Character Reference Letters - Examples

Character reference letters are written for your friends, coworkers, employees, even your neighbor or anyone you know very well for many years. Thus, many individuals may be asking you for a character reference letter for college admissions, employment requirements or even character reference letters for court appearances. Whatever may be the reason, character reference letters are to be written on less formal terms and in a bit personal tone. They also need to be straightforward, highlighting the best attributes of the individual for whom you are writing the character reference letter.

How to Write a Character Reference Letter?

When writing a character reference letter you need to follow a basic format. If you want a character reference letter for yourself, choose someone you know for a long tine and can write all the positive things about you. If you are to write a character reference letter for someone you know, make sure you mention all the good points and keep the negative traits out of the letter. When writing a character reference letter, keep the following points in mind:

• First Person: The character reference letter is to be written in first person. As you are directly referring to a person's character, it is appropriate to use 'I' in the letter.
• Encouraging Story: You need to mention some good story about the individual, where you have seen him carry out a good deed or charity work and how it left a positive impact on the minds of those present around him.
• Descriptive Words: The best way to portray a positive image is by using strong, positive words describing the individual. This is very important in cases of school or college admissions or in case of a professional scenario. You may use words as committed, dedicated, generous, intelligent, empathetic, loyal, etc. in your character reference letter.

Now that you have got a fair idea about the format, let us see a few examples of character reference letters. These character reference letters examples will help you understand the basic structure of a character reference letter. Read on the following character reference letters examples to understand the format better. Read more on letter writing.

Examples of Letters of Character Reference

The following examples of character reference letters are the different types of character reference letters written from the prospective of an acquaintance, employer, etc.

Examples of Letter of Character Reference by an Acquaintance

Character Reference Letter Example: Sample # 1

To Whom it May Concern: I have known Anna Smith in a variety of capacities for over many years. She has been my daughter's ballet teacher for the past five years. In addition, she is my partner in a small shop that sells antiques. Anna is organized, dedicated, extremely competent and has an excellent rapport with people of all ages. Her communication skills, both written and verbal, are excellent. In summary, I highly recommend Anna for any position or endeavor that she may seek to pursue. She will prove to be a valuable asset for any organization. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Mary Jones

Examples of Letter of Character Reference by an Manager Employee for an Employee

Character Reference Letter Example: Sample # 2

john.marshall@some-domain.com November 11, 2009 Mr. John Marshall, Manager Mackson Company 765, St. John's St. New York,12345 Dear Mr. Ramsey, It is my pleasure to recommend Harry Thomson, for his performance working as a consultant for St. John's Street company branch. He has proved that he will be a valuable addition to any company. I have known Harry for three years in my capacity as Assistant Manager at St. John's Street branch. John worked with me on various projects as a consultant and based on his work, I would rank him as one of the best consultants we have ever had. What distinguished Mark was his ability of consistently submitting exceptionally well-researched and well-written reports on our clients. Mike is very intelligent and has good analytical and communication skills. I am sure, based on his performance in our company, he would prove to be an extremely positive asset to your program. If I can be of any further assistance, or provide you with any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours Sincerely, John Marshall

Examples of Letter of Character Reference for School Scholarship Application

Character Reference Letter Example: Sample # 3

To Whom it May Concern: Estella Marks would prove to be an excellent candidate for the scholarship you are offering. In the eleven years that I have known Estella, she has been an excellent friend to my daughter Irene. She is the person who taught her to play tennis and chess. She demonstrated extreme patience when my daughter failed to understand the rules of chess. Her corrections came with explanations that helped her understand the game better and develop more interest for it. Estella also demonstrates empathy and compassion for those less fortunate. She makes a special effort to teach chess to the students at St. Mary's Orphanage. At the last block party, she helped these children participate in the group dodge ball game. Another time, she even learned a little bit of sign language to communicate with a deaf employee at her father's garage. She is very dedicated and sincere to her studies and loves to learn new subjects and languages. She is a good learner and has a quick grasping power. I feel these attributes demonstrate someone with an exceptional character. Please consider awarding her your scholarship so that she may pursue her education. Sincerely yours, Emma Stuart

These were a few character reference letters examples, that you could use to describe and vouch for the character of an individual you know. Do not fake too much in the letter and keep it as simple and to the point as possible. You have an opportunity of building a good image of someone you know. Thus, choose your words carefully and precisely. I hope that these character reference letter examples can help create or tarnish the image of an individual.