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Are there different kinds of letters of recommendation?
Home » Careers » Letters of Recommendation » Are there different kinds of letters of recommendation?Posted by Your Guide on October 12, 2005 5:39 PM
Letters of recommendation can be loosely divided into two groups: character references and employment recommendations. Many times, one letter will discuss issues of both character and employment, and in general, both kinds of letters use the same basic strategies. There are, however, a few important differences between the two types.
Character references are written with an applicant’s integrity in mind. These letters may come from former employers, but applicants will also occasionally ask for a reference from someone who has known them in a personal capacity—perhaps a minister or friend. Some positions are more likely than others to require character references, but in any case, these letters offer proof that an applicant’s actions will never endanger a company’s reputation or moral standing.
Employment recommendations, on the other hand, may touch on character, but are primarily concerned with an employee’s performance at the workplace. These letters will almost always come from former employers, or, lacking that, from individuals with whom the applicant has had a business relationship. General employment recommendations will discuss an applicant’s ability and dedication to a job.
In addition, some applicants will request from references letters of recommendation specific to a particular position. Former employees will also write these letters, but the focus is slightly different. In addition to discussing the applicant’s ability and dedication, the writer will emphasize that the applicant has the particular tools needed to succeed in a given position. For example, a reference might discuss an applicant’s writing ability for a publishing job or strong leadership ethic for a manager’s job.
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