Employment Reference Letter
From LoveToKnow Jobs
When you're looking for a new job, an employment reference letter can help you stand out from other applicants.
About Employment Reference Letters
An employment reference letter is a personal testimonial from a former supervisor or other individual who has firsthand knowledge of your work performance. In order to get this type of letter, you'll need to ask someone who can give examples of why hiring you would be a good idea to write one on your behalf.
Who to Ask to Write an Reference Letter
If a potential employer requests or is willing to look at a letter of reference, it's in your best interest that the document contain information specific to how you can be expected to perform on the job. The ideal reference document is written by someone you worked with closely who has a positive impression of you. It's a good idea to ask a former boss or coworker you had a good relationship with to write a letter for you.
Teachers and college professors can also be good resources for reference letters. Even though your previous instructors didn't work with you in an actual job setting, there's a good chance that they have a solid understanding of your work ethic, ambitions, and the personality traits you're likely to exhibit in the workplace.
When to Request Reference Letters
It's a good idea to ask for general letters of reference at the time you leave a job, assuming you are leaving on good terms and a company representative is willing to write a positive letter about your performance. If you get a letter at the time you terminate employment, the person who you're asking to write the document will have a clear memory of your work performance. Getting one or more reference letters at the time you separate from employment means that you'll have the document when you start applying for jobs.
If you don't get an employment reference letter at the time you leave a job, you can always call back and request such a document. However, there's always a chance that the people with firsthand knowledge of your capabilities won't still be working for the company after time has passed. Additionally, once you've been gone from the job for a while, even individuals who worked closely with you might not remember details of how you performed on the job. That's why it's generally best to ask for a letter at the time you depart a position.
If you're planning to ask an instructor for a letter of reference, it's also best to make your request as soon as you complete the class or training program of study in which you're interacting with him or her. If you wait too long, you might not be able to locate the instructor you'd like to ask to write a letter, or he or she might not have clear memories of your performance in class.
In some cases, employment application procedures require current letters of reference on a specific form. If you apply for a job with this type of requirement, you won't be able to use general letters that you've collected when leaving previous jobs. In this situation, you'll need to seek out former employers and workplace peers to complete the necessary documentation on your behalf.
Examples of Reference Letters
Many times, when you ask someone to write a letter for you, the individual will ask you what it should say. You may want to have a draft of what you consider an ideal letter prepared for such an occasion. You can find free examples of effective letters documents on the following websites:
Learn More
This page has been accessed 12,632 times. This page was last modified 22:01, 21 September 2009.
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