GUIDELINES
- Open with a formal greeting. Introduce yourself and state why you are writing the letter.
- If it is a character referral as a friend that you are making, state how long you have known your friend. Cite some of his or her weaknesses but redeem it with his or her good characters. If you are making it as a professional referral, discuss his or her work attitude.
- State how qualified your friend is for the training program and how he or she could greatly benefit from the training program.
- Close respectfully.
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],
Greetings! I am Mila Martinez, an events organizer. I am writing to you in regard to my friend, Elizabeth Robinson's application to your training program.
I have known Ms. Robinson since we were in secondary school, and I have known her to be passionate in her ambition to become a social worker for women in Africa. She was sick when we were younger, but she did not allow this to deter her. She has been religious in following her health routines and makes sure that she is always in top condition.
I believe your training program on women's rights monitoring would be of excellent use to her work advancement. Her work on campaigns against child trafficking and VAWC have provided her with enough background and knowledge of this advanced training that you are offering. I hope you would consider her application. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-
[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -
Referral letter for a friend applying for a training program.
Further things to consider when writing referral letters to whom it may concern
Referral Letters
Referral letters are letters written to recommend someone for a job, review, consultation, or further action. Such letters are common in job application and can really help you stand out from the rest of the applicants and get noticed by potential employers. Hiring managers are more likely to look closely at applicants whom they share a mutual contact with. A referral can be a personal or business connection. He/she can be a friend, colleague, or an employee of the company in which you are interested. A good referral letter can help you secure an interview or job recommendation.
When writing referral letters, you need to know the people you are recommending well enough to bring the best of their skills, achievements, and character. State why the recipient should be interested in the candidate and how the candidate stands out. List the candidate's exceptional skills and qualities especially those that are specific to the position he/she is interested in, giving relevant examples. Write only complimentary but factual observations and avoid giving biased or insincere praise. Emphasize the key points that you want the recipient to note on the candidate's application. Close the letter with a positive call to action.
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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