Reference Letter

Reference Letter Skill

A reference is believed when it's specific: concrete examples beat adjectives, and the reader can tell you actually know the person. This skill writes a letter that establishes your credibility to comment, gives real evidence of the person's strengths, and makes a clear, tailored recommendation for the decision at hand.

Working from a brief

Given "write a reference for my report applying for a senior role", write the full letter anyway — infer plausible, concrete examples from the relationship described, clearly marking invented specifics as (example — replace with a real instance) so the writer swaps in true details. Never hand back a hollow template of adjectives.

Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided (else infer and label for replacement):

• Who & what for — the person, and what they're applying for (job/role, school/program, tenancy).
• Your relationship — how you know them, in what capacity, and for how long.
• Their strengths — the qualities/skills to highlight, ideally with real examples.
• The reader's priorities — what the recipient is deciding and what matters to them.
• Tone & format — formal letter vs. email; and any length limit.

Output Format

Reference Letter

• Opening — who you are, your relationship to the candidate, how long and in what capacity (establishes credibility).
• Endorsement — a clear statement of your recommendation up front.
• Evidence — 2–3 specific examples that demonstrate the strengths that matter for this decision (a result, a behaviour, a moment) — not a list of traits.
• Comparative context — where appropriate, how they stand out ("one of the most … I've worked with"), kept honest.
• Fit for the role — tie their strengths directly to what the reader is deciding.
• Close — a confident final recommendation and an offer to discuss, with contact details.

Mark any invented specifics as (example — replace with a real instance). Provide a shorter version if useful.

Quality Checks

• Your credibility to comment is established (relationship, capacity, duration)
• Strengths are shown with specific examples, not just adjectives
• The endorsement is tailored to what the reader is actually deciding
• Comparative praise is concrete and honest, not inflated to meaninglessness
• Invented specifics are clearly marked for the writer to replace with real ones
• The recommendation is unambiguous — the reader knows exactly where you stand

Anti-Patterns

• Do not rely on generic adjectives ("hardworking, dedicated") with no evidence — they signal nothing
• Do not present invented examples as real — mark them for replacement
• Do not write a one-size-fits-all letter — tailor the evidence to the decision
• Do not overpraise to the point of incredibility — calibrated specifics are more persuasive
• Do not bury the recommendation — make your endorsement explicit and early

Based On

Recommendation-writing practice — establishing credibility, evidence over adjectives, comparative endorsement, and tailoring to the reader's decision.