How Do You Write a Testimonial for a Friend?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

A testimonial for a friend extols that friend’s qualities and virtues. It not only mentions the friend’s positive characteristics but also backs up these claims with supporting facts and real-life experiences with the friend. An effective testimonial helps increase the friend’s chances of getting a job.

A testimonial helps give employers and clients a general picture of the friend’s true character, including his work ethic and expertise. If the friend is selling a product, a testimonial is an effective means to increase sales. It is proof that the friend or his business has earned a great reputation from the perspective of another person. It helps add support and value to the descriptions that the friend has written about himself in his resume or profile. Common characteristics that testimonials are likely to include are compassion, fair-mindedness, social conduct, respect, dependability and a strong sense of duty.

In most cases, a testimonial consists of only a couple of sentences. If a friend asks for something longer, the testimonial becomes part of a character reference or recommendation letter. Regardless of length, testimonials must come from real people. They can be written by neighbors, acquaintances and colleagues, but they hold a greater influence over recruiters and customers when their writers are of standing and have pertinent knowledge.