cite references in personal statement

• FRONT MATTER
• TABLE OF CONTENTS

Citing Sources

Although many personal statements will not include any citation of sources, in some cases—particularly if your work is in the sciences and you need to provide a brief literature review—you will need to cite sources at the end of your essay in a “References” section. Chapter 1 discusses the ethical concerns associated with source citation as you write personal essays (see "Student Writing and Ethics" section). To address the more practical problem of citation mechanics, below are ways to address common mechanics challenges:

• In the simplest terms, the two basic citation styles appropriate for personal essays can be referred to as the number system and author-year system. In the number system, a number is provided in the text corresponding to a numbered source cited fully at the essay’s end. In the author-year system, the writer provides the author and year of the source in parentheses after the corresponding text, then cites the source fully at the end of the essay in a references list alphabetized by authors’ last names.
• When you use a references section at the end of an essay, provide full bibliographic information for your sources—e.g., author, article title, book or journal title, relevant page numbers, and website address if relevant. Because the mechanics of citation vary slightly from one journal to the next, most writers model their references page on that of a respected journal in their field.
• For convenience in a personal essay, it is acceptable to cite sources—especially if you use just one or two—in numbered footnote form at the bottom of the page. However, if you have more than a few sources, a separate section entitled “References” at the end of the essay is best.
• Sometimes, rather than a formal footnote or end citation, a contextual narrative citation will be sufficient if you are using a well-known quote or paraphrase (“Einstein said that imagination is more important than knowledge”) or attributing authorship and context directly (“As stated in a funding proposal authored by our research group, the hypothesis for my thesis research is . . .”).
• If you include figures or tables taken or adapted from a published source, cite the source directly in the figure or table caption, using the same citation style employed throughout the essay.

To see the above tips in action, browse through the sample essays in the later chapters of this manual, where you will find ample evidence of how other writers met their source citation challenges. For further detail about source citation practices, you can also go to Chapter 5 of the manual Style for Students Online .

For discipline-specific examples of citation form, turn to these two URLs:

“Research and Documentation Online” (download) from popular style guide author Diana Hacker

“Write & Cite: Writing Resources: Citing” article from San Antonio College

How do I cite personal experiences in APA format?

Personal experiences and knowledge generally do not need to be cited in an APA references page or within the body (in-text citation) of your paper. Personal experience and knowledge is part of your voice; it is what you bring to your paper.  If you use personal knowledge that is unusual or to make a statement that someone might question, however, you will want to find research to back your knowledge up. Read more in our answer on self-citing .

Personal communications . Frequently confused with personal knowledge and experience are personal communications (any information that is not retrievable, such as phone conversations, interviews, email, memos, and personal letters). Personal communications (interviews, conversations) need to be cited in-text, but not in the reference list. Click here to learn more.

• Last Updated Apr 05, 2024
• Views 75258
• Answered By Kerry Louvier

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NIH Biosketch : Personal Statement

• Options for Creating a Biosketch
• Education and Training

Personal Statement

• Positions, Scientific Appointments and Honors
• Contributions to Science
• Telling Your Story
• URL to Publication List
• Research Products
• Research Support
• Fellowship Applicants
• My Bibliography

Biosketch Format

The biosketch format used for this library guide is from the NIH Biosketch page and approved through January 31, 2026.

 Personal Statement

Briefly describe why you are well-suited for your role(s) in this project. Relevant factors may include: aspects of your training; your previous experimental work on this specific topic or related topics; your technical expertise; your collaborators or scientific environment; and/or your past performance in this or related fields, including ongoing and completed research projects from the past three years that you want to draw attention to (previously captured under Section D. Research Support).

You may cite up to four publications or research products that highlight your experience and qualifications for this project. Research products can include, but are not limited to, audio or video products; conference proceedings such as meeting abstracts, posters, or other presentations; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware. Use of hyperlinks and URLs to cite these items is not allowed.

You are allowed to cite interim research products.  Note:  interim research products have specific citation requirements. See related  Frequently Asked Questions  for more information.

• If you wish to explain factors that affected your past productivity, such as family care responsibilities, illness, disability, or military service, you may address them in this "A. Personal Statement" section.
• Indicate whether you have published or created research products under another name.
• You may mention specific contributions to science that are not included in Section C. Do not present or expand on materials that should be described in other sections of this Biosketch or application.
• Figures, tables, or graphics are not allowed.

Using ScENcv

How to Edit the Personal Statement using SciENcv

Recommendations

• Tailor the Personal Statement to the application.
• In the first sentence, mention the name of the grant application (e.g., R21) and speak directly to the purpose of the funding mechanism. Sell your role in the proposed research. Why are you a good fit? What strengths do you have for the proposal?
• Use the Personal Statement to discuss your future research direction if you are a new investigator.
• If someone is sponsoring/mentoring/collaborating with you, include this in the Personal Statement.

Notes: Peer-Reviewed Publications and Other Research Products

• N on-peer-reviewed articles and research products can be cited in the Personal Statement along with the peer-reviewed publications. Follow the rules for citing Interim Research Products .
• NIH requires a PMCID for works that apply under the NIH Public Access Policy and are authored by the applicant or arise from an applicant’s NIH award.
• No specific style guide for citations is required. SciENcv formats citations from My Bibliography using the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Style Guide: Citing Medicine .
• To save on space for the Personal Statement or Contributions to Science sections, applicants may use ‘et al’ in lieu of listing all authors in a citation.
• Citations can be reused among the Personal Statement or Contributions to Science sections .
• Manuscripts being prepared or under peer review can be described in the Personal Statement or the Contributions to Science narrative sections, (e.g. “I am preparing a manuscript for Journal on my work about X”), but not cited.
• Publications noted in a My Bibliography account can be used to auto-populate the Personal Statement or the Contributions to Science sections .

Use SciENcv to create a biosketch. My Bibliography will connect to SciENcv, allowing for auto-population of  the biosketch sections for publications and work products.

There are two ways to populate a My Bibliography collection:

• Template for publications and research products not found in PubMed

To start: select the blue "Add citation" button on the upper right of the main My Bibliography page.

A drop-down menu box will appear and prompt you to select the publication type to enter or to add the work from PubMed.

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• Last Updated: Mar 12, 2024 1:26 PM
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• Faculty Portal

Academic Skills: Writing: Reusing Your Work and Citing Yourself

As you progress in your Walden program, you may find that you research and write about a topic more than once. This is typical as you engage with key concepts and specialize in your field of study. See the information and best practices on this page to ensure you follow APA citation guidelines and Walden policy if you plan to reuse past written work.

Your Published Writing

If you have published your writing outside of the Walden classroom—in a journal or even in a local newsletter or blog—and would like to reuse portions of it or refer to the findings or ideas in that work, you will need to cite yourself.

