How to Write Reference Letter: Tips and Samples

Want to write reference letter but don’t know how to write reference letter then this article is only for you and the learners who wants to learn letter writing. In today’s article we are sharing the steps, Tips or samples for writing reference letter.

Writing an effective reference letter has the power to help a candidate. Whether it is a job applicant or a prospective renter, a well-worded recommendation can make the difference between success and rejection.

How to Write Reference letter:

In simplest terms, a reference letter puts the weight of your personal or professional reputation behind an applicant.
It shows that you are unafraid to have your character and professional affiliation connected to the individual who is requesting the reference. Not surprisingly, writing this type of recommendation letter is something that you should consider with care.

When Would You Write a Reference for Someone?

  1. The most common situation is to write the letter for a job applicant. When this applicant needs a boost behind a good resume, an effectively written reference can make a huge difference.
  2. Someone may ask you to write a letter if you have worked with the person, acted as a supervisor or were the actual employer.
  3. Sometimes, property owners or managers require prospective renters to furnish personal references. They offer the rental manager an opportunity to learn a little about the individual before considering the application to rent an apartment, house or other property.
  4. A third reason why you may find yourself in a position to write a reference letter is when a student or recent graduate approaches you. It is frequently a professor or teacher’s letter that allows this person access to an internship position, an advanced placement course or an entry-level job.

Things that you should never put into Reference letter:

There are three things that you should never put into Reference letter.

  1. Guarantees: Do not offer up a personal guarantee that the applicant will be a successful intern, excellent employee or quiet renter. Since you have no control over the individual, putting such guarantees into a letter actually detracts from your message.
  2. Personal information: Religion, race, sexual orientation and political leanings have no place in a reference letter. The same is true for the applicant’s age, marital status or any health issues.
  3. Minor issues: Although it is good to give specific details, it is a mistake to focus on one or two minor issues and miss the opportunity to provide the applicant with a powerful letter that emphasizes the weightier things. For example, an anecdote related to an excellent customer service incident is useful. Yet do not limit your reference to just this one situation. Rather, put it against the backdrop of a bigger picture.

Tips or Steps to Write Reference Letter:

Structure

  1. Begin the body of the letter with a paragraph or two introducing yourself and your relationship to the applicant. This gives the reader an understanding why you chose to write the letter in the first place.
  2. The next paragraph should focus on the actual reference. This is where you refer to the applicant’s job experience, rental history or academic background.
  3. Be as specific as possible. For professional references, include job titles, duties and achievements.
  4. For a rental reference, give a prior rental history and details about the individual’s conduct.
  5. Within the frame of an academic reference, mention coursework that has been completed, grades earned and the current academic standing.
  6. Finish the letter by giving a clear personal assessment of the individual’s skills that you back up with concrete examples.
  7. Welcome further inquiries and assure the reader that you are available for questions as needed.
  8. End the letter like you would any other business letter.

Sample format of Reference Letter:

To write a very personalised Reference letter, you can use any of the samples provided and add your own message. Make sure you proofread your reference letter carefully.
Dear Admissions Committee,
I had the pleasure of teaching Sara in her 11th grade honors English class at Sharda Vidhyalay School. From the first day of class, Sara impressed me with her ability to be articulate about difficult concepts and texts, her sensitivity to the nuances within literature, and her passion for reading, writing, and creative expression- both in and out of the classroom. Sara is a talented literary critic and poet, and she has my highest recommendation as a student and writer.
Sara is talented at considering the subtleties within literature and the purpose behind authors’ works. She produced an extraordinary year-long thesis paper on creative identity development, in which she compared works from three different time periods and synthesized cultural and historical perspectives to inform her analysis. When called upon to give her thesis defense in front of her peers, Sara spoke clearly and eloquently about her conclusions and responded to questions in a thoughtful way. Outside of the classroom, Sara is dedicated to her literary pursuits, especially to poetry. She publishes her poetry in our school’s literary magazine, as well as in online magazines. She is an insightful, sensitive, and deeply
self-aware individual driven to explore art, writing, and a deeper understanding of the human condition.
Throughout the year Sara was an active participant in our discussions, and she always supported her peers. Her caring nature and personality allow her to work well with others in a team setting, as she always respects others’ opinions even when they differ from her own. When we held a class debate about gun laws, Sara opted to speak for the side opposite her own views. She explained her choice as motivated by a desire to put herself in other people’s shoes, view the issues from a new perspective, and gain a clearer sense of the issue from all angles. Throughout the year, Sara demonstrated this openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along with shrewd powers of observation, all qualities that makes her outstanding as a student of literature and burgeoning writer.
I am certain that Sara is going to continue to do great and creative things in her future. I highly
recommend her for admission to your undergraduate program. She is talented, caring, intuitive, dedicated,and focused in her pursuits. Sara consistently seeks out constructive feedback so she can improve her
writing skills, which is a rare and impressive quality in a high school student. Sara is truly a standout individual who will impress everyone she meets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions
at example@gyanlog.in.
Sincerely,
Piyush Joshi
English Teacher
Sharda Vidhyalay Adgaon

Academic Reference Letter

Forbes T. Jarvis

University Registrar

Westbrook University, ME 12456

August 8, 2011

Diana E. Flora

XYZ Corporation

3938 Newton Street

Saint Cloud, MN 52255

Ref: Academic Reference Letter

Dear Ms. Diana E. Flora:

Fiona Hazel is a student of Westbrook University and she has been on the toppers list from her first year in college until her graduation. She is very intelligent and intellectual lady and with the reference of her skills and academic record I can confidently say that she is genuinely capable in any position that she is applying for in your office.

