— Contributed by Indeed.ca

What’s the difference between a letter of employment, a job offer letter, and a reference letter?

What these three letters have in common is that they all need to come from your employer. Aside from that, there are several differences between them.

A letter of employment is a short, straight-to-the-point letter that verifies your job title, salary, and work history. A job offer letter is for new employees after an interview. If an employer is prepared to hire you, they send a job offer letter outlining your prospective role and salary. This allows you to consider the formal offer and accept or reject it, usually within a specified time frame.

Finally, a reference letter is like a letter of employment, but it’s more detailed and discusses whether you’re an exemplary employee. It confirms your work experience while telling new, prospective employers how you perform. Many employers request reference letters as they’re one of the best ways to get to know you professionally. It helps them make an informed decision about whether to hire you.

What Are Employee References? (With Types and Template)

Employee reference letters are useful when applying for a new job position. There may be several instances where your professional contacts ask you for this kind of letter. Knowing more about providing employee references can help you write excellent reference letters for those who ask you for them. In this article, we discuss what employee references are, take a look at the various types, explain how to write a reference letter, and share a basic template and example you can use when writing your own.

What are employee references?

Employee references are letters that colleagues might ask you for when seeking a new role, volunteer position, or other professional opportunities. Someone can ask you for a reference letter if you’re a team leader, a colleague, or a manager. Job seekers who want to begin new careers can also ask previous employers for references that share their previous accomplishments, along with their skills and overall character.

Related: How To Write a Professional Reference List With Template

Types of reference letters

Here’s a list of the types of reference letters that job seekers may ask you to write:

Academic reference letters

Candidates can ask you to write a reference letter if you’re a previous teacher or professor and if they want an academic reference letter for their new program applications. Academic reference letters typically inform other programs of the candidate’s academic achievements and show their ability to excel in the field. Some employers also ask for academic reference letters to summarize the candidate’s hard and soft skills. If candidates have limited work experience when applying for a new job, they can also ask you to write academic reference letters.

Related: Academic Reference Letter (With Request Tips and an Example)

Personal reference letters

If you’re in a candidate’s immediate circle of friends and family, they may ask you for a personal reference letter. These reference letters are beneficial in careers that require character references. Some employers may also ask candidates for character references to determine how candidates function in teams or to learn more about their history. For example, some policing organizations may ask candidates for character references to obtain information about how they interact with others. When writing these letters, you may describe your relationship with the candidate, along with why you believe they are suitable for the role.

Related: Character Reference Letter: Sample and Tips

Professional reference letters

You can write a professional reference letter for a candidate if you’re one of their peers or colleagues. These letters generally provide information about their job performance and skills from the perspective of a peer rather than a superior. These letters also describe their skills and accomplishments in previous places of employment.

Related: How to Write a Reference Letter For a Student

What to include in a reference letter?

Reference letters don’t have to be complicated or overwrought. Here’s a list of information to include in a reference letter:

Salutation

In the salutation, address the recipient of the letter by their name and title. You can also include the date you send the reference. It’s beneficial to consider your relationship with the recipient before you send the reference letter. For example, if you have an existing or personal relationship with the recipient, you may use informal salutations. If you don’t have an existing relationship with the recipient, use formal salutations.

Contact information

Provide the recipient with your contact information to help ensure that they can call or email you with additional questions if necessary. For example, some hiring managers may want to know more about your relationship with the candidate. Some hiring managers may also use this contact information to verify your identity.