1. The first paragraph should say something like:

"I am writing to you on behalf of my former colleague, Sally M. Smith. I had the privilege of working with her from 19XX to 20XX when she was the (title) of (company XYZ)." Use your own words.

2. In the 2nd paragraph, mention some specifics that you recall about me:

"As the (title/company), Sally directed the strategic planning process for our division and led the economic and market forecasting. Her forecasts were instrumental in a number of projects. She actively contributed to the composites industry by doing (A, B and C). Sally consistently demonstrated (words such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, follow-through, analysis, organization are good to use). Throughout her tenure with company XYZ, she proved herself to be _ and a _ team player." (Or something along these lines. Focus your attention on my contributions to the company as much as possible). Again, use your own words.

3. For paragraph 3, you may wish to mention some personal traits/values of mine:

What was it like to work with me, how did I measure-up as a team member compared with others? What contributions was I known for? What was I particularly good at? What positive recollections of working with me do you have? Use whatever adjectives come to mind.

4. The last paragraph should reiterate how you feel about me as a professional:

"I feel strongly that Sally would bring A, B and C to any organization and prove to be a valuable, contributing member," (or something similar). End with a sentence that says something like, "I would be happy to talk with you if you have any questions about Sally," or "Please feel free to contact me directly if you would like to know more about Sally's work." Use your own words.

Telephone References: Whom to Ask and How to Ask

When you create your list of Professional References, be sure to include the following elements for each individual:

- Name
- Title
- Company
- Street Address
- Phone Number
- E-Mail Address
- The person's relationship to you (Example: As the Senior Scientist in charge of all research projects, Terry can attest to my technical and analytical skills.)

Also, always use the prefixes Mr., Ms., or Dr. before each name on your list of Professional References.

Conclusion

You'll need to go through the necessary steps to get these tools together - and it may take some time. But as a result, your "Job Search Portfolio" will be much stronger. When used properly, your Telephone References and Letters of Recommendation will distinguish you from the other candidates, and ensure that you'll get more offers!

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