Reference letter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A reference letter or letter of reference is a letter in which the writer makes a general assessment of the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of a person, or confirms details about that individual’s situation or circumstances. Reference letters are different from recommendation letters in the sense that they are usually more general in nature and are not normally addressed to a specific requestor. Normally, letters of reference are addressed as; "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam". Letters of reference typically include: character-related, college program admission-related, employment-related, or general purpose letters.
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[edit] Types of reference letters
- Character-related reference letters
- These reference letters are always written about a specific person by someone who knows them, and they usually focus on a person's general personality characteristics such as: honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, dependability, work ethic, values, community service, and other widely accepted character indicators. Typically, a person will ask for a general character reference letter when they are leaving an organization so that they can use it in their future business or community service career endeavors.
- College-related reference letters
- These letters are very similar to college-related letters of recommendation, except that they are usually not addressed to a specific individual or requestor. In the college and university context they are typically addressed to officials such as: Director, Admissions or Chairman, Scholarship Selection Committee, etc. These letters can be as specific as a recommendation letter when it comes to describing the individual about which the letter is written, but they are often more general in terms of targeted addressees because at the time they are written it is often not exactly clear as to which businesses or institutions they will be sent.
- Employment-related reference letters
- These are general job-related letters that are often requested by employees when they leave the employ of an organization in the hope that a favorable one will increase their chances when applying for a new position. Factual in nature, they are usually addressed, "To Whom It May Concern" and provide basic information such as: work history, dates of employment, positions held, educational credentials, etc. They may contain a general statement assessing the overall work performance of the departing employee with the company that they are leaving
- General-purpose reference letters
- These general-purpose reference letters deal with a variety of situations that are not covered by the other reference letters described above. Typically, they address special situations such as: tenant to landlord letters, business customer references, pet owner testimonials, bank references, etc. These letters are always addressed in a general way using "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".
[edit] Reference vs recommendation
The term "reference letter" is often used interchangeably with the term "recommendation letter"; however, there is a difference between the two types. Letters of reference are more general in nature and usually addressed to "Whom It May Concern" or “Dear Sir/Madam”, whereas letters of recommendation are very specific in nature and normally requested/required, and are always specifically addressed to an individual.
[edit] Sample Reference letters
- Sample teacher employment reference letter
- Sample business customer reference letter
- Sample character reference letter
[edit] Other resources
[edit] Books
- Fawcett, Shaun. Instant Recommendation Letter Kit – How To Write Winning Letters of Recommendation (Revised Edition). 2005. ISBN 0973626542
- Nolan, Dr. Nancy L., Ivy League Reference Letters: 30 Successful Business School Recommendations (CD-Rom). 2006. ISBN 1933819057
