19 Jul How to ask for a letter of reference
When you apply for a new job, you may be asked to include a letter of reference. It is a valuable asset for lending credibility to your application and can make a difference when applying for a job. It reassures the recruiter and lets you stand out from the crowd.
What’s a letter of reference?
A letter of reference is a document written by a person (a former employer, colleague, teacher or work placement tutor) to highlight the skills, achievements and qualities of an individual (the referenced person). You can use it to support an application for a job or a training course since it provides a credible testimonial on your professional and personal skills.
How to ask for a letter of reference?
The choice of the person who’s going to write it is crucial to the impact of the letter. It is important to choose people who know you well and who can provide concrete and relevant examples.
The best thing to do is to ask for a letter of reference as soon as the opportunity arises: the end of each contract is a good moment if you are leaving the company on good terms.
You should request the letter of reference clearly expressing your needs, and providing the necessary information to facilitate the drafting of the letter.
If the application for the new job has a deadline, request the letter several weeks before the application deadline. This gives the person enough time. Once he/she agrees to write a letter of reference for you, don’t forget to thank him/her sincerely for their time and effort. Also, follow up to make sure the letter was sent on time.
Why asking for a letter of reference
Sometimes you have no choice: the recruiters ask for one or more letters of reference to include in your application. That is why it’s always useful to have a couple already on hand if you are looking for a job.
Then, as we already said, this letter can enhance the referee’s credibility with the recruiters. Recommendations from people who are qualified and respected in their industry can add weight to the application, and increase your chances of success.
The letter of reference will also allow you to get an idea of how your work effort has been taken into account by the person who wrote the document, and what qualities and skills of yours they valued most.
It will be a moment that will probably also strengthen the professional relationship and esteem that exists between you two.
Are you ready to ask for your reference letter? We certainly hope so!
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