Reference Letter for a Friend Writing Guide 2023

Not sure how to draft an impactful reference letter for a friend?

A well-crafted recommendation letter for a friend can go a long way in getting him selected for a job post. Along with drawing insights from your professors or teachers, potential recruiters also like to get an idea about your social life. That’s why they ask for a short reference letter for a friend.

So, one of your friends might have approached you to draft a strong LOR for him/her. Or maybe, you need a flawless reference letter for a friend for yourself while tapping new professional avenues.

If you are not sure of the best principles for writing a reference letter for a friend, this guide and our SOP Writing Professionals will help you!

learn how to write recommendation letter for friend LOR service for friend
what is Reference Letter for a Friend Important points

What is a Reference Letter for a Friend? Why is it Important?

A reference letter for a friend serves as an effective endorsement document when you apply for a job. Given that friends are the ones who know you more closely, recruiters ask for a personal reference letter for a friend. These letters convey your personality traits and soft skills, and portray an overview of your profile.

Typically, a reference letter for a friend throws light upon:

A recommendation letter writing service that can help a friend happens to be a critical document that influences the candidate’s chances of bagging a job. Recruiters meticulously filter applicants based on their personality and profile. Therefore, writing a reference for a friend involves a decent mix of creativity, diplomacy, and presentation skills.

How to write reference letter for friend within 7 steps - sopconsultants

Questions to Ask Before Writing a Reference Letter for a Friend

A well-crafted recommendation letter for a friend should mirror the personality traits of the applicant. If you are writing a character reference for a friend, make sure to discuss these aspects with the person in the first place.

How did you meet the person?

The recruiting team would evaluate the recommendation letter for a friend based on the depth of your association with the person. So, mention the duration of your friendship and in what capacity you know the person.

What makes the candidate suitable for the job?

As a friend, you should know the applicant better than his/her teachers or co-workers. Discuss the unique attributes of the person’s character that make him suitable for the job.

Why do you endorse the candidate for the job?

While writing a recommendation letter for a friend, make sure to discuss the work ethic, skills, and professional goals of the individual. Contextualize these elements strategically in the document as you recommend the person for the job.

What are the objectives and vision of your friend?

Obtaining an answer to this question will help you portray your friend in a positive light. You can make his LOR more realistic and practical.

What kind of candidates is the employer looking for?

This involves substantial background research on the organization your friend is applying for. An informed endorser can customize the candidate’s profile based on specific preferences.

Is there any specific LOR format to follow?

Before starting the LOR, talk to the candidate regarding any specific format that the organization might have recommended. If not, follow the format given in the reference letter examples for friend.

What do Employers Want to See in a Reference Letter for a Friend?

It’s crucial to understand the expectations of the recruiter when you write a recommendation letter for a friend. In general, companies hiring candidates look out for these elements in the LOR.

The applicant’s attitude:

Friends can provide a more practical idea on the attitude of a candidate compared to teachers. Try to prioritize positive attributes that can help your friend qualify for the job.

Work ethics:

Close acquaintances and friends can tell whether a candidate is lethargic, proactive, or serious with the tasks they handle. Your reference letter for a friend should project the applicant as a possessor of sound work ethics.

Social life:

The social life of an employee largely defines his/her dedication to work. So, mention that your friend loves socializing, which gives him a jovial persona.

Quality:

Although a reference letter for a friend is different from one drafted by a professor or ex-employer, make sure to use a professional tone.

Weightage:

Employers look out for the strength of your bond to assess your weightage as a person drafting the recommendation letter for a friend.

What is The Ideal Length of a Reference Letter for a Friend

What is The Ideal Length of a Reference Letter for a Friend?

Typically, your recommendation letter for a friend should be between 200 and 400 words. Don’t exceed a single page of A4 size while drafting this document.

If you are not sure about the format or length, check out a sample reference letter for a friend to gain better clarity.

We understand that you need a letter of recommendation for a friend example to grasp the concept better. Don’t worry, we have provided you with a sample reference letter for a friend that will help you understand how you should format and structure the document.

Write Your Reference Letter for a Friend in 6 Steps

Write Your Reference Letter for a Friend in 6 Steps

Have you evaluated the sample letter of recommendation for a friend that we presented for your convenience? Now, we have summarized the steps involved in drafting a reference letter for a friend in this section.

Understand the recruiter’s criteria

At the outset, research on the organization’s background and values. Take time to understand what the employers are looking forward to reading in the reference letter.

Ask your friend about his goals

This step is crucial, given that every applicant is unique and has a specific set of goals and objectives. You need to sync these goals with the requirements of the recruiter seamlessly.

