Why write a letter of reference?
• A reference letter offers a favorable picture of your personal characteristics, job performance, and professional promise. • Potential employers may accept a reference letter, instead of personally contacting your reference, who may be annoyed if he/she is contacted repeatedly. • Reference letters may speed up the hiring process because it is quicker to read a letter than to communicate with people personally by mail or by phone. • Reference letters eliminate such variables as a reference being too busy or unavailable when a potential employer tries to contact him/her personally. • Many employers keep a record of what a reference has to say about a job candidate; a letter provides a ready-to-use record without any work. • If you have been laid off, some employers will question why, while a reference letter proves that your job performance was not the reason. • One of the great advantages of a reference letter is that you already know exactly what your recommender has to say about you
