Have you ever wondered what a character reference letter truly is and why you need them for so many things?
Most people do. It might seem overwhelming to find someone to write one for you.
However, these letters can be the difference between approval and rejection on things such as college applications, job applications, court cases, and more.
To better understand what character reference letters are, you need to know what they entail.
Here is a general idea of what makes a character reference letter and what needs to be in them.
What Is a Character Reference Letter?
A character reference letter is one of the most common types of references and is something that you ask people you know to write for you.
They explain your abilities, usually geared towards how you are outside work, so the receiving person can get a sense of who you are.
The majority of it has to do with your personality, mentality, and how you approach situations.
Character reference letters should help people see you in a positive light. They need to show that you are a good person.
This type of letter is different from a professional reference letter, which usually describes your work ethic and how you are in a working environment.
What Do You Include In a Character Reference Letter?
You should include traits, behaviors, and any positive personal qualities worth sharing in a character reference letter.
Describing your characteristics and behaviors will help the reader determine your priorities and how you interact with others. Positive personal qualities help the reader understand who you are.
Some positive qualities you might find in a character reference letter include the following:
- Caring
- Organized
- Detail-oriented
- Can work independently and as part of a team
- Creative
- Problem solver
When You May Need a Character Reference Letter
Believe it or not, there are many reasons in life that you’ll need a character reference letter, so you should always keep people in mind who can write one for you.
Jobs and schools are typically the most common entities that ask for these letters.
However, you might also need them for adoption, foster care, awards, and anywhere else your character matters. You might need them for legal, academic, and personal reasons.
Here are a few more circumstances where you’ll typically need a character reference letter.
Job Searches
When you start a search for a new job, the first thing you’ll usually do is update your resume.
As employers view your submitted resumes and applications, they’ll contact you if you seem like a fit.
However, your resume isn’t enough to show the employer who you are. Due to this, employers might do an application-related check of references.
Yes, your previous work experience is helpful, but employers also want to ensure your personality fits their company’s views, ambitions, and atmosphere.
They might ask you for a character reference letter to help them understand how you operate, approach complex tasks, and treat others. References for a job are essential.
Court Cases
If you end up intertwined in a court case, such as a child custody battle, a character reference letter is something you’ll most likely need.
These letters can help depict the defendant positively, which can be rather persuasive in the judge’s decision.
Immigration Cases
There are approximately 1.6 million immigration cases that are pending in the United States. These cases require extensive documentation and sometimes take years to come to a verdict.
Courts try to review all immigration cases within 180 days of receiving them, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.
Adding a character reference letter can help create a positive outcome to ensure immigrants don’t need to reapply for asylum or citizenship.
Including a letter, especially from someone who is already a US citizen, will help show the judge that the immigrant has good morals and will be a positive addition to the community.
When To Ask for a Character Reference Letter
Unless someone asks for it, you don’t usually need a character reference letter. In the case of a job search, the employer will usually ask you for a letter before your interview.
So, it would be your responsibility to request someone you know to write one for you once the employer notifies you that you need one.
While you don’t always need a letter on hand, you should think about who you would ask so you aren’t scrambling to get one at the last minute.
Who To Ask for a Character Reference Letter
For most people, their parents are the ones who know them the most. However, they don’t make good writers for your character reference letter because of bias issues.
Instead, you should opt for other people that you are close to. Here are some great people to consider.
Friends
Generally, your friends should have a good idea of who you are and what your positive qualities are.
The longer you’ve known them, the more they know about you and how you tend to approach situations. So, asking a childhood friend to write a letter might be best.
A friend can show employers and others your personality, attitude, work ethic, and how you progressed into success over the years.
Neighbors
Your neighbors see you almost daily, so you’ve probably had many interactions with them.
As long as you have had mostly good interactions with this person, they will talk about you in a positive light.
Try to opt for the neighbor you’ve known the longest, even if this means asking a childhood neighbor and not your current one.
Mentors
A mentor is a trusted person that can help guide you through situations and life in general.
The purpose of a mentor is to help you explore career options, help you, motivate you, and emotionally support you. They are someone you look up to and hope to be like.
You might tell your mentor a lot about your life, and they’re someone you spend a lot of time with.
Due to this closeness, they should have a good idea of who you are and what your strengths are.
Coaches
Whether it be high school or college sports, a coach is always a great candidate to use for your character reference letter.
Sports take up quite a bit of your time, so you probably spent hundreds of hours with your coach.
Coaches can gauge your work ethic and ambitions, which is something employers and others want to hear about.
It shows that you have time management skills, as it is difficult to juggle school, work, sports, and personal life at the same time.
People You Know From Outside of Work
Asking your boss or other coworkers to write your character reference letter is okay, but they might not know you well outside of work.
Friends and other people close to you outside of work have a better gauge of your personality. They see your true colors.
How To Ask for a Character Reference Letter
Asking for a character reference letter can be stressful since this person’s view can greatly influence the outcome of whatever you’re applying for.
Here are a few simple tips to help you get a character reference letter.
Find the Right Person
You’ll need to think deeply about choosing who will write your letter. Try to think of the person who knows you most, as this person has the most stories and memories with you. They have more to talk about in the letter.
Ask Politely
Don’t simply tell the person you need them to write a character reference letter. You should ask them politely and don’t harass them about it either. If you approach the situation kindly, they probably will too.
Give Them the Details
The letter writer will need to know why you need the character reference letter to customize it. Explain to them what the letter is for.
If it is for a job, give them the job description so they can connect your traits to the specific responsibilities of the potential position.
Follow Up
If your letter-writing person agrees to write the character reference letter, follow up with a thank you.
They are doing a favor for you by writing this letter. Show them your appreciation and write an email, text, or thank them in person over lunch.
What Do You Write In a Character Reference Letter?
When writing a character reference letter, you should typically include the following:
- A greeting
- An introduction to explain how you know the person and how long you’ve known them
- An explanation of the person’s positive qualities and examples of how they used these qualities in the past
- A sentence or two stating your recommendation
- An appropriate goodbye greeting along with your contact information if the letter-receiver has questions
Wrapping Up
A character reference letter is a piece of writing from someone close to you which explains your personality and the qualities that make you great.
Employers, schools, lawyers, and others may ask for these letters to understand you better. These letters will help put you in a positive light.
Leave a comment if you have any questions!