Follow APA’s guidelines for citing and referencing published works.

Your Previous Coursework

If you are considering reusing your previously submitted Walden coursework in a new course or term, review the following best practice and policy sections.

Best Practices for Reusing Work

• During your studies at Walden, you may write on the same topic for a second, third, or fourth time; regardless, your writing should reflect new approaches and insights into that topic to demonstrate intellectual growth.
• Your writing submitted for previous Walden courses will show up in the Turnitin Similarity Report when reused. Contact your faculty if you plan to reuse your work to avoid concerns about possible plagiarism. Additionally, you could cite your unpublished writing (see How to Cite Your Unpublished Work below).
• Your faculty for your current course can guide you about whether reusing your previous writing seems appropriate for a particular assignment or writing task.

Walden University’s Policy on Reusing Work

The following comes from the Walden Student Code of Conduct :

Walden Students’ Use of Their Own Scholarly Work

• Students may reuse their work without an expectation that previously awarded grades or credit will attach to the new assignment. Any work previously published by the student must be appropriately cited if reused. 
• Field Experience Exception: Any assignments or documentation submitted related to field experience (work, hours, client or patient logs, etc) must be new, current, accurate, and relate to clients or patients seen during the term and in direct reference to the assignment.

How to Cite Your Unpublished Work

Although not required in the policy above, in rare instances, you may need to or want to cite your unpublished Walden coursework.

If you cite or quote your previous work, treat yourself as the author and your own written document as the source. For example, if Marie Briggs wanted to cite a paper she wrote at Walden in 2022, her citation might look like this:

Briggs (2022) asserted that previous literature on the psychology of tightrope walkers was faulty in that it "presumed that risk-taking behaviors align neatly with certain personality traits or disorders" (p. 4).

And in the reference list:

Briggs, M. (2022). An analysis of personality theory [Unpublished manuscript]. Walden University.

Multimedia Resources

• The Northwest Passage, or Why You Should Cite Yourself Only Sparingly (blog post)
• To Cite Yourself or Not Cite Yourself (blog post)

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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

• Basics of APA Formatting
• In Text Quick View
• Block Quotes

The Generic Reference

• Books & eBooks
• Thesis/Dissertation
• Audiovisual
• Conference Presentations
• Social Media
• Legal References
• Reports and Gray Literature
• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
• Additional Resources
• Reference Page

References appear at the end of your document and follow a Who, When, What and Where format.  Only include sources you cited within your research document (*exception for personal communications which are excluded from the reference list).

Who:  Identify the creator of the source.  Who can be: a single author; multiple authors; an organization or corporation; editor/s; or the director and producer.  On some occasions when authorship cannot be attributed then you revert to the title entry formatting. 

When:   Identify when the source was published.  For most source types,  simply provide a year of publication.  Exceptions as follows: year followed by month for papers and posters presented at conferences; year followed by month and date for blogs, social media, newspaper and magazine publications.  When there is no publication date (common for web documents and other content) use the abbreviation n.d. for "no date."

What: Title of the source.  This is the title identified for the individual source, rather than where the source is published.  For articles, you want to identify the title of the article rather than the Journal name.  The same can be said for the title of a newspaper article vs. the newspaper name or the title of a webpage vs. the website name.  (ex.  "Mission statement" is a page title on the APA website).

Where:   Once you identify the Who, When, and What, the rest of the information provided to complete the reference falls under "Where."  This portion of the reference sees variations in information included based on source type.  Essentially, it will provide information as to where the reader can retrieve the source.  Where can fall under 2 broad categories: works part of a great whole and stand-alone sources.

Visit the individual Reference Type pages to see further formatting and examples for your source type.

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• Last Updated: Apr 11, 2024 10:25 AM
• URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/APA7th

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing the Personal Statement

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This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.

The personal statement, your opportunity to sell yourself in the application process, generally falls into one of two categories:

1. The general, comprehensive personal statement:

This allows you maximum freedom in terms of what you write and is the type of statement often prepared for standard medical or law school application forms.

2. The response to very specific questions:

Often, business and graduate school applications ask specific questions, and your statement should respond specifically to the question being asked. Some business school applications favor multiple essays, typically asking for responses to three or more questions.

Questions to ask yourself before you write:

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in this field and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field—through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre LSAT or GRE scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example, integrity, compassion, and/or persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for graduate school—and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

General advice

Answer the questions that are asked

• If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar.
• Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Tell a story

• Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be specific

• Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a lawyer, engineer, or whatever should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an angle

• If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Concentrate on your opening paragraph

• The lead or opening paragraph is generally the most important. It is here that you grab the reader's attention or lose it. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Tell what you know

• The middle section of your essay might detail your interest and experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the field. Too many people graduate with little or no knowledge of the nuts and bolts of the profession or field they hope to enter. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Don't include some subjects

• There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues).

Do some research, if needed

• If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Write well and correctly

• Be meticulous. Type and proofread your essay very carefully. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Avoid clichés

• A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

For more information on writing a personal statement, see the personal statement vidcast .

25 Personal References Examples & Samples

A personal reference is a reference provided by someone who knows you personally, as opposed to a professional or academic reference.

Personal references are often used to confirm things about your character and your personal history, rather than your work history or qualifications. They can be useful for employers because they can give them a more well-rounded picture of the person they’re considering hiring.

If you’ve been asked to find a personal reference, consider asking a friend, neighbor, or family member who can attest to your character.

Professional vs Personal References

An employer will usually ask for both professional and personal references when they are considering you for a position. Each type of reference will reveal different parts of your personality to your potential employer.

Here is the difference between professional and personal references:

• Professional references are people who can attest to your work ethic and qualifications.
• Personal references are people who can speak to your character.

Because a professional reference needs to be able to attest to your work in a professional setting, they need to be someone you have worked with. Preferably, it will be a former boss or line manager.

Professional references need to speak more holistically about your character. So, they may have worked with you in a professional setting but they more often just know you outside of a professional setting.

Examples of People who can Provide a Personal Reference

• Longtime Friends
• People you Volunteered With
• A Police Officer or Firefighter you Know
• A Teacher or Nurse you Know
• A Businessperson you Know
• Family Friends
• A Religious Leader
• A Sports Coach
• A Youth Group Leader
• Your Doctor
• Your Landlord
• A Friend’s Parents

What to Include in a Personal Reference

If you have been asked to provide a personal reference, consider whether you can truly vouch for that person’s character. If so, then you might consider including some of the following details.

How Long you have Known the Person – The employer will want to know how long you have known the person, as the longevity of a relationship can be a good indicator that the person can sustain positive relationships. It also adds credibility to your assessment of the person.

