How to Write a Job Reference Letter

A reference from an employer is a very important document. This will make a big difference for someone being offered a position in a new company.

If you are agreeing to write a letter of reference for one of your employees you may need to discuss this with them. If you do decide to, then you need to ask yourself if you can write optimistic things about the person, if not, you should state honestly that you are unable to do so under the circumstances.

Looking at their achievements within the organisation and any relevant information can be a start to creating that all important letter. But don’t forget, you can only state what you know from your own experience with them.

• Start by explaining how you know the person and how long you have known them for, i.e. “I have worked with” or “I have known this person for”
• Put down your contact information, you might get feed back
• List all their good qualities and skills and how they differ from employees you have known in the past
• If they are more competent in a specific field then expand on it, that’s if it coincides with the position they have applied for
• Try not to put any weaknesses. You should opt out if you can't write a positive letter of reference
• You should mention your own credentials to show the reader you yourself are of good aptitude
• Mention why you are writing this letter.
• You do not need to get carried away with the candidate’s background information i.e. ethnicity, race or gender and so on
• Be concise and to the point, one page should suffice
• Don’t overdo the letter. Unjustified praise could be deemed as deceitful
• Last but not least read the letter over again as this will reflect on you and the candidate.