Format Surat

Ariel has shown her commitment to the town as a Member of the Board of Appeals, and as an active participant in many community endeavors.

Ariel would be a tremendous asset to the town and I recommend her to you without reservation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mary Smith

Use this reference letter template as a guide for writing your own reference letters (review samples), making sure all relevant information is included.

Reference Letter Template

Salutation
If you are writing a personal letter of reference, include a salutation (Dear Dr.Smith, Dear Mr. Jones, etc.). If you are writing a general letter, say "To Whom it May Concern" or simply don't include a salutation.

Paragraph 1
The first paragraph of the reference letter template explains your connection to the person you are recommending, including how you know them, and why you are qualified to write a reference letter to recommend employment or graduate school.

Paragraph 2
The second paragraph of the reference letter template contains specific information on the person you are writing about, including why they are qualified, what they can contribute, and why you are providing a reference letter. If necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details.

Paragraph 3
When writing a specific letter referring a candidate for a particular job opening, the reference letter template will include information on how the person's skills match the position they are applying for. Ask for a copy of the job posting and a copy of the person's resume so you can target your reference letter accordingly.

Summary
This section of the reference letter template contains a brief summary of why are you are recommending the person. State that you "highly recommend" the person or you "recommend without reservation" or something similar.

Conclusion
The concluding paragraph of the reference letter template contains an offer to provide more information. Include a phone number within the paragraph,include the phone number and email address in the return address section of your letter, or in your signature.

Sincerely,

Before including a reference on your list, make sure that you have requested permission to use that person as a reference. Be sure to include full contact information for each of references.

Sample Reference List:

Your Name
Address
City, State Zip
Phone, Cell Phone
Email

Reference List

Karen Smith
Human Resources Manager
ABC Company
Address
City, State Zip
Phone
Email

George Brown
Manager
XYZ Company
Address
City, State Zip
Phone
Email