Establish a connection

In the introductory paragraph, introduce yourself and establish how well-poised you are to endorse your friend for the job. Mention the duration of your association and the kind of interactions you have with the person.

Give examples

While writing a recommendation letter for a friend, demonstrate his social nature and personality through real examples. These instances should reflect the positive attributes of the candidate’s personality.

Focus on career progression

When you write a reference letter for a friend, make sure to focus on his/her career progression. Discuss these aspects with the applicant at the outset to project a transparent profile.

Provide your contact details

After writing the reference letter for a friend, edit and proofread it carefully. The document should also include your contact details, so that the employer can reach out to you if they need any further information about the applicant.

Who Can Write a Reference Letter for a Friend?

In general, you can approach someone well-acquainted with you to draft a reference letter for a friend for you. This may include someone from your friend circle, or even a long-time neighbour. Besides, you can get a reference letter for a friend drafted by a fellow volunteer or business contact.

Final checklist

statement of purpose

sample character reference letter for a friend

We provide a sample for your reference, Contact us for writing your own Reference letter for friend or colleague 

Reference Letter for a Friend Sample

September 05, 2022

Joffrey Jones,

Address

 

Dear Mr. Ahluwalia,

 

I am pleased to write this reference letter for my childhood friend, Abhishek Jain, who, I learned, has applied for a job in the post of a marketing manager at your organization. It’s a privilege for me to endorse someone so close to me, and would try my best to help you with my knowledge about Mr. Jain.

Abhishek and I live in the same colony over the last couple of decades. I have seen him mature as a man of sound virtues over the years. Although we are in different industries, myself working as a doctor and he as a marketing expert, we have always been as close as ever. I have observed that Abhishek is highly motivated in his career as a marketing professional, as evident through his discussions with me during the weekends. He’s confident in his abilities, and is working diligently to scale up the professional hierarchy.

Moreover, Abhishek’s experience in the marketing field over the last six years makes him an ideal candidate for this post. Particularly, I appreciate his socializing skills, and his ability to initiate conversations which proves vital in the field of marketing. Particularly, I would mention an incident where the lack of leadership was preventing the fitness studio in our society to get a makeover. It was Abhishek who took the initiative and looped in all the concerned heads before strategizing the plan.

In the past, we have volunteered together for social and healthcare causes in our society too. His ability to coordinate teams, lead them from the front, and elicit the best potential from the members make him good at administration. I believe that the profile of a marketing manager calls for substantial organizational skills as well. Therefore, I would like to endorse my friend for the vacancy at your organization. I would be pleased to furnish any further information for your convenience that would help Mr. Jain qualify for the post he’s so keen to work in. You can reach out to me over the phone at ……… or email me at ………..

 

Best regards,

Joffrey Jones

Do's and Don'ts on writing a recommendation letter for friend things to note on lor for friend

Dos and don’ts

Dos

Don’ts

Tips for Writing a Strong Reference Letter for a Friend

Conclusion

Have you checked out the letter of recommendation for a friend example we provided? Reading at least three examples of personal reference letters for a friend will help you get a comprehensive idea on how you should proceed with the writing.

Are you feeling more confident about drafting a powerful recommendation letter for a friend now? That’s great! However, you can always consider hiring a professional to further strengthen the document.

With professional support from creative experts, your friend would stand a greater chance to get selected!

FAQ's

A reference letter for a friend is a formal document written to vouch for a friend’s character, skills, qualifications, or achievements. It is typically used to support job applications, educational pursuits, or other important life events.

Ideally, a reference letter should be written by someone who knows your friend well and can provide an honest and positive assessment of their abilities. This could include employers, colleagues, teachers, mentors, or community leaders.

The reference letter should follow a standard business letter format. Include the sender’s and recipient’s contact information, a formal salutation, an introduction, body paragraphs, a conclusion, and an appropriate closing.

It’s not recommended for a friend to write their own reference letter. Authenticity and credibility are vital in reference letters. Having someone else write it provides an unbiased and honest perspective, which is more credible to potential employers or institutions.

A strong reference letter should focus on the friend’s qualities, accomplishments, work ethic, and character. It should also emphasize how these attributes make them a suitable candidate for the opportunity they are seeking.

Do: Be honest, provide specific examples, and tailor the letter to the intended purpose.

Don’t: Exaggerate, provide false information, or write a generic or overly brief letter.

Conclude the reference letter by reiterating your recommendation and expressing your willingness to provide additional information if needed. Offer your contact details for any further inquiries.

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