A fellow who has been an excellent account rep with a vendor we used has been subject to a downsizing by his company. He has been out of work now since November. I've told him he can use me as a reference cause I've been so happy with how he has helped my company.
I was wondering if it would be helpful to him if I wrote him a letter of recommendation addressed to "Whom it may concern" or something like that saying he has done a great job for us in his previous role and I highly recommend him.
But I wondered if this would be nothing more than a goodwill gesture to make him feel better because I've never used a letter of recommendation here in the US in the private sector myself. I've used references and have been references for others seeking a job, but I was never asked nor did I have any sort of opportunity to present a letter of recommendation to a prospective employer. Mostly because they want to contact references.
Would a letter of recommendation in 2014 be of any use for someone with 12 years of experience? If so, how might he present it to a prospective employer? Along with his resume? Include it in e-mail when communicating about the job? Simply list that a letter of recommendation is available for request on his resume and/or job application?
If someone wrote a strong letter of recommendation for you as an experienced professional for a job in the private sector in the US would you be able to make any use of it? Thanks!