How you Know the Person – This is important because it will help the potential employer understand whether you’re a qualified reference. For example, if you only know them as a casual acquaintance, your reference might not hold as much weight.

An Honest Assessment of their Personality – Generally, I only agree to give a personal reference if I can honestly attest to the person’s values and integrity. If you can’t be honest in your praise, consider passing up the opportunity to act as a personal reference.

Examples of the Person’s character in Action – The person asking for the reference would greatly appreciate you including an example of a time when the person demonstrated their character. Furthermore, it can come across as a genuine, high-quality, and thoughtful reference that the future employer would appreciate.

Examples of Personal References

Below are 25 Personal Reference Samples.

• “Carl is a patient man who is always willing to lend a listening ear. I’ve known him for seven years, and in that time he has never once lost his temper or raised his voice in anger. He is the preacher at my church, and he has a way of making even the most complex theological concepts easy to understand.
• “Jordan has been the janitor at my workplace for 18 months. He is always looking for new ways to get to know people around the workplace, and his passion for helping others is evident in everything he does. I highly recommend Carl for any position he may be interested in; he is sure to be an asset to any team. Thank you for taking the time to consider him.”
• “It is with pleasure that I write this letter of reference for Ahmed. I have known him for 12 years, and he is a family friend. In that time, I have always been impressed by his work ethic. He is a hard worker who is always willing to go the extra mile. Ahmed is also a very reliable person.”
• “Gemma is a former colleague of mine. We have known each other for 3 years. The one thing I am most impressed by with Gemma is that she is always on time and takes great care to do things right the first time. This attention to detail has served her well in her personal life and career. Gemma would be an excellent addition to any team, and I highly recommend her.”
• “I have known Jessica for over 10 years. We went to college together and have been good friends since then. I know her to be an honest, reliable, and trustworthy person.”
• “I have had the pleasure of knowing Charlie for two years, during which time we have served together as volunteer firefighters. In that capacity, I have seen firsthand Charlie’s compassion for others. He is always quick to lend a hand, whether it’s helping a fellow firefighter with an equipment issue or providing comfort to a family who has lost their home in a fire. Charlie’s calm demeanor and willingness to help are truly admirable.”
• “I have known John for 5 years as he is my neighbor. He is always willing to help me out and is always friendly and polite. I know him to be an honest and upstanding person.”
• “I have known Sarah for 3 years as she is my daughter’s best friend. I have seen her interact with my daughter and other children and she is always kind, patient, and helpful. I know her to be a responsible and caring person.”
• “I have known Alex for 2 years as he is my son’s baseball coach. He is always positive and encouraging, and my son has really benefited from his coaching. I know him to be a responsible and reliable person.”
• “I have known Jane for 1 year as she is a member of my book club. She is always well-informed and has interesting insights to share. I know her to be an intelligent and articulate person.”
• “I have known Mike for 1 year as he is the manager of my local gym. He is always friendly and helpful, and I know him to be a reliable and trustworthy person.”
• “I very rarely give personal references, but I will make an exception for Liz. She is one of the kindest people I know. People always underestimate her, but I know who she really is – a person with incredible determination and an uncanny ability to beat the odds to acheive her absolute best.”
• “I first met Michelle when she was dogsitting for us when we travelled to Costa Rica. She took great care for our animals, for which we will always be grateful. I’d more than happily have her do it for us again. I know her to be very trustworthy and reliable.”
• “I have known Caroline for 2 weeks as she is the new nanny for my children. She is always cheerful and patient, and I know her to be a responsible and reliable person.”
• “Thomas is my boss and I have worked with him for the past two years. He is always fair and reasonable, and I know him to be a honest and upstanding person.”
• “I have known Karen for 15 years as she is my best friend’s mom. She is always friendly and helpful, and I know her to be a responsible and caring person.”
• “I have known Ryan for 4 years as he is my brother’s best friend. I have seen him interact with my brother and other people, and he is always polite and respectful. I know him to be a responsible and reliable person.”
• “I have known Stephanie for 3 years as she is a member of my church. She is always willing to help out and is always friendly and polite. I know her to be an honest and upstanding person.”
• “I have known Nathan for 2 years as he is my neighbor. He is always willing to help me out and is always friendly and polite. I know him to be a honest and upstanding person.”
• “I have known Emma for 1 year as she is my daughter’s best friend. I have seen her interact with my daughter and other children and she is always kind, patient, and helpful. Whenever she comes over for dinner, she is always polite and respectful. I know her to be a responsible and caring person.”
• “I have known Ann for 3 years as she is my Pilates instructor. She is always upbeat and positive, and I know her to be a responsible and reliable person.”
• “I have known Lisa for 1 year as she is my daughter’s dance instructor. She is always patient and encouraging, and I know her to be a kind and caring person.”
• “I have known Julie for 2 weeks as she has been working with me at the Parents and Teachers committee. She has only been with us for a short time, but she has already made a great impression. She is always well-informed and has interesting insights to share. I know her to be an intelligent and articulate person.”
• “I have known Jacinta for four years through competitive sports, and in that time she has consistently proven herself to be a highly self-motivated individual. Whether it is training for competition or simply striving to improve her personal best, Jacinta is always putting in the extra effort to reach her goals.”
• “Sam and I are swim partners. He is truly dedicated to swimming and this dedication has helped him to achieve great things in his swimming career, and I have no doubt that it will continue to serve him well in whatever endeavours he pursues in the future. I am confident that Sam will be an excellent addition to any team or organisation, and I wholeheartedly recommend him.”

As you can see, personal references can come from a variety of people who know you in different ways. The important thing is that they can attest to your character and speak to your positive qualities.

Personal references are people who can attest to your character, rather than your work history or qualifications. They can be useful for employers because they can give them a more well-rounded picture of the person and their behaviors and attitude.

When asking someone to be your personal reference, make sure to give them a heads up so they know what to expect. And, be sure to thank them afterward! They have done you a great favor.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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How To Write A University Reference: References Made Easy

If you’ve been asked to write a university reference, then congratulations – you’re about to provide an incredibly important element of that person’s application.

One that can often make the difference between them getting an achievable offer or not.

So, no pressure – it’s just their future in your hands!

And if you’re wondering exactly how to write a university reference, then this post is for you.

To write a university reference, you need to ensure that you know the applicant well, understand their relevant strengths and weaknesses and have the time to research and refine your writing. You should also include information on their skills, suitability, progress and potential.

So, if you’ve been asked to provide a university reference and are struggling to make a start, check out the following guide, suitable for all open reference requests (if no specific criteria are mentioned).

At the end of the post, you’ll find a completely free, downloadable university reference to help you get started…

What Is A University Reference?

