What is a Character Reference Letter?

Character reference letters are written communications that are used to recommend an individual for a specific position within a company or for some capacity within a community or non-profit organization. Sometimes known as a personal letter of reference, such a letter is usually written by friends or family members. The main purpose is to indicate that the individual who is the subject of the letter possesses specific character traits that make him or her ideally suited for the position.

This is different from an employee reference letter. Letters of recommendation prepared by current and past employers focus more on the specific talents or skills the individual has to offer. By contrast, a character reference letter is more likely to address such issues as the degree of honesty and integrity the individual expresses in relationships and in his or her activities in the community.

Because of the purpose of the reference letter, the tone is often much more casual than a formal letter of recommendation. When written by family and friends, the letter is likely to include specific examples that help to illustrate the character traits that make the individual qualified for the position. For example, if the individual is applying to become a volunteer mentor at a children’s home, the letter may provide one or two examples of how he or she interacts successfully with children and young adults.

In general, it is a good idea to include three related attributes within the body of the letter. Examples of those attributes are provided, based on the perspectives of the writer of the letter. In order to achieve the purpose, a character letter should be relatively short, usually no more than one typewritten page.

A simple format for a character reference letter involves creating an opening. The opening identifies who the writer is and what relationship he or she has to the subject. Typically, the opening will also be the place to briefly state the three attributes the writer believes makes the individual qualified for the position or task under consideration.

The main body of the letter will provide experiences that help to illustrate the attributes identified in the opening. The examples of these experiences should be direct and focused, thus making them very easy for the reader to grasp. Generally, a paragraph for each attribute composed of no more than three sentences will suffice.

The closing essentially reiterates the good character of the individual under consideration and ends with a direct recommendation from the writer. It is not necessary for the closing to be long; two simple sentences will cover the purpose with ease.

A character reference letter may be handwritten, or prepared using a word processing program. In both cases, the letter should be signed by the sender and include contact information that the recipient can use in case more information is required.