GUIDELINES
- State your name and other basic information to introduce yourself. Also, mention your relationship with the person you are writing the referral for.
- Taking the purpose of the referral into account, provide information and descriptions about your friend that are both honest and relevant.
- Offer your contact details for more information. Wish the recipient well.
SAMPLE LETTER
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Letter Date]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]
[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-
Dear [Recipients Name],
I hope this letter finds you well. I am Anne Anders, the Administrative Assistant at Fluency Inc. I am writing regarding Ms. Jean Jenkins' application for the training program your company is offering. I have known her for the past five years as both a colleague and close personal acquaintance, and may be able to provide useful information.
Ms. Jenkins' has been working for our company for five years now. She has an excellent track record and is well-known for her sense of initiative and persistence. A good example of these is the fact that most of our new campaigns came from her ideas. I am sure that she will grow even more and do an excellent job in your training program.
Thank you for your time. If you would like to ask more questions, I will be happy to accommodate you. Simply give me a call at 555-5555. I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Personal reference sample letter for a friend.
Further things to consider when writing reference letters to whom it may concern
Reference Letters
Reference letters are letters written to endorse someone's general character and personality. A reference letter differs from a recommendation letter in that the latter supports the person's application for a specific job or education program and is usually addressed to a particular person. A reference letter is more general in nature, refers to the overall character of the person, and is not addressed to anyone in particular. It is normally addressed as "Dear sir/madam," or "To whom it may concern." The person who writes the reference letter is known as the referee, and he/she could be a close friend or colleague.
For you to write good reference letters, you need to know the candidates well to be able to express their best character. Start off with a salutation and the name of the person the letter is about. Write a sentence or two explaining how you know the person and for how long. Mention the strong qualities, characteristics, and strengths of the person in question. Giving brief examples, discuss why you feel the person will be a great addition to office and work culture. Use strong verbs but do not exaggerate. Conclude with your contacts and signature.
Letters to Whom It May Concern
Letters to whom it may concern are letters addressed to unknown recipients. The term "To whom it may concern" is, basically, a letter salutation that has been used over the years in business correspondence when a sender doesn't have a specific recipient or doesn't know the name of the recipient. This may happen many times during your job search. For instance, you may be sending a recommendation letter, cover letter or any other job application material to someone you don't know. It is also appropriate to address a letter to whom it may concern if you're making an inquiry but don't know who to address your letter to.
Although sending letters to whom it may concern has been a common practice, other options such as, "To hiring manager", "To customer service manager", etc., can be used at the start of a letter. Of course, you should make an effort to find the recipient's name. You can look it up on the recipient's company website, LinkedIn or other professional social sites, or contact the office and ask the assistant for advice. However, when this is not possible, you can still use "To whom it may concern".
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