How to write a reference – Or how NOT to write it

25Aug07

If you are reading advice on how to write a reference, you have probably agreed to write one already. But there are a couple of points you must know.

Almost everytime, there always is something worth mentioning in the letter. There are two cases, when it’s of applicant’s interest not to have a reference written by you.
1) When you can’t come up with anything to write about him, i.e. you don’t know him enough, you have a writer’s block (that’s why these articles are here), etc.
2) When you can’t or don’t want to come up with anything possitive about this person.

If we talk about the first case, you have to either know him better or find out more about the writing process and you will do well. If it’s the second case, you should take it mind that a reference does not always have to be 100% possitive.
But there still are cases, when you can’t write it? Okay. Decline the offer. But what if you have already agreed? Well, here are a few ways you can use to politely decline and get off the trouble of writing the reference. You can say:

“Dear Applicant, I know I have agreed about writing a reference for you, but I have given it much consideration and I realised that I don’t have enough qualifications and I am not familiar enough with your work and background to write you a reference. I am sorry.”

If that’s too formal for you, here is another way;

“Hey dude, I’ve said I’d to write the reference & stuff but it downed on me I don’t know you. Sorry.”

Anything goes. Just take into consideration one thing – the best way to decline writing the letter is to tell you don’t know his work enough. That is valid in more than 70 percent of all cases and that will save time and hurt feeling for everyone.

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