character refs - can they just be your friends?

[joko]

my mate has asked me but i thought they had to be from a professional you knew...like your doctor, solicitor, teahcer etc?

whats accepted?

bit pointless if your best mate writes one isnt it, as obviously going to be good...

thanks

[mollykins]

I'm pretty sure they have be from someone with a respectable position within society like you say, a doctor or solicitor, my mum got the mayor to write her one.

[milly143]

It depends what it is for. The company would normally specify who it should be from. We have to do them for security passes for work sometimes and they can be from anyone you like, which I have always thought totally pointless. In the same way these forms ask questions such as, have you ever been involved in terrorism or espianage - Yeah, course I have and I'm going to tell you all about it!.

[venator]

An employer will usually ask for a reference from a current employer, but a work colleague might be acceptable.

I usually say "I have (employed or known) xxxxx for xxxx years as (work colleague, family friend) and have always found him/her to be (totally reliable / hard working / outgoing / proactive / ambitious / keen to learn / bl**dy useless) I have no hesitation in recommending him / her for the position.

[venator]

Milly - that made me laugh and reminds me - I registered some Microsoft software last year, and was asked "Do you intend to use this item for the purposes of terrorism?"

I thought of saying yes, but decided that the humourless geeks might send MI6 and the SAS round.

[ummmm]

My friend was a character witness for me. I use to work for his Dad and along side him. He has his own business now.

[dotty.]

Character references are used to give a quick overview of how others who know you well percieve you. As long as it is not a relative, it can be anyone from your GP, the chief constable, to your next door neighbours milkman.
An employer reference cannot be negative and so that carries some weight, but a character reference is voluntary and so if you know someone who holds you in high regard it is obviously a good thing and says much about your character.

[joko]

aye, but we've all got mates who will write anything we want in a reference... even someone i really think is a bit useless workwise id happily sing their praises in a reference to help them, if theyre my pal...seems pointless really...

[Twenty20]

>An employer reference cannot be negative

I'm not sure where this misconception comes from. An employer can certainly give a negative reference so long as it is accurate and truthful. The problem arises when an employer gives a negative reference out of spite or some other reason that cannot be backed up with facts. So long as the reference is correct and can be show to be so, it can be positive or negative.

[4getmenot]

we usually ask for 2 proffesional 1 personal

[joko]

yes, as long as its not rude, moany or spiteful sounding or petty, and its written in formal and professional manner, then of course a reference can be negative...otherwise whats the point? they would not be worth the paper theyre written on.

i would not hesiatate to give a bad reference for some people ive worked with...

some would choose just to be neutral..not saying anything bad but using words like adequate, average, etc

[Scylax]

Perhaps it is important to note that CHARACTER and PERSONALITY are different entities. Character refers only to one's moral and legal standpoints. Personality is much wider and refers to all those facets of oneself which make a person unique, such as temperament, intelligence, education, background environment, aptitude; in short, Nature + Nurture.

An employer's reference should include all of these facets, plus a statement regarding the employee's honesty and integrity ('character') and his work-record.. Obviously, no-one's pal can give such a reference; he could only give a very limited testimonial, which would be virtually useless to a prospective employer.