Following is a positive reference letter sample, in this case, for a Software Engineer. If you are writing references, you can use the following as a sample for someone you would give a positive reference.
Either on company letter head or addressed as follows:Company Name
Company Address
City, State, Zip
Phone number
Date
To Whom It May Concern: (or name of contact requesting reference)
Joe Employee worked for me as a Software Engineer from September 1,1997 until May 23, 2004. His responsibilities included requirements gathering, analysis and design of complex web applications using a variety of technologies.
During the course of his employment, Joe proved himself to be a dependable employee, and a hard worker, with solid problem solving and technical skills. I was always impressed by Joe’s ability to complete the work assigned to him on time.
Overall, Joe is a talented, hard-working employee, and I am sad to see him leave. I strongly recommend Joe for any mid-level development position.
Sincerely,Manager Name
Manager Title