Reference letter writing tips

I came across this article today and thought it may be of interest to many of you who may be called upon from time to time to provide a written reference for someone. Writing a reference letter can sometimes be a daunting task - afterall you may potentially be influencing the person’s chance of getting a job or not.

To find your way through the challenge, here’s some tips from writer Michael Lee:
1. How do you know the person in question?
Here’s the first vital step on how to write a reference letter - it is important to state your relationship with the candidate - how you know him or her. Are you a teacher, a colleague or even a former supervisor? It is also important that you indicate how long you have known that person.www.selfgrowth.com

2. Back up positives with specifics
Even if you sing praises about the candidate, having no specific example to back them up will do you no good. Perhaps it is a wise idea to ask for a list of the person’s accomplishments - this is a tremendous plus in any reference letter.

3. Don’t write anything negative
Not everyone is perfect. However, that should not be reflected in your reference letter at all. Stick to the positives and let the candidate answer for his or her weaknesses during their interview with the employer. Listing the person’s not-so-brilliant qualities might only prevent him or her from getting short-listed.

4. Separation is key
When knowing how to write a reference letter, you must recognise what separates the candidate from the rest of the applicants. This is one of the more crucial points of the letter that employers really want to know. Write down characteristics that make the person stand out from the rest.

* Michael Lee is a freelance writer and writes articles for