letter of recommendation

That's a loaded question. I have also been asked to provide a letter of recommendation for a friend.

Keep it honest.
Say something about the length of time you have known this person. Did he work well on his own? Reliable? Trustworthy? Knowledgable? Problem solver?

My problem is I know the person for my letter all too well. He's looking for a site super job on a construction site or even a lead framer. I wouldn't let him build me a shed! And I've been trying to come up with something polite to write.

Good luck, because your friendship may come to an end as may mine.

I would say something to the effect that "I would hire him, if I had an opening."

HE SHOWS UP FOR WORK ON TIME---although he will probably be hung over and not worth shooting until at least noon.

HE NEVER TAKES A SICK DAY---but his grandma has died seven times already.

YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM---when he passes out after "lunch" you can use his fingers to count past ten.

LOVES HIS JOB--especially any females between 18 and 81 who might possibly have any interest in being sexually harrassed while at work.

GREAT DECISION MAKER---tastes great or less filling?

WONDERFUL COMPUTER SKILLS---if you like to watch hardcore porn right after lunch.

LIKE WILL ROGERS, HE HAS NEVER MET A MAN HE DIDN'T LIKE---hates filthy, scummy women and their germ-loaded private areas.

WELL READ---some porn comes with subtitles.

FAST LEARNER---can swear in 27 different languages.

WILLING TO TRAVEL---in a company vehicle to anywhere you don't want a company vehicle to be seen.

and most importantly

HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY---though after nearly one hundred attempts surely some jury will eventually get it right.

> Any ideas what should or should not be included?

Have him write it. You review it and make edits as you see fit.

Better yet, just have him list you as a reference. Then if it comes to it, you can answer any questions that may be asked of you.

speaking of the company vehicle, my travels take me past a lot of wineries with tasting offered.

We often joke that we are going to get some magnetic "CAL WINE" signs so we can drop in and check the wine. My employer would definitely frown on me taking a break at the winery in their badged vehicle. I don't even wear the CAL FIRE t-shirt after work when I go down to the bar for a beer, I put on an unmarked "civilian" shirt.

Be honest but don't provide any information that might be considered "bad". If you would hire him, say so, but if you wouldn't, don't mention it at all.

I also like the "have him write it" approach.

I disagree with the 'have him write it' approach. It seems like that could potentially cause problems. I say tell the truth, and/or don't write it if you can't recommend him in any way. I would pick only complimentary things if I wrote it.

> HE SHOWS UP FOR WORK ON TIME---although he will probably be hung over and not worth shooting until at least noon.
>
> HE NEVER TAKES A SICK DAY---but his grandma has died seven times already.
>
> YOU CAN COUNT ON HIM---when he passes out after "lunch" you can use his fingers to count past ten.
>
> LOVES HIS JOB--especially any females between 18 and 81 who might possibly have any interest in being sexually harrassed while at work.
>
> GREAT DECISION MAKER---tastes great or less filling?
>
> WONDERFUL COMPUTER SKILLS---if you like to watch hardcore porn right after lunch.
>
> LIKE WILL ROGERS, HE HAS NEVER MET A MAN HE DIDN'T LIKE---hates filthy, scummy women and their germ-loaded private areas.
>
> WELL READ---some porn comes with subtitles.
>
> FAST LEARNER---can swear in 27 different languages.
>
> WILLING TO TRAVEL---in a company vehicle to anywhere you don't want a company vehicle to be seen.
>
> and most importantly
>
> HAS NEVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY---though after nearly one hundred attempts surely some jury will eventually get it right.

:clap: You never cease to amaze, Cow

The person in question is the best surveyor I know. Excellent in all phases of this great profession, but beyond compare as a boundary surveyor. We worked together since 1998 and he had been my boss since 2001. Now, due to circumstances beyond our control (read that as a layoffs) he is looking for a job. It is his idea to send or be ready to send the reference letter when he gets a call back for an interview.

Very weird at work these past two weeks....kind of like a death in the family. Like I told my wife, the only thing I could think of that would have been worse was if it had me that got laid off.

Let's just hope things pick up before additional layoffs are needed.

By the way, he holds professional registrations in Georgia and Alabama.....just in case anyone has a lead that I can pass along.

Dan

Please share with him my short list of items YOU COULD HAVE INCLUDED in your reference letter. You could even add: Despite taking monthly trips to Colombia for no apparent reason, it has never been proven that he is a drug mule.

Dan,
Instead of writing the letter 'to whom it may concern'...write the letter to him...describe how much you liked working with him...how much you appreciated what he taught you...

Let him share the letter if he needs to...

DDSM

Dan R...., I think you have nailed it !

Dan C

Perhaps the letter should start that as he was your boss that you were never in the position to assess him like he could assess you and would love to write instead a personal letter expressing your sentiments about your shared surveying experiences, with a few "remember whens" to subtley lead into the range of his experiences.

You could include that you were willing for him to share your letter with any potential employer.

RADU

:good: :good: :good:

> By the way, he holds professional registrations in Georgia and Alabama.....just in case anyone has a lead that I can pass along.

You guys may already watch it but just in case you don't, SAMSOG has had a steady stream of available positions lately. Needless to say, the competition has been fierce but there have been some openings. Good luck; it's tough out there.