GUIDELINES

  1. After a short greeting, introduce yourself and your position in the company.
  2. Introduce the employee you used to manage. Write about how you know him or her and how long the employee was under you. Describe the employee by writing about how he or she handled specific situations in his or her former team or department.
  3. Conclude the letter by stating whether or not you recommend the employee. Close the letter politely.

SAMPLE LETTER

[Senders Name]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]

[Letter Date]

[Recipients Name]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]

[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-


Dear [Recipients Name],

Good day. My name is Lara Jacobs. I am the VP of Sales at XYZ Company.

Mr. Greg Stevenson was a sales associate for XYZ Company from 2010 to 2012. During that time, Greg exhibited strong business acumen as well as a great concern for his co-workers. Many people from the sales department will describe him as honest. That and his friendly attitude motivated his department significantly.

It is because of these that I highly recommend Mr. Greg Stevenson. I am confident that he will be a great addition to your company.

I hope this merits your consideration. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-

[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -

Character reference for an employee you used to manage.

Further things to consider when writing reference letters to whom it may concern

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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