Example of a Reference Letter & How to Write One

Have you ever been asked to write a reference letter and felt stuck?

Maybe a former contractor, freelancer, or colleague reached out, and you want to help—but what should you say? How much detail is enough? How do you format it properly?

In this guide, we’ll take the guesswork out of the process and help you craft a strong reference letter quickly. You’ll find:

• A breakdown of different types of reference letters
• How to get started with writing letters of recommendation
• An example of a reference letter and what to include in it
• Plug-and-play templates you can customize in minutes

Let’s begin!

There are different types of reference letters you might be asked to write depending on the situation. Here’s a quick rundown of the four main ones:

• Academic references: These are typically written for students applying to schools, scholarships, research programs, or academic positions. They focus on the applicant’s intellectual abilities, work ethic, and character.
• Employment references: Employment references are a standard part of the hiring process—94% of organizations conduct some form of candidate screening. These come from former bosses, managers, or supervisors and highlight an employee’s job performance, skills, and contributions.
• Professional references: These come from colleagues, industry peers, or business associates. They emphasize a person’s expertise, professionalism, and work ethic from a peer’s perspective.
• Client references: If you're a solopreneur or running a small business, chances are you work with freelancers and contractors. When the job’s done, they might hit you up for a reference or testimonial to help them land their next gig.

Before you start typing or jotting anything down, take a sec to think—are you even the right person to give a reference? Do you know them well enough to vouch for their work or character?

A recommendation letter carries weight, not just for the person you’re writing about but also for you and your credibility.

1. Ask yourself: Can I genuinely recommend this person?

Not every request for a reference should be an automatic “yes.” If you can’t confidently vouch for someone’s work, reliability, or character, it’s better to politely decline. A weak or inaccurate reference can do more harm than good.

2. Clarify what they need the reference for

Different jobs, schools, and clients have different expectations. Ask the person requesting the reference what specific qualities, skills, or experiences they want to be highlighted.

• Are they applying for a leadership role? Highlight their problem-solving and teamwork skills.
• Are they seeking freelance gigs? Talk about their reliability and expertise.
• Are they a student? Focus on academic achievements and potential.

3. Outline the key points you want to cover

Before writing, jot down a quick outline:

✔️ How you know the person and for how long
✔️ What their strengths and accomplishments are
✔️ A closing statement reinforcing your recommendation

4. Gather specific examples

If you can be specific in your reference, that’s always a bonus. Vague praises don’t do much.

Instead, think about concrete moments when they excelled. Did they lead a tough project? Deliver outstanding results? A strong reference is always backed by real examples.

❌ Weak reference: “They are a skilled designer.”

✅ Strong reference: “Their design work helped increase website conversions by 35% in three months.”

5. Choose the right template

No need to start from scratch every single time! Using a well-structured template (which we’ll provide later) makes it easier to format your thoughts quickly. Just tweak it to match the person and situation.

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, let’s break down exactly what to include in a reference letter.

A strong reference letter follows a clear structure. You don’t need to overthink it—just make sure you hit the key points.

A professional greeting

Start with a formal greeting. If you know the recipient’s name, use it. If not, keep it general.

✅ Best practices:

• Dear Hiring Manager,

• Dear [insert the recipient’s name],

• Dear Admissions Committee,

• To Whom It May Concern (only if there’s no specific recipient).

A strong opening statement

Your first sentence should clearly state why you’re writing. Get to the point fast.

Your relationship with the person

Explain in what capacity you know them and for how long. This helps give credibility to your words.

Their key strengths and achievements

This is the heart of your letter. Highlight their skills and give real examples.

Try to focus on measurable outcomes and concrete contributions rather than general comments. Describe how their work made a difference. And, whenever possible, support your points with metrics or specific improvements to strengthen your recommendation.

A strong closing statement + contact information

Wrap it up with a confident endorsement. Reaffirm your recommendation and offer to answer questions. Also, don’t forget to include your name, title, and contact details.

Speaking of scheduling links, do you have one set up? Instead of replying to extra emails about the person in question, just share your calendar link at the bottom of the reference or in your email signature.

That way, the requester can pick a time that works for them, and you can skip the back-and-forth of trying to find a time to meet.

If you need a reliable meeting scheduler, check out YouCanBookMe  (YCBM). It lets you set up a customizable booking page in minutes, making it easy for others to schedule appointments with you in just a few steps. It also automates confirmations and reminders while integrating with calendars and other business tools to save you time and simplify scheduling.

Common pitfalls of writing reference letters

Writing a solid reference letter isn’t sometimes as simple as it seems. In fact, a poorly written one can do more harm than good. To ensure your letter has the right impact, here are a few things you should avoid doing:

• Over-the-top praise: It’s great to hype someone up, especially if they truly crushed it at their job. But if you go too far, it can come off as fake.
• Being too generic: On the flip side, a reference that could apply to literally anyone isn’t doing the candidate any favors. Saying they’re a “hard worker” or “great team player” means nothing without proof. Include details about their actual contributions and impact.
• Making it too long: Nobody wants to read a reference letter that's as long as a novel! A good recommendation letter should be one-page max—think five short paragraphs, tops.

Alright, let’s kick things off with a basic reference letter template. This is just a starting point—you’ll need to flesh it out based on your specific situation and how much info you want to include.

To use this template, you should:

• Personalize it: Fill in the brackets with details specific to the person you're recommending.
• Be specific: Use real examples of their skills and achievements.
• Match it to the role: If you know what job they’re applying for, highlight skills relevant to that position.

Now, let’s see this template in action.

Say you’re a small business owner, and your personal assistant just gave their notice because they’re moving to another city. Now, they’re applying for a new role and need a reference letter. You want to help them land a great job, but you’re not sure how to put everything they’ve done into words.

Here’s how you’d write it:

Parting thoughts

Writing a reference letter is a responsibility, but now you have the tools to do it right. The next time someone asks, don’t stress—just follow the steps in this guide and use the templates to help you.

📌 Your action step: Bookmark this page and save the templates. That way, you’ll always have a strong reference letter ready when needed.