Actually, although you might feel quite a lot of responsibility towards the person who has chosen you as their referee, if you write honestly, accurately and with their best interests at heart, you’ll do a great job.

Typically, a reference for university can be anywhere from 500 to 800 words long and is uploaded directly to the relevant platform directly by the referee. This could be to UCAS in the UK, the Common App in the US or third-party providers like China Admissions .

It’s read in conjunction with the candidate’s own personal statement and the rest of their application, which contains elements such as their educational history and personal details.

A university reference is used to help determine an applicant’s suitability for study in higher education. It’s used almost exclusively by admissions teams to form a rounded picture of a candidate’s potential for challenging academic study, their skills and experience, attitude and value.

Importantly, a university reference should paint a positive but realistic picture of the candidate, emphasise their key strengths and act as an endorsement without undue flattery… not always an easy balance to strike.

What Makes A Great Referee?

The best references are always those written by a referee that genuinely knows the candidate well and has a high level of understanding of their existing knowledge and suitability.

Great referees are also aware of the demands that a particular course of study will place on the applicant and can vouch for their ability to cope, academically and personally.

It’s worth mentioning that although there should be a good level of communication between the applicant and the referee, including sharing of factual details, discussion of potential courses and destinations, and mutual viewing of their personal statement (to avoid repetition and aid emphasis of strengths and experiences), a reference must be written solely by the referee.

Having written hundreds of references over the years, I found that it was always helpful to offer to share the reference with the applicant once it had been uploaded and delivered (and hence unable to be changed). 

That way, the applicant felt reassured about the contents but understood that they were not in a position to unduly influence the writing. Applicants can ask universities and third-party providers for access to their references once they have been uploaded, so if they really want to see them, they can.

Don’t let that concern you.

It’s much better to be open with applicants and their families, especially if there’s a chance that your reference might indicate that they may struggle to meet the demands of the course. As long as you stay focussed on the positives and have a good dialogue with the applicant, you’ll write a reference that will do them proud.

The UCAS Academic Reference plays a very important role in our decision-making process. We use it to assess not only the student’s current achievements but also their future potential. Michael Sanders University of Manchester

How Do You Write A University Reference?

So, how do you write a reference for a university student? 

Before we get to the specific elements to include, let’s briefly look at where to start. Before you put pen to paper, it’s worth taking the time to make sure that you have access to the following:

Existing And Pending Qualifications

You won’t need to include these in your reference, but it will give you an excellent idea of how well the applicant is progressing academically, where their strengths and weaknesses are in lessons, and possibly where they show resilience and a strong work ethic to overcome challenges.

Most of all, you’ll get a better understanding of how suitable they may be for the kind of subject they’re interested in reading at university.

Background Information

You probably know the applicant in an academic capacity (you’re their teacher, advisor, counsellor, agent or tutor) or as a friend, acquaintance or employer.

Either way, there are bound to be areas of their life that you don’t know much about, from their upbringing to their interests.

Take the time to get to know about the aspects you’re not sure about, particularly in terms of how they might support the application.

Course, Campus And Subject Choices

If the applicant has already made choices about what they want to study and where, then a good referee will take some time to look at the course details and compare the demands of the course with the applicant’s strengths and ambitions.

It’s not down to you to advise for or against their choices, but being informed about them is vital because you’ll want to tailor your reference to suit the relevant course demands.

If someone’s applying to read Biology and you don’t mention that they deepened their understanding by taking an additional course in Organic Chemistry, or have a high level of practical ability in their lab work, then you’re not giving them every advantage.

Wider Knowledge And Interests

Make sure that you find out about the applicants’ wider reading and research, their hobbies and interests and their knowledge and experience related to the subject.

This can give you much more of an overview of their suitability than qualifications and grades.

If the applicant has a strong practical skillset, make sure you reference it. If they have made great progress in a hobby, it’s worth knowing about.

You may not write about how great their ballet dancing is, but knowing about it will reinforce your positive comments about their stamina and resilience.

The Applicant’s Strengths and Ambitions

It’s always worth asking the applicant what they consider to be their strengths and how they have developed and demonstrated these.

Having some tangible evidence to underpin your comments adds a real air of authenticity to any reference. Knowing their strengths also gives you the opportunity to avoid writing about their weaknesses.

You shouldn’t ever write about the things an applicant struggles with, academically or otherwise.

There’s no value in using space in your reference to discuss the things the applicant can’t do well. Focus on the positives, stay truthful and instead, if you must mention them, frame the weaknesses as positives.

Instead of the following, which has no place in a reference…

Why not try…

Or even better…just don’t mention her timekeeping at all!

Remember to use the reference as a celebration of the applicant’s strengths. If punctuality isn’t one of them, don’t include it in the reference!

A final point when it comes to preparation… it’s always worth making sure that you have access to some up-to-date editing software like Grammarly .

References often demand a low word count, and having room to include all your points effectively can require some concise writing and judicious editing.

It’s also reassuring to know that you’ve uploaded an important document like a reference without any errors in spelling, punctuation or grammar. Using a tool like Grammarly helps take the headache out of writing in an academic style, especially if you’re out of the habit (and it’s great for all sorts of other writing projects too).

You can check out the free version of Grammarly here or hit the banner above for more information.

What Do You Put In A University Reference?

OK, so you’ve done your research, you’ve had the conversations, you’ve read the personal statement. Excellent. Here are the key details you need when it comes to the specific contents to include in a university reference.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a combination of recommendations from admissions teams, service platforms and schools coupled with common sense from my own experience.

Post-16 Academic Performance

Most important of all, you must outline the applicant’s recent academic performance. Focus on the subjects they are studying in order of relevance to the subject they intend to read.

Remember, descriptions of what they’ve done aren’t very useful, but examples of how they’ve applied knowledge and skills, and the way that relates to the challenges they are likely to face in higher education, are vital.

You should also indicate how predicted (sometimes referred to as ‘pending’) grades have been generated if you have that information.

If you have access to the data, it’s very helpful to include specific grades from internal tests that might not appear elsewhere and to indicate ranking within a subject or year group.

It’s also recommended to indicate how the applicant’s education may have been impacted by COVID-19, online learning or other external factors beyond the control of the candidate.

Universities often like to see a link to an institution’s website containing this information in detail rather than see space used up in a reference.

Potential For Success At University

This relates to academic success – how academically capable is the candidate, how well prepared, what level of research skills do they have, how adept are they at independent study, and how quickly can they absorb and understand new theories?

Do they have the potential to flourish and thrive in an academic environment and to complete the course successfully? It also relates to the applicant’s personal qualities – do they have the potential to manage in a social context, in terms of solo living, emotionally and financially?

