Fillable Printable Reference Letters - University of Alberta
Fillable Printable Reference Letters - University of Alberta
Reference Letters - University of Alberta
What is a reference letter? 3
Uses for reference letters
3
Who makes a good reference?
3
What makes a good reference letter?
3
How do you obtain a good reference letter?
4
Additional considerations
4
Advice to potential referees
5
Permission and privacy
6
Sample Reference Letters
•
Tepid Reference
7
•
Former Supervisor References
8
•
Scholarship Reference
10
•
School Reference (French)
11
•
Immigration Application Reference
12
•
Graduate School Reference
13
Sources 14
Reference Letters
What is a reference letter?
A reference letter is a letter of recommendation from a previous or current supervisor, professor, co-
worker, peer or personal contact who can describe the knowledge, skills or aptitudes that you possess.
Uses for reference letters
Reference letters can be used when looking for work or applying to graduate school. Reference letters may
be required when applying for monetary awards, such as a fellowship or grant. When presented selectively
in a portfolio, reference letters provide compelling evidence to an employer or committee about your
abilities.
While your referees can provide a verbal reference, letters can be used if your reference has moved away,
is no longer with the organization, or is out of reach for some reason, such as on holiday, when you need
to supply your references.
Who makes a good reference?
When looking for employment, a current or previous employer or direct supervisor is the best reference. It
is also acceptable to include a direct supervisor from unpaid employment, such as a practicum or a
volunteer position. When applying for graduate or professional school, persons who can comment on your
academic achievements, such as a professor, or a professional who is active in the field you wish to enter,
are excellent choices. Personal and/or professional acquaintances—for example, a high-ranking
community member or professional in good standing whom you know personally—are also acceptable.
What makes a good reference letter?
•
Use of action verbs to describe your accomplishments, skills and strengths.
•
Use of the active voice which indicates that you completed tasks and demonstrated desirable
behaviours. The passive voice can indicate that events happened to you and tasks would have been
completed whether you were there or not.
•
How you performed the responsibilities required for the position or role. A glowing reference letter
will include how you exceeded expectations in your position/role, even if it is only in one area.
•
Descriptions of your contributions to the work/academic environment, whether in regards to your
work habits, such as completed tasks on time, or your personal strengths, for example you are
collegial and supportive.
•
If possible, a statement indicating that the referee would re-hire you or collaborate with you on
another project. People may also work several times for the same organization and it is beneficial for
you if the letter indicates that you worked for or with the referee several times or that they expect to
work with you in the future.
•
The referee’s contact information including his or her full name, appropriate title, address, phone
number and/or e-mail address.
How do you obtain a reference letter?
First, do a good job. No one owes you a reference letter and your supervisor may turn you down if they
feel your work has been less than satisfactory. Avoid asking for a reference letter during a peak period,
such as in the middle of marking mid-terms or preparing payroll, since a letter written on the fly may be
inadequate. Appreciate their honesty if your supervisor or professor declines your request since a
mediocre or poor reference letter may be harmful to your candidacy.
Indicate what you are using the letter for and who you are giving the letter to because this improves the
focus of the letter. Offer your referees a copy of your up-to-date resume/c.v. and a brief description of the
position or types of positions that you are applying for. Your referees can write specifically about your
skills in relation to the position(s). Your referees will also need time to write a good letter, so give them at
least two to three weeks to prepare the letter.
Your referees also need to know:
•
The name of the person they are addressing the letter to. If you are using the letter for your portfolio,
it is acceptable to address the letter “Dear Sir or Madam”.
•
The date the letter is needed and whether you will pick the letter up or the address to which the letter
should be sent.
•
How to contact you if they have questions or to tell you that the letter is ready for pick-up, or if the
letter has been sent.
•
Number of copies you require. If you get a great letter for one application, why not ask if you can get
additional copies for future use?
Additional considerations
•
Detailed, targeted reference letters are much more effective than general reference letters.
•
When you ask someone for a written reference, ask for permission to use them as a verbal reference as
well. Each time you supply their name as a reference, you should, as a courtesy, contact them to tell
them that someone may be in touch with them. It is not very helpful to your application if your referee
responds with “Who are you talking about?” when called for a reference.
•
Three references for each application are usually sufficient unless you are asked to supply more. If
asked to supply a reference letter when applying, it is acceptable to submit a photocopy. Bring the
originals to the interview but always keep them in your possession. It is hard to replace good reference
letters, especially if you are no longer in personal contact with the referee.
