At the latest since the advent of the social media era, we know that recommendations significantly influence purchasing decisions. They are also becoming increasingly important in the application process. They are especially helpful when employment certificates are vague or entirely absent. Recommendations, as word-of-mouth, are not only the oldest form of advertising but also the most honest. And you should not overlook them in your future applications.
If your employment certificate is not sufficiently informative, you can ask a colleague from your previous company to write a reference letter for you. Keep it short and to the point—no more than 3 to 5 sentences. Make sure the praised competencies are those that are indispensable in your next job. For example, if you want to switch to a different industry, the reference letter should mention your ability to quickly learn new tasks in unfamiliar fields. If your “advanced” age is a concern, the letter could highlight your experience in shortening learning processes for the entire team, your mentoring ability, or your well-honed judgment. It’s important that the reference writer is credible, competent, and convincing to the reader.
Example: Ms. Maier consistently impressed me with how quickly she adapted to new fields (automotive, environmental technology, pharmaceuticals). No one from the industry could have implemented the projects more competently. It’s a shame we can no longer benefit from this skill. Best wishes, DI M. Achter, Project Manager, Company XY.
If you are young, “fresh out of university,” and it’s not entirely clear to recruiters why you want to work in this industry based on your education, it’s advisable to have someone write why they see you in this industry. Again, it should come from someone credible.
Example: During his studies in “Health Management,” Mr. Müller took excellent care of his mother, who required care, which always made me think that disability and youth care would have been a better career choice for him. I also want to thank him for helping to guide my brother (through puberty) back onto the right path. Anna Mauer, Social Welfare Association XY.
Please keep in mind that lies have short legs and won’t benefit anyone. The goal is not to deceive someone, but to reflect on whether and when you have already used those competencies (experience, soft skills, etc.) that are not captured in your resume and which you may not have even thought of until now. These competencies should also be added to your resume if appropriate. In the example of “industry change,” you would add under the last position (from which the reference letter originates) in the job description: “cross-industry thinking (automotive, environmental technology, pharmaceuticals).”
From my experience with clients, I know that more competencies exist than are listed on the resume. So, go searching for those key qualifications that your future employer will be looking for in every resume.
Discover hidden competencies, list them in your resume, and make them more impactful through reference letters.
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