It’s important to any institution that the learner makes a success of the opportunity, educationally, personally and financially.

Suitability For Subject Or Career Path

Another important element that you must include is whether the candidate is suitable for the particular subject they have chosen to read.

Just because an applicant is passionate about a subject doesn’t mean they are necessarily talented or capable in that area, and it’s important that the reference makes this clear.

This is where your knowledge of and connection with the applicant will become so important, both in the process of guiding their decision-making and in understanding their motivations.

You just need to make it clear in the reference how suitable you feel that person is, and you can only do that if you’ve taken the time to understand the course content.

Remember, it’s not your job to judge, just to offer an informed opinion.

Attitude, Motivation And Commitment To Study

If you can give a first-hand account of the applicant’s attitude and dedication to study, then that will be of great value to the admissions teams, who are looking for ways to differentiate between candidates.

If they can see evidence that an applicant has a track record in positive attitudes towards education, and is a self-motivated, independent learner, then that is the kind of detail likely to make a real difference.

• Consistently arrived well prepared and eager to learn?
• Engaged fully in the taught curriculum?
• Revised fully and accurately, and in good time?
• Made and kept accurate and well-referenced notes?
• Read outside the confines of the subject?
• Asked for additional work?
• Taken opportunities to deepen knowledge when offered?
• Created their own opportunities to further their understanding of the subject?
• Asked questions in an active way rather than absorbing information passively?
• Contributed to class discussion, debate, practical and group work?

You might not be able to judge all of these, but gathering feedback from a range of sources will help you form an overall picture. Remember, you should try to avoid describing and focus on actual examples that evaluate their progress.

So don’t write…

That doesn’t really tell the reader anything and isn’t helpful in comparing this candidate against another.

Instead, you could write…

This example basically says the same thing as the first one but gives the reader the context to understand the depth of this applicant’s connection to the subject beyond the demands of the fixed curriculum.

Subject-Specific Skills And Qualities

The more you can write about the kinds of subject-specific skills the candidate has, the more the reader will see a connection between the applicant and the course they are applying for.

Again, don’t inflate or invent, but give tangible examples of skills that underpin this field of study.

To identify these, look at the course descriptors for the subject the applicant is interested in studying and work out the skills that will be the most relevant.

Then clarify with the relevant subject teacher or with the applicant themselves which skills can be used as supportive examples.

Relevant Achievements, Experiences And Interests

Admissions teams are frequently faced with applicants who have nearly identical qualifications and predicted grades.

What makes the difference in an application is individuality and the unique achievement that proves a candidate’s suitability.

It’s important to identify the achievements and experiences that make the subject of your reference special, but you’re only going to be interested in the things that are relevant.

Examples might be…

• Completing independent projects, EPQs or MOOCs
• Entering school competitions
• Entering national or international competitions
• Participating in summer camps, festivals or academic workshops
• Membership of and participation in relevant clubs, groups or societies
• Travel and field trips
• Visits to exhibitions, displays, lecture opportunities or museums

Relevant Work Experience, Internships Or Volunteering

If the applicant has taken part in work experience opportunities or worked or volunteered with organisations that have relevance to the application, then you should certainly make room to include these.

This could be anything from a weekend job or helping with a family business to self-employment, positions with recognised firms or time spent supporting charities or community causes.

As with some of the other points on this list, the key thing to focus on in the reference is the value of these experiences. What the applicant learned and how they are going to be able to apply that learning in a higher education setting is far more important than simply listing the things they’ve done.

Showing how the applicant is growing and developing and giving the reader the chance to see how that person is likely to be able to contribute positively to an educational community is critical.

Transferable Skills

This is often the area that causes the most confusion when it comes to writing a reference.

Often, referees are encouraged to mention that an applicant loves football or judo, or that they are a keen pianist or love to take photos whilst travelling.

The problem is that the reader doesn’t really care, as that kind of information doesn’t actually mean anything.

As a referee, you need to be able to tease out the relevant transferable skills and place the focus on how an interest or activity has given the applicant a greater range of skills than someone else competing for the same place.

Transferable skills are those which can be applied regardless of specialism. They’re sometimes called ‘life skills’ or ‘soft skills’, and when they can be evidenced, they are highly valued by universities.

Examples might include…

Special circumstances or mitigation.

You may be aware of circumstances that have adversely affected the applicant’s educational journey. If you have permission to share these , it can be very helpful for an admissions tutor to understand why results or progress may have been affected before making offers.

You may know of family difficulties, financial hardships, health concerns or special educational needs that have made a difference.

Explain the impact of these, how the applicant has actively sought to overcome them, and your opinion of how they will be able to manage in higher education as a result.

Universities aren’t looking for reasons not to make offers, so far from disadvantaging candidates, this approach can make all the difference if results are not what the applicant was expecting.

Equally, if education has been interrupted as a result of COVID-19 or other factors that are outside the control of the candidate, it’s wise to mention these as well.

Honest Endorsement Of The Applicant

Lastly, it’s wise to sum up your reference with a few words that endorse the application. Your perspective, your honest opinion and your recommendation will go a long way to convincing the reader about the suitability of the applicant.

If you write a compelling few sentences at the end (especially if you make reference to the applicant’s value to the university or college), it can leave a lasting positive image of the applicant’s potential.

A good example might be…

I hope that’s been a valuable insight into how to write a university reference and that you feel reassured about the task ahead of you.

If you’d like to download an example of a university reference, you can click here or hit the banner below.

Just remember that every reference must be unique to the applicant, and they are checked for plagiarism, so whilst it’s useful as a guide, please don’t copy the wording.

You’ll have your own points to make about each applicant, and your relationship with them is going to form the basis of everything you write.

Good luck with your reference writing, and don’t forget to contact me if you’d like some 1-1 support.

You’ve got this! D

Research and content verified by Personal Statement Planet .

David Hallen

I've worked in the Further Education and University Admissions sector for nearly 20 years as a teacher, department head, Head of Sixth Form, UCAS Admissions Advisor, UK Centre Lead and freelance personal statement advisor, editor and writer. And now I'm here for you...

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Generate accurate APA citations for free

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• APA Style 7th edition
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APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples

Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk . Revised on January 17, 2024.

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual provides guidelines for clear communication , citing sources , and formatting documents. This article focuses on paper formatting.

Generate accurate APA citations with Scribbr

Throughout your paper, you need to apply the following APA format guidelines:

• Set page margins to 1 inch on all sides.
• Double-space all text, including headings.
• Indent the first line of every paragraph 0.5 inches.
• Use an accessible font (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt., or Georgia 11pt.).
• Include a page number on every page.