•
Thank everyone who provides you with a reference letter. A good letter will have taken several hours
to complete so they deserve your appreciation and/or an update on the results of the competition.
•
Reference letters get old. As you progress in your career, you should continue to acquire references
who can talk about your work, personal traits and skills. You should also maintain your contacts so
you can ask them for updated material if necessary.
This booklet includes several different samples of reference letters for different situations. These letters
are meant only as suggestions. Do not copy any of the letters and provide them as a reference
letter for a referee to sign. Some applicants have copied templates, sometimes word for word, merely
changing the name and position of the person on the template to suit the person who offered to write a
reference. With the name changed to suit referees, different applicants have supplied the same letter, to
the same competition. Sounds like an urban legend? No, human resource professionals have told CaPS
that this has happened in the past. It is especially tragic when the applicant has cited his/her “originality”,
“creativity” and “integrity” on the resume. Get letters based on your own experience.
Advice to potential referees
A student, employee or colleague has asked you to write a reference letter but you have never written one
before or you are not sure what the appropriate content is for a reference letter. What should you write for
that person?
First, you should feel free to decline the request if you do not know the person well, have little positive to
say or simply do not have the time to write an effective letter. A poorly written letter is as troubling as a
letter describing mediocre performance.
If you decide to accept the request, you should take the time to read through the requirements of the
position, program or award the person is applying for. Next you should consider how the person’s
previous behaviour and actions relate to the position, program or award and how his or her work will
benefit the organization that he or she is applying to.
In general the reference should:
•
Include dates to indicate how long you have known the person or when worked with or supervised the
person. If you have worked with this person repeatedly indicate this in letter since working more than
once with a person answers the all-important question “Would you hire/collaborate with this person
again?” In the case of a student, if she or he took several classes with you, indicate how he or she
developed as a student or professional in your field.
•
Summarize the work that the person provided for you. You can indicate the title of the work or
project, the results and if the results the person produced were new or outstanding in any way. You
may also comment on any software or research techniques the person used to attain these results.
•
Explain clearly what tasks the person performed and use plain English to describe the student’s
performance.
If you are asked to write a reference letter for a person who is applying for work outside of academia, or a
field that you are unfamiliar with, what should you write? Ask to see the criteria that the person must
meet so you can write a targetted letter that uses some of the language, terms and skills from the criteria.
You can also ask to see the person’s c.v. or resume so you can comment on his or her experience in
relation to the criteria.
Some professors decline to write a reference letter for a student who would like to use the letter to find
employment because they are not sure how to convey what the student did in class in relation to the
position. Focus on relevant transferable skills that the position requires. Transferable skills are abilities
that are usable in different areas. Examples include:
•
A student who delivers assignments on time and according to the criteria will also be asked to hand in
work materials on a deadline and meeting the standards of the workplace.
•
Using research techniques and software programs, as well as demonstrating analytical, numeracy and
communication skills are valued not only in university but also in the workplace.
•
If you are a language professor, you can comment on the student’s linguistic ability, oral fluency and
confidence communicating in the language, since the student should be able to apply the language in
classroom as well as in the workplace.
The request may become more complicated when the person would like to have a general reference letter
for several competitions or as part of a work search portfolio. If you are not sure what to comment on, not
an uncommon problem for a person writing a general letter, here are some skills and qualities that most
organizations look for in potential employees:
•
Communication skills, such as persuasive writing or delivering presentations.
•
Teamwork skills, including how much work the student performed when collaborating on a group or
research project with you. You may also comment on the student’s conflict resolution skills and ability
to compromise or take direction within the pair or group.
•
Organizational skills, such as consulting with you during the course of a project, delivering a rough
draft when asked and supplying the final material at deadline.
•
Personal attributes such as collegial, friendly and hard-working.
•
Enthusiasm for the profession and motivation to learn.
This list is from the CaPS Employer Survey 2006 and are the non-job related skills most sought after by
employers. Additional desired skills identified by the survey included willingness to learn, interpersonal
skills, attention to detail, stress management and work ethic or reliability. When developed and
demonstrated, these skills will help the student either in the workplace or in continued academic studies.
You can volunteer to write a reference letter for a person who has not asked for one. A student will always
need reference letters for a variety of purposes.
You can reward a student who had great attendance, provided an outstanding presentation or paper,
showed up for study sessions and/or was a pleasure to teach. A student who did poorly in the class but
tried hard may be too shy to ask for a reference letter but if you want to commend diligence, your letter is
generous encouragement.
