Personal Letters of Recommendation
Information, tips & examples of personal character reference letters for all
occasions Character reference letters is really a catch-all term for letters of recommendation that are not
related to the most common applications: job searches and school admission. There are a vast number of
different types of character reference letters, these include:
- Child Custody
- Apartment / Rental / Coop
- Loan Approval
- Award Nomination
- Join Club / Organization
- Join Sorority / Fraternity
- Recognize or Document Contribution / Volunteerism
- Enlist in Armed Services
While different examples of miscellaneous character reference letters abound, resources for writing
personal character reference letters do not. Most of the information you will find on writing reference
letters - particularly the information you will find on the web - pertains specifically to job searches and
school admission, the most common types.
While some sources may provide a few generic tips that are helpful, most deal with the particulars
of employment strategies, teacher / student relationships, and the like. The following list of letter-writing
tips summarizes most of what you will find, once you boil it all down:
Credential Yourself
Your personal character reference letters must establish three things before it will carry any weight:
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- You are in a position to know the candidate well.
Explain the nature and duration of your relationship with the candidate.
- You are qualified to make an accurate assessment.
The qualifications that are most relevant change from one situation to the next. For example, if you are
recommending someone as the parent of an adoptive child, then you should make it clear that you understand what
it takes to raise a child. In this case, your own experience as a parent is very relevant; it qualifies you as
an expert. If, however, you are writing personal character reference letters that the candidate will use to try
to make parole, then your parenting skills are of little relevance.
- You are the kind of person whose opinion can be trusted and respected.
You don't have to be a captain of industry to provide an opinion that people can respect. However, impressive
education credentials and a high social standing do count - so if there is something about you that is
particularly imposing, then you should mention it.
Be Specific
General recommendations and overall evaluations carry little weight. The reader wants to know what it is
specifically that makes the candidate worth recommending. Mention two to four key traits.
Be Customer Focused
Always concentrate on the things that will be of the most interest to the reader first and foremost. Your candidate
may have a wonderful sense of humor, but if the reader isn't looking for that, then write about something
else.
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Provide Evidence Don't just say your candidate is intelligent; give proof. What did he do
that demonstrated intelligence to you? Is your candidate honest? Give an example in his personal
character reference letters of when that honesty was tested and came shining through.
A good example of a personal letter of recommendation is available on this web site; go to Example Letter of Recommendation
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