| Writing a letter of reference for a friend or employee | | | | skills and how they will be of benefit to the potential |
| can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to follow | | | | employer. The skills you initially identified can now be |
| to produce a letter of reference you will be proud to | | | | mentioned with an example situation that proved these |
| put your name to. | | | | skills to back up your statement. |
| Firstly, you need to assess whether you actually feel | | | | Lastly a powerful statement to finalize your |
| that this person has good attributes to recommend to | | | | recommendation of the person will be very much |
| a future employer? It may be difficult to confront a | | | | appreciated. A statement such as "I have no hesitation |
| request from someone to provide a reference and | | | | in recommending [insert name] for a position within |
| say no however, from a personal and professional | | | | your business and I wish them every success for their |
| standing maintaining your integrity is of higher | | | | future endeavors" will provide a resounding effect of |
| importance. So, if you wouldn't employ them, then don't | | | | positive confidence to the prospective employee. |
| accept the request to provide a reference. | | | | One last crucial point for any job applicants that may |
| When you have assessed the appropriateness of | | | | be reading this: |
| accepting the request to provide a reference, you will | | | | If you are in the position of gathering a list of referees |
| then need to think about the qualities that would be of | | | | together for your resume then make sure those |
| value within the employees position. Assess positive | | | | people listed are aware of the listing and approve. Also |
| qualities in the categories of people or communicating, | | | | it is wise to confirm their preferred contact details are |
| being assertive, motivated or organized and work ethic. | | | | accurate just to be courteous. If you are not using |
| Start the letter with good format providing your name | | | | your resume for some time, then you will need to go |
| and contact details at the beginning of the letter. State | | | | back to the referees and re-confirm that they are still |
| for the first paragraph what your relationship is with | | | | willing for you to use their details on your resume. This |
| this person. How do you know them, how long for and | | | | reduces the risk of an unexpected call to them in |
| is it a private or working relationship. | | | | which they may not communicate very positively. |
| This next paragraph is for the purpose of stating their | | | | |