Permission and Privacy
Permission, privacy and information, especially in respect to employment, is an area undergoing constant
evolution. Though there are similarities, the application of privacy legislation and access to information is
not uniform between geographic regions, or between organizations with varying business models or
legislative roles. Therefore, prior to asking for or providing a reference, we strongly suggest that you
consult with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) at the University of Alberta.
To provide you with information they will ask you the following questions:
1)
Who is the letter for?
2)
Who will receive the letter?
3)
What is the purpose for the letter?
4)
Where will the letter be stored and will copies be made?
There are also a series of forms that are available on the website of the University of Alberta FOIPP office,
http://www.ipo.ualberta.ca/, such as a Student Reference Disclosure Authorization form. Prior to asking
for or writing a letter of reference, we suggest you check the U of A FOIPP office website, or call their
offices, (780) 492-9419 for assistance, to make sure that you have the most up to date information in
regards to the request.
7
Sample Reference Letter:
Tepid Reference
December 11, 20XX
Mary Mediocre
Suite 100, Typical Office
12345 Downtown Street
Edmonton, AB T6K 8N1
To whom it may concern,
I confirm that Tom Terrific was employed as an Inside Sales Rep with Typical Office from
September 8, 20XX to January 19, 20XX.
Tom readily fulfilled his responsibilities of making sales calls, following up on orders and
participating in sales meetings. He learned about new products quickly. Tom’s sales team has
met their sales quotas for the past two years.
Tom was a team player and easily got along with the other people in the office. He also held an
acceptable attendance record.
I would recommend Tom Terrific to whichever position he might be applying for. If you need
further information you can contact me at mary.m[email protected].
Sincerely,
Mary Mediocre
This is a mediocre letter since it
says, Tom showed up and his
team did an average job. He can
keep a seat warm. Tom is a
“tepid” not stellar employee.
8
Sample Reference Letter: Former Supervisor 1
November 29, 20XX
Provincial Tourism Board
Government House
Edmonton, Alberta T5G 4G7
Dear Ms. Hiring,
I am pleased to recommend Justin Case for the position of Special Events Coordinator with the Provincial
Tourism Board. I believe that Justin’s experience with Tools and Stuff first as an Assistant Manager and
recently as a Human Resources Recruiter will compliment the role and the many skills it requires.
Justin was hired in May 1999 as a Manager Trainee with Tools and Stuff. Justin was the youngest
manager hired into this role in Canada. He progressed into the role of Assistant Manager in July 1999.
Although the Assistant Manager role is junior position within the management hierarchy, Justin often
managed the 10,000 ft
2
alone with a staff of 15-40 associates reporting directly to him. His duties
included maintain sales through coaching, providing exceptional customer service, following up on
customer concerns, ordering additional product, and delivering performance reviews. Not only did Justin
meet these requirements of the job, he also developed an employee recognition program that highlighted
individual skills of associates and created incentive programs that enabled associates to see their progress.
Justin’s professionalism and interpersonal skills allowed him to cultivate a strong team environment and
gain the respect of his peers.
In September 2000 Justin was promoted to Human Resources Recruiter for Western Canada. In this role
Justin interviewed management candidates across Canada to fill the vacancies created by twenty new
store openings each year. Justin quickly adapted to the rigorous travel and tight deadlines. In addition to
his demanding schedule, Justin also took over the duties of a co-worker while she went on maternity leave
and single-handedly organized, executed, and followed-up on twenty University career fairs across
western Canada. This requires detail oriented organizational skills, an ability to adapt to many
circumstances, and strong interpersonal skills. Because of Justin’s success in this role he was asked to
train other recruiters on the successful strategy in order to create a strong recruitment presence across
Canada. Justin is eager to succeed and finds ways to improve his workplace.
To conclude, I have been very happy with Justin Case’s performance as an Assistant Manager and
Recruiter for Tools and Stuff. I would not hesitate to re-hire Justin. I believe his experience in dealing
with students at career fairs, his in-depth knowledge of hiring practices, and his ability to communicate
effectively makes him a strong candidate for the position of Special Events Coordinator with the
Provincial Tourism Board. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Justin’s performance at Tools
and Stuff, please contact me directly at 780-482-9000.
