Character reference

[Bluestone]

What should you write on a character reference for someone you have known for several years. I have no idea.

TIA

[albaqwerty]

Is it for a friend or an acquaintance?

I'd stress that it is purely your perception of them, eg friendly, punctual that sort of thing.

[Bluestone]

Acquaintance. I don't know them very well, but have worked with them for many years.

[sherrardk]

Something like 'I have worked with X for X years. During this time I have found X to be ....... In my opinion, I feel that X would be an asset to your organisation'.

[factor-fiction]

I'd include some of the things suggested by desktop

[Bluestone]

See, I wasn't sure about putting anything like that ("he'd be an asset to your company") because... well... I don't think he would! lol
So far I've just wrote that I know him, and how long for. I am completely stuck.

[Bluestone]

Yes, Desktop has given some great examples, but if I put any of that, I'd be lying! :/
I just thought there might be a way of giving them a reference, but still keeping it a bit vague.

[sherrardk]

Oh dear, you're a bit stuck then. It's going to be a very short reference then. Good luck!

[sherrardk]

Why do you think he wouldn't be very good? Might be able to come up with some positive ways of saying the bare minimum (used to write UCAS reports which have a character-type section).

[Bluestone]

Lol Thanks.
I think I'll just keep it short and sweet, and say how long I've known them.
I'll use a big font.... :-)

[bednobs]

lol someone contacted me on FB the other day who i used to go to school with and asked me to give them a personal reference for a job with the MOD they were applying for. I haven't seen them since i was 16 and it worries me they know no-one else who'd be willing to say any nice things about them

[bednobs]

ps we are nearly 40 now, so that's over 20 years i haven't seen them for

[factor-fiction]

I can recommend him without any qualification whatsoever

You would be extremely lucky to ever get X to work for you."

"I cannot recommend this man too highly. If you can get him to work for you, you will indeed be fortunate."

"[This persons] work ethic really helps the rest of the team to stand out."

"I have never seen a more person dilligent on tasks that aren't even required for the job."

"When X walks in every morning I know big things are about to happen."

X has never taken a sick day even when asked to.

I can't say enough good things about this employee."

"The impact this employee had on our operations was astounding."

"It would be hard to find anyone else quite like him/her."

"The quality of his/her work was unparalleled in my experience."

[Bluestone]

Lol Bednobs. Well, this is a bit like that. I don't know him that well, and although I did work with him for years, we weren't exactly close. I just can't understand how I'm the only person he knows that could give him a character reference... or maybe it's more a case of 'would' give him a reference!

Factor - All of those made me laugh... which kind of sums up the person, I think :-)

[factor-fiction]

Just thought of another: "nothing is too much trouble for this person"

[jno]

"He leaves as he joined us - fired with enthusiasm"

[Bluestone]

Haha jno. That's brilliant :-D

[Maydup]

lol Despite all of his short comings, can you find just one attribute to describe to them? A character reference doesn't have to address his work ethic but his character, would it be true to say that he's honest? and, if you worked with him for many years, maybe you could say something about hhis staying power!

[DaisyNonna]

This person is certainly a character.