Reference letters

[wwiiguy]

Okay, this may be a very dumb question, but I'm in an interesting situation. I just asked my previous employer if he'd write me a letter of reference. He wrote me back and told me to write it out and he'd sign it. Without going overboard on saying what a great guy and pilot I am, does anyone have any bodies of reference letters they would be willing to share with me? What sort of things do employers look to see in these reference letters besides "Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

If anyone could help me I'd sure appreciate it!

 

[BayAreaPilot]

I would say that HE should write the letter. He would be doing you a favor by taking the time to write it but if he is willing to say good things about you than he should be willing to take half an hour out of his day to write it. Im sure someone did the same for him when he was in your position.

 

[FlyFlyFly]

I would make sure that he covered SPECIFIC attributes. If there are specific, positive character traits that you have exhibited consistently, he should write about them.

I followed up on a "glowing" reference letter more than once, and once I was speaking to the person, they were hard pressed to offer specific examples of what they wrote about. Not everyone is thorough in follow-up on these things, but it will hurt more than help if the sender can only say, "well, nothing comes to mind, but Joe is a great guy..."

 

[MTpilot]

"Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

You're Hired!!!!!!

 

[atrdriver]

"Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

You're Hired!!!!!!

I don't know, I'd be worried about that anal leakage thing...

 

[mnixon]

"Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

I got techniques drippin out my butt cheeks...sleep on my stomach so I don't F$%k up my bed sheets!

 

[Pedro]

Okay, this may be a very dumb question, but I'm in an interesting situation. I just asked my previous employer if he'd write me a letter of reference. He wrote me back and told me to write it out and he'd sign it. Without going overboard on saying what a great guy and pilot I am, does anyone have any bodies of reference letters they would be willing to share with me? What sort of things do employers look to see in these reference letters besides "Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

If anyone could help me I'd sure appreciate it!

If that's what he wants, then do that, write something that talk about a couple of good qualities that you have and ask him if he agrees. If he does he will sign it.
If you want a sample of a LOR send me a PM, I'd be glad to share one with you.

 

[Daveman]

Okay, this may be a very dumb question, but I'm in an interesting situation. I just asked my previous employer if he'd write me a letter of reference. He wrote me back and told me to write it out and he'd sign it. Without going overboard on saying what a great guy and pilot I am, does anyone have any bodies of reference letters they would be willing to share with me? What sort of things do employers look to see in these reference letters besides "Joe is a great guy, the best pilot I ever flew with and has responsibility leaking out his ass" ???

If anyone could help me I'd sure appreciate it!

The long and the short of it is, "they" want to see the reference name/title.
No big deal. If you write your own letter, remember to fax/mail etc.. to the guy who's name is signed at the bottom before you send it to your future employer!
Good luck.

 

[semperfido]

1. make sure it is on company letterhead

2. Make sure it is a professional looking letter (spelling, grammatically correct), titles correct

3. Just say that "joe bloe (you) have made a positive contribution to the organization. That you work very well with others. That you went above and beyond the call of duty many times in the past. That you are a person that I can be relied on. That you were someone that could one day be a manager.

4. Write in the 1st person as if you were the boss writing the letter.

5. Have someone proof read it.

 

[wwiiguy]

thanks

hey thanks for the advice guys--I appreciate it