6 Sample Character Reference Letter or Personal Reference
6 Sample Character Reference Letter or Personal Reference. Character reference letters describe the skills and traits you display outside the workplace. The people who write these letters know you personally. They can include teachers, coaches, landlords or people you know from your volunteer work or worship group.
When writing a character reference letter, it is important to focus on the positive qualities of the person you are writing about. Try to provide specific examples of times when you have seen these positive qualities in action. It is also important to keep the letter concise and to the point.
Things To Include In The Character Reference Letter
Things you may want to include in a character reference letter are:
- What positive qualities you have observed in them.
- Your contact information in case the employer has any further questions.
- Specific examples of times when you have seen these qualities in action.
- How long you have known the person.
- In what capacity you have known them.
- Why you believe they would be a good fit for the job they are applying for.
What is a character reference or personal reference letter?
A character or personal reference is a letter written by a contact of a job candidate and provided to employers as a testament to the candidate’s personal qualities. It typically comes from the perspective of someone who has not worked with the candidate in a professional capacity but can speak to the candidate’s abilities and character such as a coach, volunteer leader or family friend.
Character Reference Letter Samples
Sample #1
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern:
I’ve known Tim Cock for several years. He has been a close friend of my son’s since they were in grade school. I’ve watched him grow up into the friendly, confident young man he is today.
While he was in high school, Fred helped me coach a community soccer team of 9- and 10-year-old boys. A skilled player himself, Cock was a keen leader who always maintained his professionalism. With patience and an ability to explain and show strategy clearly, he drew out the best from these boys, who, in turn, looked up to him.
I know Cock to be dependable, responsible, honest and courteous. He is a popular server in the restaurant where he now works. While dining there, I’ve more than once overheard customers asking to be seated in his section.
Cock will be an asset to any organization. I can confidently recommend him for any position or undertaking that he chooses to pursue.
Please do not hesitate to call me if you would like to discuss this recommendation further.
Sincerely,
Fred C. Doe
[Tel].
Example #2
[Date]
Your Name
Your Company
Your Contact Info
Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Here’s my character reference for Jane Smith. I’ve known Kim for 6 years in both a professional and personal capacity. I would describe Kim as a kind person and a fair supervisor. I think Jane would make a great fit for the leadership position she is seeking as her motivation and work ethic are both excellent.
Kim is a hardworking and diligent manager who pays attention to detail and listens to her employees. She always puts her heart into everything she does, and her efforts deliver amazing results. We doubled our annual sales for the last two years in a row because of the changes she implemented in our company.
Kim is a thoughtful and smart leader with a heart of gold. I’m confident she’d do well at your company.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 333-444-5555 or email@email.com.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Example #3: Email Message Character Reference Sample
Subject: Reference for Janie Kres
Dear Mr. Henry,
Janie Kres was my neighbor for three years before moving to North Westchester last month. She is a kind and wonderful person; she has been so helpful to me and several of my neighbors.
I have trouble getting around. Janie always came over to my house and offered to mow my lawn; she would ask if I needed any help with my errands. She was always friendly and cheerful, and her help was very much appreciated.
We would often talk about her education, and I know she did well in school and had a high grade point average. She never complained about homework; this was even when she had big projects to finish or long papers to write.
Janie is smart, creative, and a genuinely good person who will do well in whatever career she chooses. I am happy to provide this reference. If you have any questions or want to know more about my experiences with Janelle, please feel free to call or email me.
Sincerely,
[name]
youremail@myemail.com
222-444-5555
Example #4
Dear Volunteer Coordinator,
Susan Cran has been on my club soccer team for the last 3 years. In addition, I am also a close family friend of the Cran’s.
Over the time that I’ve known her, Susan has displayed an immense amount of self-discipline, dedication and positivity. Her passion for teamwork and comradery have been inspirational to our club soccer team. For example, after losing two important games back-to-back, Susan felt that the team needed to re-connect and re-focus. She organized a teambuilding activity for the following practice that brought the team closer together. It is this type of proactiveness that I find invaluable to the team.
When Susan informed me that she was interested in volunteering at your organization I was delighted. I am confident in her commitment and enthusiasm towards this opportunity. I highly recommend her.
If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
John Doe
111-222-1234
youremail@email.com
Example #5 Sample character reference letters
Dear Hiring Manager,
I have known Manish Patel for more than seven years. He and I met while volunteering as mentors for the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club and he also offered his consulting services to my small business, helping me improve my website and increase web traffic.
Manish is one of the most dedicated, hardworking and innovative people I’ve had the pleasure of working with in any capacity. He is also compassionate, kind and never misses the opportunity to help others. Once, while we volunteered together at the Boys and Girls Club, the events coordinator became very sick. Manish stepped in to finalize plans and ensure the children’s holiday party wasn’t canceled—even working late into the evening and sacrificing an entire weekend.
Manish is the type of person you can count on to keep a cool head in a stressful situation, and his positive attitude is contagious.
For these reasons, I recommend Manish for the marketing manager position and believe he would be a valuable asset to any organization fortunate enough to have him on their team.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
[name]
111-222-1234
name@email.com
Example #6.
Your Name
Your Company.
Your Contact Info
Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am writing this letter to provide a character reference for John Smith. I have known John for 10 years, in both a professional and personal capacity.
In all the time I have known John, I’ve always been impressed by his character. He is an honest and trustworthy person who always goes out of his way to help others succeed. He works in our tech department and I’ve seen him help members on our team solve complex IT issues. I have seen him work tirelessly on company projects and his work has resulted in countless improvements to our products. He always puts 110% into everything he does and it shows.
I believe that John would be an excellent fit for the job he is applying for. His character and work ethic are second to none and I am confident that he would excel in this role.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 666-777-4444 or example@email.com.
Sincerely,
[Your Name].
Recommendations
- Example Character Reference Letter With Writing Tips
- 35 Most Common College Interview Questions And Answers For Freshers
- What Do I Write On A Short Cover Letter? | How To Start A Simple Cover Letter?
