How do you write a personal reference letter?
A character reference, personal recommendation, or character recommendation is a letter of recommendation written by an individual who knows the applicant well and can attest to their moral fiber and work ethic. A candidate without extensive work experience or who believes their current employers are unable to provide good references may ask for a personal recommendation instead.
In a recommendation letter, you should introduce yourself, explain your relationship to the individual you are vouching for, state their qualifications, and list the specific abilities they possess.
Keep in mind
Referencing the candidate’s extracurricular activities and character traits is a great way to highlight their soft talents and charisma in a personal recommendation.
When do you use a personal reference letter?
The individuals who write these letters of reference have personal relationships with the job hopefuls and are able to attest to their abilities and character outside of work. Although most employers ask for letters of recommendation from current or former employees or supervisors, recruiting managers may also ask for personal references.
Large purchases, like a condo, or applications for financial aid typically call for personal reference letters. A personal reference letter is often necessary for admission to the bar and other professional organizations and governing bodies for attorneys.
Character references, rather than professional ones, are usually required of high school and college students who do not yet have work experience when applying for scholarships, jobs, or volunteer opportunities. These can be obtained from guidance counselors, teachers, pastors, club leaders, or other adults who are knowledgeable about the student’s personality and achievements.
Personal reference letter formatting instructions
Personal reference letters are no different from any other type of recommendation letter; you should only volunteer to do so if you are confident in your ability to provide a glowing recommendation for the individual. If you are unable to provide an excellent reference, it is better to politely reject.
Describe your relationship with the person in your letter. The next step is to provide relevant information about the person’s ethics, history, or ideals. Take a college student applying for a fellowship as an example. When writing for them, it’s important to highlight their academic talents. In a cover letter for an entry-level retail salesperson, highlight the candidate’s charisma, work ethic, and people abilities.
Personal Reference Letter Example #1
Kearney, Samantha
Sunnyvale Drive, 123
Happydale, CA 12345
777-777-7777
Sam.kearney@email.com
May 7, 2024
Karina Smith
Town Manager
Town of Smileville
123 Company Rd.
Smileville, NY 27364
Dear Ms. Smith,
Please accept this letter as my formal recommendation of Callie Wyatt to the position of town administrator in Smileville. Having known Callie since she was a little girl, I can say with confidence that she is an excellent choice for a role in town administration. She has spent the majority of her life in Smileville, and she is quite active in the neighborhood, the church, and the schools that her children attend.
Participating in numerous community events, such as the Downtown Shelter for the Homeless’s annual fund drive, Meals on Wheels, and our public library’s biannual book sale, Callie has demonstrated her dedication to the town in her role as a Member of the Board of Appeals.
I can tell you from personal experience that Callie would be an incredible addition to the town. Get in touch with me at any time if you need more information or have any queries.
Best regards,
Signature (physical letter)
Samantha Kearney
Personal Reference Letter Example #2
Matt Smith
123 Golden Street
Everydale, CA 35467
444-444-4444
matt.smith@email.com
March 2, 2024
Ally Gonzalez
Sales Manager
ABC Electronics
456 Company St.
Smiledale, NY 12345
Dear Ms. Gonzalez,
The purpose of this reference is to lend my support to James Mason. For the last decade, James has been my friend and roommate from college. James possesses all the qualities you might want in an applicant: intelligence, talent, and perseverance.
James was an extremely dedicated student; he studied for the sake of understanding the content, not merely to improve his results. It wasn’t a surprise when he showed the same traits when he started working. James is a compassionate and helpful buddy. A few days after we graduated, my father passed away, and James was among the first people I informed about it. He took it upon himself to break the news to our other college friends and flew out to be with me as I was going through this tough period. James is naturally gifted at making and keeping friends for life.
He would do very well as a salesperson for ABC Electronics because of his abilities to establish and maintain relationships.
Without reservation, I am writing to strongly endorse James as an addition to your firm. Feel free to contact me at any time if you require any additional information.
Best regards,
Signature (physical letter)
Matt Smith
Template for a Personal Reference Letter
Using a template can assist you in organizing the layout of your letter. Using a template might also help you remember to include things like an introduction and body paragraphs in your letter.
Keep in mind
If you need help writing a recommendation letter, use a template. But you need to be adaptable at all times. To make the template work for you, you can alter any of the parts. If you wish to include two body paragraphs in your letter but the template only allows one, you should include both.
Heading: When composing a letter, adhere to the correct structure for business letters. At the start of the letter, you should include your contact information. Then, you should include the date. Finally, you should include the employer’s contact information.
You are free to omit this header if you are emailing the letter. That being said, you will need to write a subject line for the email. Provide a brief explanation of the letter’s goal and the subject line, along with the applicant’s name. You can also provide the position for which the individual is applying if you know it.
As an example:
Subject Line: Account Analyst Firstname Lastname Recommendation
Salutation: When you write a letter of recommendation, you should start it with “Dear Dr. Smith,” “Dear Ms. Miller,” etc. If you’re writing a letter to a lot of different people, you can address it “To Whom It May Concern” or just jump right into the first line.
Paragraph One: In the first paragraph of a personal recommendation letter, you should describe your relationship with the individual you are endorsing (including the length of time you have known them) and the reasons you feel qualified to write this letter. When you write a personal letter of recommendation, it’s because you have firsthand knowledge of the applicant’s qualities and character.
Second and third paragraphs: The second paragraph of a reference letter gives specific information about the person you are writing about, such as what they can do and why they are qualified. To give more details, use multiple paragraphs if needed.
When describing the person’s qualities, be careful to include concrete examples. If these aren’t examples from work, that’s fine. You don’t know the person from work, anyway. Highlight specific instances that illustrate your connection to that individual.
If you are writing a recommendation letter to send along with an application for a specific job, be sure to highlight the ways in which the candidate’s qualifications align with the requirements of the role. So, whether you’re writing a general recommendation letter or specifically asking a candidate for a specific job, be sure to ask for the job listing in advance.
In this part of the letter of recommendation, you will summarize your reasons for recommending the individual. Keep it simple and say that you “recommend [him/her] without hesitation,” “strongly recommend” the individual, etc.
Keep in mind
Lastly, make yourself available to supply additional details upon request. Make sure to include a phone number or another way to be contacted, like an email address, within the paragraph.
Sign off with a sincere phrase like “Sincerely” or “Best.” If sending the letter by mail, be sure to sign off with both your handwritten and typed signatures.
At the end of an email, be sure to type your signature. Put your contact details underneath your signature.
Essential Points to Remember
- Personal references are letters of approval from people who know the person well enough to talk about their character, personality, and soft skills.
- When applying to graduate school or for a co-op, it is helpful to have personal references on hand, especially if the applicant does not have much work experience.
- If you are writing a personal reference, you should explain how you know the person you are writing about.
- You should never volunteer a reference unless you are completely comfortable endorsing the individual and can speak about their abilities and character traits in a positive light.