Sincerely,
Ref Errance
Human Resource Manager
Tools and Stuff
9
Sample Reference Letter:
Former Supervisor 2
Adele Fraser
Student Advisor
Student Services
University of Edmonton
Edmonton, AB T6G 2J7
December 11, 20XX
Human Resources Department
Pacifica University College
1019 Oceania Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 1Y9
Dear Sir or Madam:
Re: Letter of Recommendation for Kathryn Heath, applicant for the position of Career Advisor, Competition
No: 12.06.078
I am pleased to provide a reference for Kathryn Heath who I have known for approximately five years.
Kathryn and I first met as student staff, on the Workshops and Presentations team, at Student Services at the
University of Edmonton. After Kathryn moved on to work in career development with the federal government,
we continued to meet, often at professional development events, to share ideas and practices to enrich our work
as career practitioners. I believe Kathryn’s work and education experience make her a strong candidate for the
position of Career Advisor in the Bachelor of Education University Transfer Program at Pacifica University
College.
Kathryn’s work assignment with Student Services was multi-faceted. She worked in the Information
Centre, which serves 1,500 students per week, the place of first contact for many clients. There she provided
students with on the spot advising-directing them to the most appropriate resources (workshops, books, tip
sheets, forums or fairs, web sites, other agencies, etc.) and answering questions.
She also conducted one-on-one hour long consultations in the areas of work search and career decision-
making, resume critiquing, and mock interviews. Her clients and co-workers appreciated the breadth of her
knowledge, developed through continuing education, both formal and informal. In her workshops and
presentations, Kathryn was enthusiastic, competent, and confident. We often co-facilitated and I could always
count on her to be well prepared. I particularly appreciated her expertise when we presented to graduating
students, a group known for asking probing and wide-ranging questions. Drawing on her experience as a
former high school teacher, Kathryn was able to satisfy even the most challenging of our workshop participants.
Student Services put Kathryn’s writing skills to work as well. She revised a number of workshop facilitator's
manuals, co-authored a self-employment workshop script, and developed a number of handouts.
Kathryn was frequently entrusted with challenging assignments. On one occasion, she was asked to
provide a four-day career development workshop tailored to the needs of technically sophisticated post-
graduate information technology students. Working with a very tight time frame, Kathryn recruited a team of
facilitators, secured workshop materials more suited to her IT audience, and adapted material to include many
on-line resources so the students could make use of their computers throughout the presentations. Her efforts
proved successful. Student Services was invited back to offer the workshops on several subsequent occasions.
After Kathryn left the Information Centre, I was pleased to maintain our mutually sustaining
professional and personal relationship. I believe she would be an asset to Pacifica University College and an
outstanding resource for its students. I wish her well. Should you have any questions regarding Kathryn’s
qualifications, please call me at (780) 555-4587.
Sincerely,
Adele Fraser
10
Sample Reference Letter:
Scholarship Reference
November 21, 20XX
Legacy Scholarship for Leadership Development
Leadership Foundation for Youth Initiatives
#300, 8657 – 51 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6A8
Dear Adam Smith:
As President of the Centre for Student Leadership at the University of Alberta, I am extremely pleased to
be able to recommend Miss Hana Lovage for the Legacy Scholarship in Leadership Development. I have
only known Hana for about two years but have had the opportunity to see her on many occasions,
performing with exceptional skill for a person of her age.
CSL is dedicated to providing leadership development initiatives to students by means of introducing
them to business practices and allowing them to run their own companies for the course of the term.
Hana proved herself very capable as a leader through her role as President of the “Globe Trotters”
company that was twinned with a student leadership program in Newton Abbot, England. This was our
first experience with a student company running an international business. She did an outstanding job
communicating with her team and providing them with direction on this pilot project. At our annual awards
night Hana was named sales person of the year by the Alberta Life Underwriters Association. This is
based not only on her exceptional sales but also her ability to think on her feet and communicate
company initiatives in a way that promote teamwork and product
knowledge.
Hana was chosen out of all of our delegates to make a speech at the Media conference where our
Chairman Jodi Norris announced our new initiatives for student development which will include
international travel opportunities. She did an outstanding job and received many compliments on her
oratorical skills. Hana was then selected to attend the Western Canadian Student Leadership Conference
in Calgary, Alberta and then the Canadian National Student Leadership Conference in Hamilton, Ontario
where she represented the whole western region. We were also lucky to have her as a summer student
during the summer of 2000 and I was delighted with her initiative and overall work habits.
This is an outstanding young woman with exceptional leadership skills, very good interpersonal skills, and
wonderful work ethic. I am sure she will benefit from your scholarship and represent your organization
well through her work. Should you have any questions concerning Hana Lovage, please contact me
directly at 780-555-1234.
