By ExpediUSA, August 23, 2025

Character References: Why They STILL Matter in Federal Contracting!

Picture this...you’ve submitted your resume for a federal contractor role. Your skills align perfectly. You’ve got relevant experience. But so do dozens of other applicants.

So how do you stand out?

This is where a character reference letter can add a competitive edge. While resumes show what you’ve done, and interviews reveal how you present yourself, a strong character reference highlights who you are from the perspective of someone who knows you well (i.e. your integrity, reliability, and your professionalism). Though less common than they once were, character letters can still be valuable in today’s hiring environment.

What Is a Character Reference Letter?

A character reference letter is a written statement from a third party who can speak to your personality, values, and soft skills. Unlike a professional reference (which usually comes from a direct supervisor or coworker and focuses on your work performance), a character reference typically comes from:

A professor or mentor
A neighbor or community leader
A volunteer coordinator or faith-based leader
A colleague outside of your direct reporting line

What It Should Include:

How the reference knows you
How long they’ve known you
Specific examples of your positive qualities (e.g., integrity, teamwork, dependability)
Their contact information for verification

Why They Still Carry Weight

They Humanize the Candidate: Resumes show skills, but a reference letter demonstrates qualities like reliability, honesty, and teamwork, traits hiring managers value highly (Robert Half, 2023).
They Help Early-Career and Career-Change Applicants: If you lack extensive work history in federal contracting, a character letter can showcase transferable traits, such as leadership from volunteer work or perseverance in education (CMD Recruitment, 2023).
They Differentiate You in Close Calls: When recruiters are comparing candidates with similar qualifications, a compelling reference can make the deciding difference (Apprentek, 2023).

The Limitations of Character Reference Letters

As with anything, character references have their drawbacks. Here are a few:

Not always required: Many recruiters don’t request them unless they want additional context.
Potential bias: References are often glowing by default, which can limit credibility (Business News Australia, 2024).
Not a substitute for experience: They add color, but hiring decisions still rely on resumes, skills, and interviews.

Best Practices for Job Candidates

A strong character reference doesn’t happen by accident; it’s something you prepare for. Here’s how to make sure yours stands out:

Line up 2–3 references before you need them. Don’t scramble at the last minute. Reach out to professors, mentors, volunteer leaders, or community members who know you well and can genuinely vouch for your character.
Set your references up for success. Share the job description and highlight the qualities you’d like them to emphasize in the letter. The clearer you are, the stronger their letter will be.
Give them tools, not homework. Make it easy by offering a sample template or a few talking points. This helps them focus on stories and examples that will matter to the hiring manager.
Keep it polished. The letter should include the writer’s contact information, specific examples, and a professional tone. Avoid vague statements like “They’re a great person.”

Here is a sample character reference:

Best Practices for Recruiters

Character reference letters aren’t one-size-fits-all; they’re most useful when applied strategically. Here’s how to use them effectively:

Request with intention. Ask for character references when you need insight into a candidate’s soft skills, like integrity, professionalism, or leadership, that a resume or interview might not fully capture.
Create consistency. Provide referees with 2–3 structured questions (e.g., “Can you share an example of when this candidate demonstrated dependability?”). This reduces bias and makes comparisons easier across applicants.
Use as a complement, not a crutch. A character reference should confirm or add context to what you’ve learned from interviews, assessments, and work history, not replace them.

Stats That Show Relevance

Did you know...

89% of HR professionals still check references as part of the hiring process (Wikipedia, 2023).
Reference checks and letters add nuance about soft skills that may not appear in resumes or interviews (Swailes Backgrounds, 2024).
Research shows they’re best used as one piece of a broader hiring process, not the sole deciding factor (HRM Online, 2024).

How will this information change your job search as you move forward?

Final Takeaway

Character reference letters are no longer standard in every hiring process, but they’re far from irrelevant. Though on their own, they will not get you the job, they can help you stand out in a competitive field. When written thoughtfully and used strategically, they may just tip the scales in your favor.

References

Apprentek. (2023). Are recommendations still relevant? Apprentek Blog. https://blog.apprentek.com/recommendations-still-relevant

Business News Australia. (2024). Will checking character references really help you find the best candidate for a job? Business News Australia. https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/will-checking-character-references-really-help-you-find-the-best-candidate-for-a-job-.html

CMD Recruitment. (2023). The power of character references. CMD Recruitment. https://cmdrecruitment.com/the-power-of-character-references/

HRM Online. (2024). Checking character references: Are they still relevant? HRM Online. https://www.hrmonline.com.au/recruitment/checking-character-references-candidate/

Robert Half. (2023). How important are reference letters when hiring a candidate? Robert Half. https://www.roberthalf.com/hk/en/insights/hiring-help/how-important-are-reference-letters-when-hiring-candidate

Swailes Backgrounds. (2024). The role of reference checks in modern hiring: Are they still relevant? Swailes Backgrounds. https://swailesbackgrounds.com/the-role-of-reference-checks-in-modern-hiring-are-they-still-relevant

Wikipedia. (2023). Letter of recommendation. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_recommendation