Many employers ask candidates to provide character reference letters so they can get a sense of who the person behind the resume actually is. If you’ve been asked to write one for a friend, former colleague, or someone in your personal network, it can be flattering—but also nerve-wracking if you’ve never done it. Looking at an example of a character reference letter can help take some of the pressure off.
Before writing a character letter sample, you should understand what it actually is and isn’t. Start by looking at what it’s called—a character reference letter. In other words, you should be writing about the person’s character traits, their personal values, and the qualities that might make them a trustworthy hire. You can touch on their work ethic and talents, but that’s really secondary. Employers want to know if this is someone that will get along with team members and fit in with their culture.
Think of it as if you were recommending your doctor to a family member, or making introductions between two colleagues, or even like you were trying to set up two friends on a blind date. Similar to a letter of recommendation, he idea is you want to share the good qualities about the person and vouch for them on a personal level.
Take a look at the personal reference example below, and then follow our tips on how to create one of your own.
Character Letter Example
Dear Mr. Banks,
I’m writing to share with you my whole-hearted endorsement of Barbara Martin. I’ve known her for over 10 years as she’s been a parent volunteer with me at the school where both of our children attend. During this time, she’s also been a successful freelance art director.
Barbara is dependable, and always willing to step up and help others. Any time we needed flyers or help with our PTA newsletter, Barbara has come through.
Barbara’s overall friendly demeanor and positive attitude is contagious. She’s always willing to help, whether it’s providing tech support or creating a fun graphic to help promote our events on Facebook.
All in all, Barbara is definitely someone that would be valuable on any team. She is not only self-motivated and friendly, but also highly-skilled. Even though she has a lot going on, she’s always happy to take the time to show up or respond.
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Best regards,
Ann Walters
Breaking Down the Sample Character Reference Letter
The first think you’ll probably notice when you look at the sample character reference letter is that it doesn’t talk about job accomplishments, technical skills, or academic degrees. It’s all about how Barbara is reliable, helpful, well-liked, and easy to work with.
In the first paragraph, the goal is to state up front that you are happy to endorse the applicant, along with an explanation of how you know them. Be detailed about how long you know the person and the nature of your relationship so the reader knows that you’re more than just an acquaintance, but someone who knows the person well.
The next graph can get into more detail about the person’s character. What positive things have you witnessed them do, what is their personality like, how are they perceived by others? In the personal reference example above, it’s clear that Barbara goes out of her way to help others in her volunteer role, and does it with a smile.
Next, wrap up and summarize why you believe this person would be a good hire, focusing on those key character strengths. Barbara sounds like someone who would be a positive force for any organization.
Close the letter out by inviting the reader to reach out with any questions and provide your contact information. This is important since it shows that you’re willing to do all that you can to help—which, in turn, says something about Barbara.
General Tips to Make Your Letter Shine
With the character letter example as your guide, keep these general strategies in mind as you create your own sample reference letter for a friend:
- Speak to the person requesting the letter. Get a feel for the type of job they are applying for. For example, if they’re applying for a position working with children and they tutored your child, some good context to include might be about how they got your child to go from hating math to loving it.
- Share details and anecdotes, but don’t get too personal. For example, if the person went through a health battle, it’s probably too much information for a character reference letter. Instead, you can talk about their willingness to go the extra mile, even while juggling other responsibilities.
- Keep it short and sweet. Follow the format of the character letter sample above and it should come out to be a good length. You definitely want it to fit on one page.
Want Someone to Reference Your Character?
Learning from our example of a character reference letter is one way you can help your friends and colleagues advance their careers—but don't forget about you! Could you use some help polishing your professional development? Monster can send you free career advice and job search tips so you can hone the skills that will make you a candidate that others will happily endorse.