Sincerely yours,
William Coriander
President
Centre for Student Leadership
University of Edmonton
11
Sample Reference Letter:
School Reference (French)
Le 25 novembre 2006
Faculté St. Jean
Programme Bilingue, Administration des Affaires
8406 - 91 rue, Marie-Anne-Gaboury
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 4G9
Chère Mme Michaud,
Il me fait le plaisir d’écrire ces quelques lignes au sujet de mademoiselle Francine Gratton pour
être considérée comme candidate dans le programme bilingue Administration des Affaires.
Pendant les six dernières années, Francine est inscrite dans la classe de français dont j’ai le
plaisir d’enseigner. Durant cette période, j’ai remarqué beaucoup d’amélioration en elle, autant
aux niveaux académique que personnel.
Académiquement, Francine est une étudiante appliquée, toujours prête à aller plus loin pour
parfaire son éducation de langue française, autant a l’oral qu’a l’écrit. Depuis sa première année,
son français s’est beaucoup amélioré autant a l’oral qu’a l’écrit. J’ai remarqué une progression
constante de la qualité de son expression, de son débit, de son intonation etc. En plus, Francine
est issue d’une famille francophone, ce qui lui permet de parfaire son discours oral.
Académiquement, Francine est toujours au-dessus de la moyenne de la classe. Depuis six ans, sa
note oscille entre 80 et 90%, ce qui est exceptionnel d’après mes standards.
A mon avis, mademoiselle Gratton est parfaitement capable d’accomplir les exigences du
programme d’étude offert par votre institution d’enseignement. Francine est également très
active au sein de la communauté scolaire. Toujours prête à donner son aide aux divers comités
du secondaire, par exemple le comité de graduation, le conseil d’école, les activités parascolaires
et sportives et j’en passe. Francine est également impliquée dans la vie culturelle de l’école en
participant à différentes productions théâtrales, au festival culturel «Artstravagenza », et j’en
oublie.
En guise de conclusion, il me fait le plaisir de recommander mademoiselle Francine Gratton pour
le programme bilingue dans votre établissement scolaire. Si vous avez des questions concernant
Francine comme candidate supérieur, il me ferait le plaisir d’y répondre personnellement.
Sincèrement,
Thérèse Dubois
Coordinatrices des programmes de français
ESB - École Secondaire Bilingue
12
Sample Reference Letter:
Immigration Application Reference
29 November 20XX
Canadian Consulate General
Immigration Regional Program Centre
3000 HSBC Center
Buffalo, NY 14203-2884
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter pertains to Emily Aye’s employment with Career Services at Edmonton University. Emily has been
employed by Career Services since September 2003 as a Career Advisor. Specifically, she worked part-time
(approximately 12 hours per week) from September 2003 to April 2004, from September 2004 to April 2005,
and from September 2005 to present. She worked full-time (35 hours per week) from May to August 2004 and
May to August 2005. In total, she has worked over 2,200 hours at Career Services from September 2003 to
early November.
Emily’s main responsibilities as a Career Advisor include:
•
Delivering workshops and presentations on a variety career and employment-related topics
• Advising students one-on-one with respect to their career and work options, resumes and cover letters, and
interview skills
•
Providing customer service in the Career Resource Centre
• Conducting research on career and employment-related topics
•
Assisting clients with utilizing print and electronic resources
•
Assisting with the delivery of career forums and career fairs
Emily’s job performance has been exceptional. Clients who have attended her workshops and met with her
one on one comment specifically on her ability to address their needs in a professional yet empathetic manner.
Emily is also highly regarded by her co-workers for her strong teamwork and leadership skills. She has strong
public speaking and interpersonal communication skills and, although she speaks with an accent, she very easy
to understand. I firmly believe that Emily has and will continue to make a positive contribution to Canada.
Career Advisors are not paid an annual salary but on an hourly basis. In terms of benefits, they receive four
percent vacation pay. Emily’s pay, including vacation pay, for the time she has worked at CaPS is as follows:
•
September 2003 to April 2004 (amount)
•
May to August 2004 (amount)
•
September 2004 to April 2005 (amount)
•
May to August 2005 (amount)
•
September to October 2005 (amount)
If you require further information regarding Emily’s employment with Career Services, I may be contacted at
(phone number) or (email address).
Sincerely,
Esperanza Torero
Career Education Coordinator
