, while using weak adjectives like "nice," "good" and "satisfactory" don't convey a sense of confidence in your candidate.
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Highlight a variety of traits deemed important to employers. These include, but are not limited to, the candidate's ability to communicate, his self-confidence, interpersonal skills, flexibility and leadership.
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Close the letter by offering to provide further information if necessary and providing a way to get in touch with you.
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Tips & Warnings
Before agreeing to write a character reference be certain you have positive things to say. It's better to decline to write a letter than to write an insincere one.
