Reference Letter, Request by Employer

Date: 

Dear _______________:

I am writing to request a letter of reference from you because ____________ (“Candidate”) said you could comment on their work with you at your company.  Anything you can do to add to our understanding of the abilities of the Candidate would be much appreciated.  

If you would find it helpful to discuss this request, call me any time at your convenience at the number on this letterhead.  It would be helpful if you could include the information on the following subjects in your reference letter: ______________________________________________________________________.

We have included a written copy of the Employee’s Permission to Release Employment information for your convenience and protection in preparing this request for a Reference Letter.

Please send the letter directly back to me at your earliest convenience.

Please contact me if you have any questions, need additional information, or would simply prefer to give us an oral reference.

Thank you in advance for your help and prompt attention to my request.

Yours very truly,

_______________
Reference Seeker

cc Copy of Employee’s Permission to Release Employment information.

Reference Letter, Request by Employer
Review List

This review list is provided to inform you about this document in question and assist you in its preparation.  Reference letters are helpful and rarely used tools.  They are helpful not only for employment but also for business investment purposes and a host of other things.   You should seek them out on the various people you deal with.   Be sure to include a signed copy of the Employee’s Permission to Release Employment information form, as it appears elsewhere on this CD

If their immediate supervisor left that company, by all means get his or her recommendation even if they are at another company and/or in a different industry.   People generally try to be helpful in this area.  

1.	If a written reference reveals new or interesting information, by all means call back the reference giver and see if you can elicit more information.

2.	Be creative in seeking references and you will develop a broader understanding of the candidate, how they relate to people, and how they perform or don’t perform their work.