Writing a personal reference

[QuestionableMouse]

A work mate has asked me to write them a personal reference and I'll be honest, I don't have a clue what to write. It's for a housekeeper job in a private house. Any ideas please?

Thank you!

Hi op. I had to do one for the first time in ages recently and found some good ideas by googling templates.

Such as www.monster.com/career-advice/article/example-of-character-reference-letter

Start by saying how long you have known the person and it what capacity. Then list in your honest opinion the person's good qualities and fitness for the role if you have any evidence of it.

E.g. I have known Jo for seven years through our mutual workplace. In that time she has demonstrated that she is a very reliable colleague. She is always on time for work. She is presentable and keeps her work space orderly. She is efficient and manages her time well. She is civil to fellow workmates and colleagues. She is fit and healthy. I recommend her to you as a suitable candidate for this role.

Thank you! 😁

Be careful. Ask her to get the prospective employees to send you questions. Answer them briefly and to the point. Avoid personal opinions and stick to facts about her you can prove
you can theoretically leave yourself open legally to claims of falsifying information if you express something they later find isn’t their experience

most companies now refuse to do personal references. They will only provide the most basic information that individual worked for them between periods x and y . Because it lays them wide open to legal challenges.

you can be helpful and agree to provide something…but ask her to get the questions they want answers to. If they ask something you have no facts to support do not answer, don’t express an opinion, just state you have no direct observations to provide that information.