A letter of reference refers to a type of letter that assesses the personal qualities, capabilities and special skills of a particular individual. The letter usually includes character related details, educational background and employment history of a person you are recommending for a job position. To know more about this, let us look at the simple steps and guidelines for writing an impressive reference letter.

How to Write a Reference Letter

To write a reference letter easily, you can use an efficient word processing program like Microsoft Word since some versions of this computer application suggests format for this particular type of letter. Know the reason for writing the letter. It can be for employment, graduate school application, house rental or mortgage application. Determine where you will send the letter and make sure that you get the full name of the recipient. In addition, ask for the recipient's job position or title.

Before starting the letter, think about the things that you want to say about the person you are recommending. Know the person's strengths, skills and achievements. It is also important to know the educational background and employment history of the person who needs the letter of reference.

Start by detailing your personal relationship with the requester. Indicate how long you know the person and highlight the achievements of the requester during this time. It is also important to indicate your qualifications for writing the letter. Make the first paragraph as concise and brief as possible.

The second paragraph should contain information about the qualifications of the requester. If the person is applying for a job, you can write the achievements and skills that suit the requester for the position. In the third paragraph, write the skills and traits that the requester demonstrated on previous jobs. To help you with the information, it is best to ask the person for a copy of resume or application letter.

The fourth paragraph is a summary. In this part of the letter, you can say that you do not have hesitations about recommending or referring the requester. In addition, write that the recipient can contact you if there are further questions or inquiries about the applicant. Include contact number, business address as well as email address so that the recipient will not have problems reaching you.

End the letter with a closing salutation. Double space and sign the letter. Below your signature, write your full name. Single space and indicate your title or job position.

Please click these links if you want to know more about how to write a reference letter or how to write a reference letter in general http://www.ihowd.com/how-to-write-a-reference-letter.