This sample letter of reference is intended for demonstrative purposes only.
The letter shows one format and text usage out of many possible successful variations.

Letter of Reference for Joe Sey:

Joe has been with our program for about three years. During that time he has proven himself to be a valuable resource. He has a strong work ethic, excels in a team environment, and can be counted on to deliver a timely, quality product. While working with us, Joe has been a fulltime student maintaining superior academic performance. Joe lives with his grandparents and acts as their representative (he is bi-lingual) in many of their personal business needs. Joe also coaches baseball at the school community in which he grew up.

Reliability: During the time Joe has been with us he has been assigned tasks with increasing responsibility because of his reliability. At each step he has merited the confidence and trust of the program staff. He is prompt and timely in the performance of his duties.

Quality of Work: Joe’s quality of work can be described in one word, EXCELLENT. Since he has been with us, Joe has consistently delivered the highest quality work. He can be counted on to excel in the timeliness, amount and quality of his work results. He is a multi-tasker and is thorough in what he does.

Initiative: Joe can be relied upon to begin work on time and do his work as expected with little or no supervision. During the time he has been with us he has acquired the knowledge of what needs to be done in various areas of our work, thus saving program staff time and effort, by self-initiating in those areas. Joe continuously searches for the next innovation or improvement in our services.

Disposition of Attitude: Joe is very pleasant to have as a worker. He is friendly and respectful of others. He is supportive of the programs goals, priorities, and is very responsive to the needs of the program population. He is an excellent role model for the students we work with. He easily gains the students’ trust and respect as he treats them with trust and respect.

Longevity: This is Joe’s fourth year with our program. He began doing simple, mundane tasks and now is able to take on difficult tasks with higher responsibility. Over time he has applied himself to learning the precepts of the program and in turn learns to do program functions on his own initiative to help in program activities.

Adaptability: From the beginning Joe has shown his adaptability by enthusiastically accepting and performing new and different assignments. He is very amenable to quick and varied change, maintaining a positive attitude in the face of time and help constraints. He easily adjusts to the tempo and urgency of priorities as they are presented by his supervisors.

Uniqueness of Contributions: Being the well-rounded person he is, Joe has made several important contributions to the program and its function. His contributions have gone well beyond the expectations of his position. He helped set up a tutoring program in an elementary school where none had existed before. He acted as a tutor in the same program until it was assimilated by the school. He has made himself available to help on overnight college visits, and has taken on increasingly responsible roles, such as being a group guide and leader for the students. He also has designed, and made presentations for, student activity projects. Because of his personal background many students find it easy to relate to him, as he does to them. His most unique contribution is that he is an excellent, very inspiring role model to our service population. I highly recommend Joe for the Student Employee of the Year award.

With appreciation to Columbia Basin College for contributing the base material from which this sample letter is drafted.