Let an expert format your paper

Our APA formatting experts can help you to format your paper according to APA guidelines. They can help you with:

• Margins, line spacing, and indentation
• Font and headings
• Running head and page numbering

Table of contents

How to set up apa format (with template), apa alphabetization guidelines, apa format template [free download], page header, headings and subheadings, reference page, tables and figures, frequently asked questions about apa format.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

References are ordered alphabetically by the first author’s last name. If the author is unknown, order the reference entry by the first meaningful word of the title (ignoring articles: “the”, “a”, or “an”).

Why set up APA format from scratch if you can download Scribbr’s template for free?

Student papers and professional papers have slightly different guidelines regarding the title page, abstract, and running head. Our template is available in Word and Google Docs format for both versions.

• Student paper: Word | Google Docs
• Professional paper: Word | Google Docs

In an APA Style paper, every page has a page header. For student papers, the page header usually consists of just a page number in the page’s top-right corner. For professional papers intended for publication, it also includes a running head .

A running head is simply the paper’s title in all capital letters. It is left-aligned and can be up to 50 characters in length. Longer titles are abbreviated .

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The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

• Missing commas and periods
• Incorrect usage of “et al.”
• Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
• Missing reference entries

APA headings have five possible levels. Heading level 1 is used for main sections such as “ Methods ” or “ Results ”. Heading levels 2 to 5 are used for subheadings. Each heading level is formatted differently.

Want to know how many heading levels you should use, when to use which heading level, and how to set up heading styles in Word or Google Docs? Then check out our in-depth article on APA headings .

The title page is the first page of an APA Style paper. There are different guidelines for student and professional papers.

Both versions include the paper title and author’s name and affiliation. The student version includes the course number and name, instructor name, and due date of the assignment. The professional version includes an author note and running head .

For more information on writing a striking title, crediting multiple authors (with different affiliations), and writing the author note, check out our in-depth article on the APA title page .

The abstract is a 150–250 word summary of your paper. An abstract is usually required in professional papers, but it’s rare to include one in student papers (except for longer texts like theses and dissertations).

The abstract is placed on a separate page after the title page . At the top of the page, write the section label “Abstract” (bold and centered). The contents of the abstract appear directly under the label. Unlike regular paragraphs, the first line is not indented. Abstracts are usually written as a single paragraph without headings or blank lines.

Directly below the abstract, you may list three to five relevant keywords . On a new line, write the label “Keywords:” (italicized and indented), followed by the keywords in lowercase letters, separated by commas.

APA Style does not provide guidelines for formatting the table of contents . It’s also not a required paper element in either professional or student papers. If your instructor wants you to include a table of contents, it’s best to follow the general guidelines.

Place the table of contents on a separate page between the abstract and introduction. Write the section label “Contents” at the top (bold and centered), press “Enter” once, and list the important headings with corresponding page numbers.

The APA reference page is placed after the main body of your paper but before any appendices . Here you list all sources that you’ve cited in your paper (through APA in-text citations ). APA provides guidelines for formatting the references as well as the page itself.

Creating APA Style references

Play around with the Scribbr Citation Example Generator below to learn about the APA reference format of the most common source types or generate APA citations for free with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator .

Formatting the reference page

Write the section label “References” at the top of a new page (bold and centered). Place the reference entries directly under the label in alphabetical order.

Finally, apply a hanging indent , meaning the first line of each reference is left-aligned, and all subsequent lines are indented 0.5 inches.

Tables and figures are presented in a similar format. They’re preceded by a number and title and followed by explanatory notes (if necessary).

Use bold styling for the word “Table” or “Figure” and the number, and place the title on a separate line directly below it (in italics and title case). Try to keep tables clean; don’t use any vertical lines, use as few horizontal lines as possible, and keep row and column labels concise.

Keep the design of figures as simple as possible. Include labels and a legend if needed, and only use color when necessary (not to make it look more appealing).

Check out our in-depth article about table and figure notes to learn when to use notes and how to format them.

The easiest way to set up APA format in Word is to download Scribbr’s free APA format template for student papers or professional papers.

Alternatively, you can watch Scribbr’s 5-minute step-by-step tutorial or check out our APA format guide with examples.

APA Style papers should be written in a font that is legible and widely accessible. For example:

• Times New Roman (12pt.)
• Arial (11pt.)
• Calibri (11pt.)
• Georgia (11pt.)

The same font and font size is used throughout the document, including the running head , page numbers, headings , and the reference page . Text in footnotes and figure images may be smaller and use single line spacing.

You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .

Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .

Yes, page numbers are included on all pages, including the title page , table of contents , and reference page . Page numbers should be right-aligned in the page header.

To insert page numbers in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Page number’.

APA format is widely used by professionals, researchers, and students in the social and behavioral sciences, including fields like education, psychology, and business.

Be sure to check the guidelines of your university or the journal you want to be published in to double-check which style you should be using.

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Streefkerk, R. (2024, January 17). APA Formatting and Citation (7th Ed.) | Generator, Template, Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/format/

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Do I have to add a citation to my personal statement? Answered

Hi everyone!

I just finished my personal statement and I wanted to write something that is different from what you see and know about me so I wrote about my love for music. In my statement I included a lyric from the song that I love and I was wondering if I have to add a citation at the end of my essay. I also did not include the song title or the artist. Should I add that? Anything helps!

Earn karma by helping others:

Since you are only quoting a line from a song into your personal statement, you do not need to enter a formal citation for ur personal essay. However, you can write the name of the song and singer in brackets next to the lyrics ( something like an in-text citation, but u need not follow the in-text citation format). In my opinion, if the lyric only lasts one line, then citations are not needed. If they go on a little longer, mentioning the song and singer's name as a side note would be just fine.

Hi! Thank you for letting me know!I will probably add an introduction we tan s before I meant lion the song lyric. Did you want me to put the song and artist name in brackets?

Whoops, I just noticed the bad grammar in my previous comment. I meant to say that,” I will probably add an introduction sentence before I mention the song lyric. If I did that, should I still add the brackets for the song title and artist?”

if you're adding an intro statement before the lyric, feel free to casually drop the song name ( in case the person reading ur essay doe not know what song the lyrics r from). Mentioning the artist would not be required then.

Thank you so much! Happy Holidays!

You don't need a formal citation. But you should say something along the lines of "In the song [song name] by [artist],..." or something like that so readers know who wrote it and what it is. Don't just drop it in. Best of luck!

Thank you for letting me know! I think I might add an introduction sentence to the song lyric before I mention the song lyric if that makes sense.

