Referral Letter Samples

Referral letters are often confused with introductory letters, reference letters and recommendation letters. This term is, however, a generic term and can be used for any letter that makes an attempt to cite a reference. A referral letter can be a formal or informal letter, it can be a reference letter for a person or about a product. In fact, it can also be about animals or pets. A friend of mine who is a vet often receives referral letters about animals, which goes as follows.

"...Ellie is a military trained dog, who has been honorably discharged from the military duty on medical grounds. We hope that her special training can be used for a good cause, and she becomes a joyous companion... P.S.: She loves jam and jelly...".

So, basically a referral letter can be written by any person to any person referring or recommending anything under the sun. Other types of referral letters such as introductory letters and reference letters have a more specific purpose and are more formal in nature. In case of referral letters, there is a small tinge of informal language. You will observe that these letters are written more in case of domestic scenarios instead of corporate scenarios.

Referral Letter Samples

As mentioned above, referral letters tends to be more generic and informal in nature than those used during the course of business writings. However, it is necessary to maintain a descent language with a simple flow and a polite tone. Another fact about this letter, that any person should know, is that writing this letter from the bottom of the heart has a magnificent effect on the readers.

Referral Letter Format
Though, this letter is quite easy to write, there is a specific format that can be easily maintained in order to make a really good impression on the reader. Since the letter is usually written in an informal manner, you will have to write only a short addressing and salutation, that goes as "...to whomsoever it may concern...". Some people also prefer to write the date on the right hand side of the letter along with this salutation. The next part is the introduction, where reference of the person or subject can be described. In the second paragraph, the person's or subject's qualities can be described in detail. The third paragraph can contain the importance of the person's or subject's qualities.

The following is a referral letter example. I had written this letter to provide the reference for one of my friends, who is very fond of plants and during the summer vacations works as a gardener for many people.

To whomsoever it may concern, Dear Sir/Madam, It is often said that any person working in the garden, must love plants from the bottom of the heart. Stacy is my neighbor and friend, who loves plants as if they are her own children and life. Her family has been living next to us for the past 30 years. People tend to find passion in art, music and literature. But Stacy unlike many others, has developed a deep affection for plants and trees. She is not just fond of working in the garden but is also significantly interested in the field of botany. You will be surprised to find that she has a huge volume of knowledge about all sorts of plants that she can put to use to tend your garden. I assure you that after about a month or so, you will be left wondering whether your garden has turned into the garden of Eden. Stacy's punctuality, honesty and sincerity is seen through the work she enjoy and the affection that she imparts on every plant that she happens to come across which is quite astounding for a 14-year-old. However, I must warn you about one fact, never ever hack down a tree in front of her. Tears will start rolling down her cheeks, quite spontaneously and quite uncontrollably. Thanking You, Yours Sincerely Name and signature

You may modify this letter according to your requirement and can also use it as a referral letter template or guideline. The key towards writing a good referral letter is to not just praise the person but also, effectively convince the reader about the person's qualities and skills.