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Sample Letter Of Reference

Reference or Recommendation... How to choose

What IS the difference between a letter of reference and a letter of recommendation?
It's very difficult to know, sometimes, when you need a letter of reference and when you need a letter of recommendation since there is no definitive list anywhere of when to use which. Sometimes either one could serve your purpose. Sometimes one can serve the purpose of the other. But maybe this simple tutorial will be of some help.

A letter of reference is useful when you are applying for a job or a course of study. It is used more often when one is making a lateral career move or trying to get a promotion in your specific field. It almost always accompanies an application to some paying position and would come from a direct supervisor. It would attest to the abilities witnessed directly by said supervisor and it's purpose would be to serve as proof that you posses the skills and abilities you claim to posses.
An example of this would be a line-chef applying for the position of sous chef. If he were very skilled, not just at cooking and presentation, but at co-ordinating all the workings of the kitchen as well, then he might get a letter from his own sous chef stating this, to include with his resume. This would be a letter of reference.

A letter of recomendation is often necessary when you are applying for an internship or academic persuit that is above your skill level and outside your area of area of expertise. This can come from a supervisor, boss or professor but does not have to. When choosing someone to write your letter of recommendation, the person you want is someone whose opinion will be respected by the person you are sending it to. A letter of recommendation is not for the purpose of proving that you posses a skill, but rather that you have demonstrated the potential to learn skills that not everyone can learn.
An example of this would be a high-school senior applying to get into an advanced college course on physics, into which freshmen aren't typically accepted. If, however, his high school science teacher had seen an uncommon genius in the student, they could send a letter to the school recommending that they let him into the class. This would be a letter of recommendation.

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