Charlotte Grainger 
Write an effective character reference in a matter of minutes!
A character reference is a short letter meant to vouch for a job candidate's personality and suitability for a role. It is usually provided by someone the candidate knows outside a professional setting or workplace – coach, mentor, professor, community leader, etc. If you've been asked to write one, you might not know where to start. Luckily, you've come to the right place.
Character reference example
Writing a character reference – also called a personal reference – from scratch can be tough. To help you along the way, take a quick look at our sample character reference letter below:
Dear Mr. Smittons,
I am delighted to provide a character reference for Elton Jones, who I have known for more than a decade as one of our community's youth ministry leaders. Over this period, I've had the pleasure of witnessing his professional growth and exceptional character.
Elton is known for his initiative and enthusiasm. He approaches every task with a positive, “can-do” attitude, and has many times helped streamline our administrative work by introducing digital platforms.
Additionally, Elton possesses great interpersonal skills and is a clear communicator. He has consistently proven to be a truly proactive person, regularly organising quiz nights, computer mentoring sessions, and annual festive meetups for our wider volunteer group.
Based on my experience working with Elton, I am more than confident that he will be a tremendous asset as a systems analyst for your company. His outstanding programming abilities, coupled with his adaptability and communication style, make him an ideal candidate for this position. I wholeheartedly recommend Elton and am certain that he will excel in all of his future endeavours.
Sincerely,
Chris Whitestar
Team Lead
Lifeprints Foundation
01234 567890
Character reference template
If you have a case of writers' block, here's a template for a character reference letter which you can adapt to suit your needs:
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I am writing to offer a character reference for [Name], who [describe how you know the person, e.g., “was my mentee outside of work” or “has been one of our community volunteers”] for X years / since [year].
During the time I've known [Name], he/she has continuously demonstrated [qualities, such as reliability, integrity, and dedication]. He/she has shown exceptional [pinpoint a key soft skill that's relevant to the role] as evidenced by [specific accomplishment/s], which greatly contributed to our [specific project, team, or organisational outcomes].
In addition to his/her [cite a technical skill that's relevant to the role] abilities, [Name] is also a friendly and approachable person. He/she is [personal traits, such as compassionate, honest, and trustworthy], and his/her positive attitude and commitment to [mention relevant goals] makes him/her an asset to any company.
Based on all of the above, I am confident that [Name] would excel as a [role] in your company . He/she has my highest recommendation and I am excited to see what he/she does next.
If you would like further information regarding [Name]'s qualifications and character, please do not hesitate to contact me at [your phone number] or [your email address].
Sincerely,
[Your full name][Position/title][Organisation/company]
Tips on writing a good character reference
Ready to put pen to paper, but still unsure how to give a good character reference for someone? Before working on a character reference letter, here are some helpful pointers to keep in mind:
Understand the requirements of the job
When someone asks you to write a character reference, always look up the vacancy or ask them to send you a copy of the job description. Check out what the main duties and core competencies are. You can use this information to align your character reference letter with the demands of the role. That way, you can put the candidate in the best possible light, helping them land the job.
Support the person's top attributes with examples
What stands out about this person, in relation to the role at hand? Instead of merely giving the employer a list of the person's skills and qualities that are relevant to the job, share anecdotes and quantifiable data to support these claims. These solid facts will help provide the hiring manager a glimpse into the candidate's personality and work attitude.
Keep it short but impactful
Above all else, you need to make sure that your character reference has impact – it should form a positive impression of the candidate. As you've seen from the character reference example above, your letter doesn't need to be longer than four or five paragraphs. However, make sure to use that space to convince the hiring manager why this person can succeed in the role. Shortlist the points that you want to share and only include information that adds true value to the letter.
Time to get writing
You don't have to reinvent the wheel when vouching for a person's suitability for a role. Use our character reference example as inspiration when creating yours. Be sure to tailor the letter to the job the person is applying for and provide measurable points, too.
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