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How To Write A Personal Reference Letter (With Examples)

• Personal Reference Letter
• Recommendation Letter for Employment
• Professional Reference Letter
• Reference Letter Template
• Reference Letter for a Friend
• Professional References
• List Of References
• Recommendation Letter From Employer
• Academic Reference Letter
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Writing a personal reference letter for someone can be a big deal, so it’s essential you know how to write one correctly. Personal reference letters allow potential employers to get an understanding of who you are from people who worked closely with you. While professional recommendations are ideal for showcasing your on-the-job skills, a personal recommendation can also improve your candidacy.

Whether you’re writing a letter for a family friend, coworker, or a past client, we’ll go over how to write a personal reference letter, provide personal reference examples, as well as some tips to keep in mind when writing your letter.

Key Takeaways:

When writing a personal reference you should include an explanation of your relationship with the applicant, provide examples of the applicant’s positive qualities, and include the official recommendation in your letter.

Before writing the letter you should make sure you are familiar with the candidate’s qualities and personal characteristics.

Provide examples of the candidate’s abilities but make you stay positive and avoid getting too personal in your letter.

A personal reference letter can make the difference between securing an opportunity and being passed on to the next candidate so make sure to be honest in your letter.

What is a personal reference letter?

How to write a personal reference letter, personal reference letter examples, personal reference letter template, tips for writing a personal reference letter, before writing a personal reference letter, when to provide a personal reference letter, how to write a personal reference letter faq.

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A personal reference letter, also known as a personal letter of recommendation or a character reference/recommendation, is a letter used to bolster a person’s application for a job, admission to a school or organization, housing, or any other position that screens applicants.

A glowing reference letter can make the difference between securing an opportunity and being passed on to the next candidate. Unlike professional references, a personal reference letter is about getting to know a candidate beyond work ethic .

It emphasizes positive personality traits and soft skills . Personal reference letters give an organization a sense of a person’s character outside of work and make their application stand out.

To write a personal reference letter, you should start by explaining your relationship with the applicant and then provide examples of their positive qualities. Below is a more detailed list of how to write a personal reference letter:

Explain your relationship with the applicant . Before you jump into explaining someone’s personal character, catch the reader up to speed.

Go into detail about where you know them from and how long you’ve been acquainted. It needs to be clear that you know the candidate well enough that your opinion on their character carries some weight.

Provide examples of the applicant’s positive qualities . You’ve gone into depth about your relationship with the job candidate. In the next paragraph, provide what they came here to find out. Give as many positive attributes as possible, but a minimum of two.

Some possibilities of good qualities you could touch on might include:

Excellent communication

Positive outlook

Outstanding academic performance

People skills

Dedication to extracurriculars

When possible, try to give specific examples of times you witnessed the applicant demonstrating these qualities. Maybe your student showed initiative by creating a school newspaper. Perhaps you saw your previous co-worker demonstrate leadership skills by taking control of the company’s social media image.

The official recommendation . The closure of your letter should be for summarizing the points you’ve made to reach the final conclusion: you highly recommend this person for the position.

Try to relate the characteristics you’ve covered to the specific position the applicant is going for, whether that be a job, graduate school, or another opportunity. Leave the reader knowing the applicant has your full support .

Contact Information. You will want to include your contact information in the recommendation letter that way they can contact you if you have any questions. The best form of contact to include would be your email and a personal phone number.

Personal recommendation from a teacher example letter

Lindsey Stapleton 117 W California St. Denver, CO , 80402 (430)-220-3567 [email protected] September 4, 2020 Benjamin Smith Director of Admissions Boston University 233 Bay State Rd. Boston, MA , 02215 Dear Mr. Smith, My name is Lindsey Stapleton. I am reaching out to give my strongest recommendation for Anna Jacobs to be accepted into Boston University for the Fall 2021 term. I have been Anna’s High School English teacher for the past two years at Merrick High School. Prior to that, I had experience working with her on the student government and the swim team. During the years I’ve known Anna as a student and athlete , she’s demonstrated incredible leadership qualities, a caring demeanor, and a dedication to her education. She’s greatly improved her writing and reading skills. By her senior year, she secured the position of swim team captain with these qualities. On student government, she created a dance-a-thon fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. Throughout her time at Merrick High School, Anna has grown into a professional and capable young woman with enormous potential. I believe that her tenacious personality and hardworking attitude will drive her to success. I know she will continue to do great things, and I highly recommend her for your university. Please contact me if you’d like any further details. Sincerely, Lindsey Stapleton (430)-220-3567 [email protected]

Personal recommendation from a friend example letter

Christopher Kelly 416 Memphis Ave. Denver, CO, 80903 (917)-829-4379 [email protected] September 4, 2020 To Whom It May Concern, I have known Luke Barnes as a close friend for the past twelve years. For the first five of those years, we were coworkers together at Lexington amp; West Bank. Over that time, I got to know Luke very well. Luke is one of the most considerate and kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. Everybody loves to be around him, whether it’s in a work capacity or otherwise. Besides being an overall pleasant person, Luke is an excellent communicator . He’s never failed to soothe an angry client or expertly outline a proposal. Luke uses his sociability and communication skills to be an outstanding leader to his co-workers and friends. For these reasons, I recommend Luke Barnes for this position wholeheartedly. I am positive that his work style and personality will exceed your expectations and help drive the success of your company. If you have any other questions, please reach out. Sincerely, Christopher Kelly (917)-829-4379 [email protected]

Personal reference letter from a coworker example letter

Subject Line: Personal Recommendation for Tiffany Miller Dear Mr. Johnson, I am writing this letter with great pleasure to provide a personal reference for my coworker Tiffany Miller. I have had the privilege of working alongside Tiffany at XYZ Company for the past five years. I can attest to the outstanding qualities and contributions she had to our team. During our time working together, I observed Tiffany consistently demonstrating a strong work ethic, dedication, and a keen eye for detail. She is proactive in seeking solutions and always willing to go the extra mile to achieve results. One of her most impressive attributes is her ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues at any level. She has a natural talent for building positive and productive relations, fostering a positive and productive work environment, and promoting teamwork. I wholeheartedly recommend Tiffany for any future endeavors she may pursue. I have full confidence that Tiffany will make significant contributions and continue to excel in her career. If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or at 123-456-7890. Sincerely, Nick Day [email protected] 123-456-7890

Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name] , My name is [Your Name] . I am reaching out to give my strongest recommendation for [Referee’s Full Name] for the [Job Title] position at [organization/company/university’s name] . I have been [Referee’s First Name] ‘s [your relationship to the referee] for [how long you’ve known the referee] at [where you know them from] . During that time, I had experience working with [him/her/them] on [shared experience #1] and [shared experience #2] . During the years I’ve known [Referee’s First Name] as a [position of referee relative to you] , [he/she/they] demonstrated incredible [soft skill #1] , [soft skill #2] , and [soft skill #3] . [He/She/They] ‘s greatly improved [his/her/their] [skill referee has improved] . In [year] , [Referee’s First Name] accomplished [significant accomplishment] with these qualities. During the time I’ve known [Referee’s First Name] , [he/she/they] has grown into a professional and capable individual with enormous potential. I believe that [his/her/their] tenacious personality and hardworking attitude will drive [him/her/them] to success. I know [he/she/they] will continue to do great things, and I highly recommend [him/her/them] for your [organization/company/university/etc.] . Please contact me if you’d like any further details. Sincerely, [Your Full Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]

When writing a personal reference letter, make sure you are the right person to write the letter and be honest about the person. Here are some more tips to keep in mind when writing a personal reference letter:

Be sure you’re the right person to write the letter. The team requesting a personal recommendation is looking for valuable insight into an applicant’s personality characteristics. You must be very familiar with the person in order to provide this effectively.

