Character Reference Letter for an Employee

A reference letter is a formal letter written by a human resource manager or a supervisor for an employee to attest his/her skills, profound knowledge, character, and professional conduct. The letter could be written upon the employee’s request or shared when the employee’s contract is terminated, or they move for another opportunity. It serves as a professional way to testify the credibility of an employee by the employer. 

A reference letter for professional conduct, character, or both could be issued. The letter for professional conduct differs from the latter in that it assesses the employee’s work ethic, expertise acquired, experience duration, and delivery of required objectives. On the other hand, the character reference letter validates the employee’s abilities, traits, and personality as an individual. 

An employee might require a character reference letter while applying for higher education or completing an application process for a potential employer. Before getting the character reference letter written, the employee should consider the following questions:

  • Does the authority requested to write the letter know the employee well enough to testify their character?
  • Does the authority requested to write the letter hold a positive impression on the employee?
  • Has the employer been informed about the subject for which the letter is required?
  • Does the employer have the required information about the addressee?

On the other hand, an employer should assess whether they can write the letter with a positive tone. The request to write the character reference letter should be only accepted by the employer when they can vouch for the employee’s high character and admirable traits.

A well-written reference letter does not necessarily guarantee employment to the employee, but it certainly strengthens their standing. While writing the character reference letter, the following guidelines can help an employer pave the way for the employee:

  • Providing a background of professional affiliation – the employer should mention how they know the employee in a professional capacity and how long the employee has been working with them.
  • Attesting character – the body of the letter should comprise the characteristic traits and abilities of the character and personality of the employee. It should be written with a positive impression by highlighting the employee’s key competencies, complementing their character.
  • Adding recommendation – while writing a closing statement, recommending an employee to the potential employer based on their is a good way to sign off and leave a positive relationship with the employee.

Sample Character Reference Letter for an Employee

Date

[Complete name of Recipient]
[Designation]

Dear Mr./Ms. [X],

I, [Sender’s name], [Sender’s Designation], am pleased to write a character reference for XYZ.

XYZ has been working as a fundraising officer on my team at KML Company for the past three years. He is a passionate, determined, and organized individual.

XYZ has been credited for building rapport with others, as evidenced by his success at KLM Company. Besides having strong interpersonal communication skills, XYZ has profound knowledge, motivational spark, and storytelling skills for driving encouragement within the team and among the stakeholders XYZ works with. He is self-motivated, foresighted, and an efficient learner, which has made him yield leveraged results for our company.

XYZ has always been innovative, creative, and insightful regarding restructuring and revamping the department’s campaigns. Not only does he lead the team, but he also values teamwork. His approach to acknowledging the work of the team compliments his generosity.

I would certainly recommend XYZ to your company for the Corporate Partnerships and Fundraising Coordinator role. He will be a valuable addition to your team.

For any further information, you may reach out to me.

Sincerely,

ABC


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