Recently, I was asked to provide a personal reference for someone who was a member of my aikido club, as she had applied for a new job (as an IT Project Manager).
When writing personal references, I try to relate my experience of the person in the personal setting to the work environment. For example:
Through her study of aikido over the past five years, XXX has demonstrated her ability to learn complex tasks, to pass on her knowledge to others, to be a team member and to improve her skills.
It is also an activity that requires focus, dedication, enthusiasm and persistence. She has passed a number of gradings, and XXX has become a senior member of the club. I believe these attributes would be extended into the workplace environment.
A prospective employer is also interested in knowing if someone is trustworthy, reliable, and what their work ethic is like. If someone is applying for a leadership role, have they demonstrated leadership outside of the work environment?
For a Technical Author, do they demonstrate a close attention to detail, the ability to get on with others and to get things done, within their private sphere?
It makes sense to state your opinion with regard to these.
How do you respond to personal references?
Leave a Reply