Ms. Hazel is also one of our student assistants in the institution administration office, so if you will require her to do some clerical and data encoding jobs then she will do it easily without much training and instructions.

As for her academic report, you can check her certified transcript of record that is attached in this letter. You can also contact me or visit my office anytime as you like.

Thank you.

Respectfully yours,

Forbes T. Jarvis

Reference Letter for Higher Studies

Respected Principal,

George Washington University,

2121 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20052

(202) 994-1000

To whom it may concern,

I know Ms. Matilda Victoria from a master‘s program course straddling half a semester (which equals 15 credit points in the Swedish system, out of 60 for a full academic year), and from a current master thesis project that I supervise. The course is called “Ecological Dimensions” and deals with the context of environmental measurements and annotations. Environmental risk assessments methodology is essential for instance covered in the course. The course also includes an ordinary written examination.

The master‘s thesis of Ms. Matilda Victoria is a proportional study of the application of Environmental Impact Evaluation Tactic in developing and developed countries. The study is focused on a comparative between Sweden and Washington, Ms. Matilda Victoria’s home country.

I am very pleased to tell you that when Ms. Matilda Victoria took the course she completed her assignments willingly and accomplished the tasks well in time and with a very good result. She can quickly understand things and has an analytical approach to problems. She is also able to clearly present her result and handle also rather delicate situations in group work. I can without hesitation rank her among top 10% of students in these classes.

On personal level, I find Ms. Matilda Victoria as an extremely nice person who is easy to communicate with, and who has a friendly and very courteous manner. I would be happy to give further supporting comments if approached directly and give strong recommendation for further studies or work in this area.

Yours sincerely,

Chairman,

Students Welfare Association

Business Customer Reference Letter

***Type this reference letter on the letterhead of organization***

Owner of ACE Private Ltd.

Swiss Branch

August 8, 2011

Kerry Grant,

22nd Side Street

897 Haywire North,

Haywire

Dear Mr. Kerry,

I am writing this letter of reference letter in favor of Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals who has been one of our very valued customers for the past 20 years. They are attributed in the line of their activities and it is my pleasure to recommend them as a company to do business with.

Besides doing business with Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals for many years, I have personally known the president and founder of Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals, Glenn Ralston, for more than 30 years. We were classmates and teammates at Oxford University in the late 1970s. After spending a long period of time with him, I am quite comfortable and confident in vouching for him as a great individual as well as a concerned and active citizen in this community.

As far as a company to do business with, Hoffmann-La Roche Pharmaceuticals is one of the best we have ever dealt with.

We wish them a good luck for a bright future.

Respectfully yours,

Michel Forbes

Marketing Manager

Signed under seal of SunShine Enterprises

Nanny Reference Letter

Ulrica Violet,

5568, Lazuli Lane,

Truism, TY 372

August 8, 2011

Mrs. Kenway Joshua,

47294, Moppets Lane,

Hurth, NK 39434

SUBJECT: NANNY REFERENCE LETTER

Dear Madam,

I am writing this letter to refer you a trustable nanny. I am doing so with all sense of honesty and seriousness. It is with the reference of our previous communication, you had earlier given me the task of finding you the finest of nannies and I hope you will remember that. I am pleased to tell you that I have found one.

The person in question is Mrs. Helena Richard, a nanny of impeccable character. Until last year before we relocated, Mrs. Helena was our own nanny. I have inquired from her and luckily she is free at the moment and will be thrilled to work with you. You can reach her on: 123-456-7890

Yours sincerely,

Ulrica Violet.

Reference Letter from a Doctor

Human Resource Manager,

Curvy Technologies,

Sunny Hills,

London.

Respected Sir,

This is in reference to the candidate Mr. Humphrey David to whom you have sent for general medical test for the purpose of employment in your company. I would like to let you know that the candidate is physically and mentally fit and sound. He had passed all medical tests conducted by us. We have tested his blood samples for general blood analysis and found negative results for any Diabetes, viral or bacterial infections, T.B etc. We have also taken his other tests like ECG, Blood Pressure and his height and weight, for which the reading has come normal.

We are done with other necessary tests that are required and found everything is normal. From all the reports, I finally refer that medically this candidate is good in health and can join this position.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Natalie Karin,

MBBS, FRCS (London),

M.S., General Surgeon,

King’s College Hospital,

Denmark Hills