Requesting References
Guidelines and Alternate Phrases
Mention the reason for your request for reference.
Would you do me the favor of supplying a reference?
May I ask a favor? I need a reference letter covering the period I worked for your organization (May 19— to September 19—).
I’m considering an engineering position with Dalton Services and need a reference letter about my work with your organization.
Dalton Services, an engineering firm in Atlanta, is considering me for an accounting position, and I’m writing to ask you for a letter of reference.
Recall the dates of previous employment, if applicable, so the reader can immediately check past records.
Overview the new job responsibilities so the reader can comment appropriately about experience, skills, or personal qualities that would make you (or the individual you’re inquiring about) successful. The more specific you can be in your request, the more appropriately the recipient can focus on the job in question.
The job will require the ability to get along well with people and an even temperament in handling dissatisfied customers.
The job will require travel and flexibility in week-to-week scheduling.
Attention to detail and punctuality, as you can imagine, will be extremely important in such a job.
Tenacity and determination are key ingredients for the successful person who accepts this position.
Extensive knowledge of desktop publishing packages is a real plus in the job.
As with many jobs, sound judgment and the ability to make quick decisions will be qualities uppermost in the prospective employer’s mind when filling this position.
Communication skills—both verbal and written—will be of utmost importance in this particular assignment.
My extensive experience in sales will certainly come in handy as a springboard for this managerial job.
Although this may sound trite, the prospective employer is looking for someone who really cares about doing a good job—who cares as much as if the business were his or her own to run.
Extensive computer experience is a must in the new job, along with the natural curiosity that spurs one to continue to look for ways to improve the current program or process.
The job will require excellent communication skills.
I’d appreciate your offering an opinion on my management philosophy and the way I interacted with senior management to “sell” our departmental ideas.
Punctuality, dependability, and a pleasing disposition are of prime importance in this job. In your opinion, does John have these attributes?
We expect the person we hire to have good analytical skills and to be self-motivated on long-term projects.
Assure the reader of confidentiality if you are asking for a reference on a prospective employee.
Of course, we appreciate your frankness and will hold the information in confidence.
We can assure you your opinions will be kept confidential.
This information, of course, will be only for our own use.
Thank the reader for her efforts. Remember this request, often considered a personal rather than business matter, takes time away (from your reader) from other more important tasks.
Thank you for your trouble.
Thank you for providing this help. We’ll be happy to return the favor for you if we are ever in a position to do so.
Please let us know when we can provide you with a similar reference.
John, please know how very much I appreciate your giving this reference for me. I want this job very much.
Thank you so much for your help in this way.
I appreciate your time in doing this favor.
I appreciate so much your help in securing this position.
Thank you for helping me land this new assignment.
This job will mean a great deal to me. Thank you for helping with this reference.
Thank you for your comments; they will be highly beneficial as we try to match the position with the most suitable candidate.
I appreciate your honesty in helping us determine how successful and happy Bob would be in this job.
My thanks for writing on my behalf.
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