Character reference letters are a little bit harder to write than most types of letters. This is because a person’s entire career might depend on this one letter. No wonder some people are reluctant to write or provide them. If you have been asked to write a character reference letter for someone you know, try to think about the purpose of the letter and focus on the things that are relevant. We're assuming that you plan to write a positive letter about the person who needs the reference. We have included a simple letter below which can be changed to suit a variety of situations.

This type of reference letter is based on the writer's knowledge of a person and often focuses on events and characteristics which may be relevant to that person's pending appointment or job offer. The person’s personal qualities such as kindness, being honest, working well with people etc feature a lot in these types of letters.

More details about writing letters can be found here and additional sample letters are available at the job letters site.

The following is a sample personal character reference for a friend.

______________________________

Dear Sir or Madam,

To Whom It May Concern

Richard Fold has been my son's music instructor for the past three years and he has also provided editorial services as a volunteer to our local community children’s organisation. He has been responsible for organising events and editing articles for the monthly magazine.

I find Richard to be very efficient, organised, competent and very good with children of all ages and from different backgrounds. His interpersonal skills, including his communication and leadership skills, are excellent.

I highly recommend Richard for any position or endeavour that he may seek to pursue. I believe that he can make a success of any endeavour. He has demonstrated this many times during his community and volunteer work with children and other members of our community. He will be a valuable asset for any organization and I recommend him to you without reservation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the above address and telephone number.

Sincerely,

John Smith