Character Reference Letter for Friend

When you are asked to write a character reference letter for a friend, what you want to write in it will largely depend on the purpose of the letter. Is it for tenancy? Is it for college? Is it for employment? Is it for membership to a non-profit volunteer program? There are numerous reasons your friend may be required to provide a character reference letter. Based on the kind, the qualities you include in it will largely vary. For instance, if it is for tenancy, you will include details like respect for others' privacy, cleanliness, honesty, responsibility etc. If it is for a job, you will include traits such as good teamwork, acceptance of criticism, good decision-making and communication skills, etc. Here, we discuss the art of writing a character reference letter, along with a sample of the same for your reference.

How to Write a Character Reference Letter

Since you are writing a reference letter for a friend, it should have a personal touch to it. Though it is meant to be a formal letter, your familiarity and closeness to your friend should be reflected in it. If possible, you may include a story related to the person that is indicative of all the qualities she possesses. A letter such as this should be short but inclusive of all the aforementioned details. Also keep the following tips in mind when writing such a letter.

• Start by addressing the person you are writing to. As much as possible, avoid using the salutation To Whomsoever it May Concern. It is highly impersonal. Make an effort to find out whom the letter should be addressed to.
• Start your letter by introducing your relationship with the person you are writing the letter for, and the duration for which you have known her.
• Move on to the next paragraph and write the specific qualities about your friend, that are applicable to the context. If possible, provide a small illustration where your friend has demonstrated the qualities you are talking about.
• End your letter by reaffirming your recommendation for your friend for the purpose of the application.
• Sign off by thanking the reader of the letter, the valediction, your signature, and your full name.

As mentioned earlier, such a letter should be short, and ideally type-written. Some people, however, do not have any qualms about receiving hand-written character reference letters.

Example

So that you understand the aforementioned guide better, here's a look into a sample character reference letter for tenancy that you may use for your reference.

Sample Character Reference Letter for Tenancy

Date Dear Ms./Mr. (Name of the Concerned Person), Kindly accept this letter as a character reference for my friend Sophie Jones, who is applying for tenancy for your apartment. We were roommates while in college, from where we developed a strong friendship that has been maintained to this date, 9 years after. Sophie is one of the most accommodating persons I have come across. She understands the need for privacy that her roommates need, and makes sure that she respects the privacy of her neighbors. Never have I had trouble with her bringing her friends over, as she did so only after consulting whether I would be okay with it. Further, in spite of having all the freedom, she has never taken to any kind of habits that most college students are prone to developing. Her ability to be organized, tidy, and clean, is extremely remarkable, and even rubbed off on me while I was living with her. While I wouldn't worry about paying off bills immediately, she would ensure she did the same at the earliest. Without imposing any of her habits on me, she had a strong impact on the way I lived and on my thought process. This has increased my respect for her all the more. I highly recommend her as a tenant for your apartment. You can take it as a personal guarantee that you will never have any trouble with her in any respect. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Your Signature Stella Fischer

Using the aforementioned sample as a reference, you too can write a suitable letter for your friend for the purpose she requires. The basic format will remain the same, and as mentioned earlier, you only have to include qualities in the letter to make it relevant to the purpose of the letter. As such, you will be able to write an appropriate character reference letter for different purposes.