If your description of the candidate is vague and lackluster, this can actually work against the candidates and decrease their chances of securing a position. It’s best practice to turn down writing a personal reference for someone who you don’t know well enough to speak to their good qualities.

Know the deadline. There’s likely an application deadline in place. Make sure you know when it is and that you have enough time to complete the letter by the deadline.

If you think that you might not be able to finish the letter in time, urge the applicant to find another personal reference. It’s better to give them time to find another recommender, as opposed to waiting until the last minute and realizing you can’t finish by the required deadline.

Be honest. A personal reference letter for your student, friend, or co-worker is not the space for exaggeration or falsities. Regardless of the ethical concerns, a hiring manager or admissions counselor can sniff out when a referee is stretching the truth.

This will reflect negatively on the applicant and lessen the recommender’s credibility. You can still express your friend as an outstanding candidate, without going over the top.

Focus on positive attributes . Everyone has their weaknesses but when sending or writing a reference for employment, it’s best to stick to the strengths .

Be candid with your recommendation. If you’re finding that the shortcomings of the applicant are outweighing their strong points, someone else in their network should probably be writing the recommendation.

Keep it brief . A personal recommendation letter shouldn’t be a full-length biography. Even though you have a lot of awesome things to say about the applicant, admission and hiring teams have a great deal of paperwork to go through for every candidate.

The shorter and more straightforward your reference is, the more of an impact it will leave.

Avoid getting too personal . This may sound like an ironic concept when discussing a personal reference letter. There is a difference between knowing a person’s characteristics well and divulging unnecessary personal information.

Don’t include anything outside of the personality qualities and achievements that are relevant to the opportunity.

Be polite and professional. While there are many possible reasons why a candidate might need a personal reference, all of them require a professional tone. Format your letter accordingly .

This is especially important when you’re writing a recommendation for a friend. Avoid sounding too casual. It could come across as disreputable.

Give specific examples . When showcasing the applicant’s skills, make sure that there’s evidence to back it up.

If you’re saying that your student was hardworking, include an instance of when they went above and beyond on a project. If you’re stating that your neighbor is very responsible, tell them about the time that she watched your children for the weekend while you were out of town.

Giving specified examples shows the hiring committee that these are not just free-floating concepts. The candidate has shown these characteristics in their achievements.

Focus on relevant information. It’s easy to get into the positive personality traits of the person you’re writing a recommendation for. While it’s beneficial to bring up these qualities, be careful not to get lost in irrelevant details.

Some things that you may think are special about the candidate may not be helpful in the context of their new job. Be sure it makes sense.

Cater the letter to the desired position. Tailoring your recommendation to the desired position of the candidate goes hand-in-hand with relevant information. Try to get as much information about the opportunity as possible from the applicant. Some qualities may be more relevant in a particular position.

For example, it may not be relevant for the average job-seeker to include that they have a pet or love animals in their letter of recommendation. However, if the position directly involves animal care, such as a veterinarian or a dog trainer , it may be very valuable information.

Before you sit down to write your personal reference letter, have a conversation with the person you’re writing it for. Ask them what traits, skills, and experiences they’d like you to highlight.

If it’s for a job application, go over the job description together. Keep an eye out for soft skills to start brainstorming ideas for what to write about. For example, if the job description says that the job requires interdepartmental collaboration, you could write about a time your friend organized a club or brought a team together.

If you’re writing a personal reference letter for admission to a school, look over the program details. See what kind of qualities the school values most based on its mission statement and its interactions with the public through social media.

Arming yourself with knowledge about what the letter’s recipient wants to hear can make it much easier to start generating ideas for your personal reference letter.

You should provide a personal recommendation letter when a candidate doesn’t have much work experience but still has the potential to be a great employee or student.

For example, your letter could let a cautious employer know that the teenage neighbor who babysat for your kids is definitely responsible enough for hiring. It can also be an important part of the loan process when making a large purchase, such as a home.

Before deciding how to ask someone to be your reference , you must figure out who to ask. People who can speak to these qualities in an enthusiastic character reference may include:

Past teachers

Family-friend

Guidance Counselor

Anyone else who can effectively vouch for an applicant’s soft skills

The great thing about a character reference is that it’s personal. That means that the possibilities for people who can write it are as wide as your social network .

Should I agree to write a personal reference letter for someone?

Before agreeing to write a personal reference letter it’s important to make sure you know the requester well enough to highlight their good, relevant qualities before you agree to write them a recommendation. Being asked to write someone a personal reference letter is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly, as it can carry a lot of weight in application success.

Writing a character reference for a childhood friend you haven’t seen since high school may come off as disingenuous and have a surprisingly negative impact. It’s best to politely decline if you can’t definitively speak to this person’s character.

Can you use a family member as a reference?

Personal references usually don’t include family members since professional references can have a lot of sway during a job search. It’s best not to use anyone that might have personal bias and will say anything to help you get a job.

You should ask past teachers, clients, or coworkers to be a personal reference as they can speak to your qualities and abilities to work.

What happens if your reference doesn’t answer?

If your reference doesn’t answer when a potential employer is doing a background check, it might reflect badly on you. It doesn’t always mean you will lose your job offer. You should apologize to the hiring manager and provide another reference ASAP.

If you don’t have another reference to give, contact your reference and see why they didn’t answer. Chances are they just haven’t had time to respond to their messages. Have them contact the hiring manager ASAP.

What do you write in a personal reference letter?

You should include an explanation of your relationship to the candidate and how long you’ve known them when writing a personal reference letter. You should also write any positive personal qualities with specific examples. Some examples of these qualities could include their communication skills, academic performance, or their people skills.

You should close the letter with your official recommendation and try to relate the qualities you’ve covered to the specific position the applicant is going for.

Boston University – Writing a Letter of Recommendation

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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