What is a professional reference letter reference letter?

A professional reference letter is a document that a job candidate can use to support the claims made in other job application materials, like their resume and cover letter. These types of reference letters are different than personal or character references.

You can only write a professional reference letter for someone who you've worked with closely in a professional setting. Before you even begin planning what you're going to put in a reference letter, take a minute to remind yourself who your audience is and why you're writing it. This letter isn't a heartfelt note for a birthday card or a biography of the person.