An employment letter of introduction is a short, professional message that introduces a job candidate to an employer or presents a new employee to colleagues. Use the template below to identify the people involved, explain the purpose of the introduction, and give the reader a clear next step.
What an Employment Letter of Introduction Does
The phrase can refer to two related kinds of letter. In a job-search setting, someone who knows a candidate introduces that person to a hiring contact and briefly explains why they may be worth meeting. In a workplace setting, a manager or colleague introduces a new employee to a team, client, or other work contacts. The template in this article can be adapted for either purpose.
In both cases, the letter is an introduction, not a full employment record. It gives the reader useful context and makes a connection; it does not replace a résumé, application, interview, onboarding information, or a formal employment verification letter. It should not imply that a person has been hired, approved, or guaranteed a particular result unless that is accurate and appropriate to say.
A good introduction is concise but specific. It explains who is writing, who is being introduced, how the writer knows them or why the announcement is being made, and what the recipient should do next. The recipient should not have to guess why the message arrived.
When to Use One
A candidate introduction is useful when a professional contact is willing to connect a job seeker with a recruiter, hiring manager, or prospective employer. The writer may know the candidate through work, a professional association, a project, or another relevant relationship. The introduction is most helpful when the writer can describe a genuine, relevant basis for making the connection.
An internal introduction is useful when a new employee joins a team or begins working with clients or partner groups. It can communicate the person’s name, role, start date if relevant, areas of responsibility, and the best way for colleagues to work with them. For a broad staff announcement, a short email may be more practical than a printed letter; the same structure still applies.
- Introduce a candidate: Connect a person seeking work with a specific hiring contact, with the candidate’s agreement.
- Welcome a new colleague: Tell a team who has joined and what they will be doing.
- Make a client introduction: Explain a new contact’s role and how the handoff or collaboration will work.
Before sending a candidate introduction, ask whether the person is comfortable being introduced and confirm that their résumé or contact details may be shared. Do not assume that a person wants their job search discussed with a particular employer or current workplace.
What to Include
For a letter sent to an employer, include enough detail to make the introduction useful without turning it into an unsupported recommendation. Name the candidate and recipient, state the purpose, and describe the writer’s relationship to the candidate. A brief, relevant observation can add context—for example, that the writer worked with the candidate on a project involving customer support or scheduling—provided it is true and the writer is comfortable standing behind it.
For an internal announcement, focus on what colleagues need to know. State the employee’s role and responsibilities, identify the team or contact point, and provide a practical next step, such as welcoming the person or directing questions to them. Share only personal details the employee has agreed to make public and that are relevant to the introduction.
Most letters include these elements:
- The date and the recipient’s name or role, when known.
- A clear subject line if the letter is sent by email.
- An opening that names the person being introduced and explains why.
- Relevant background or context, stated accurately and briefly.
- A next step, such as reviewing an attached résumé or contacting the new colleague.
- A courteous closing with the writer’s name and reliable contact information.
Use concrete descriptions rather than vague praise. “We worked together on a six-month scheduling project” tells the reader more than “She is amazing.” Do not claim firsthand knowledge of skills, results, qualifications, or character that you cannot support.
Employment Letter of Introduction Template
Date: ______________________________________________
To: ________________________________________________
Subject: Introduction of ______________________________
Dear ______________________________________________,
I am pleased to introduce ______________________________________________, who is ______________________________________________.
I know ______________________________________________ through ______________________________________________. I am making this introduction because ______________________________________________.
Relevant background: ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Next step or requested action: ______________________________________________.
Please contact ______________________________________________ at ______________________________________________ if you would like to follow up.
Sincerely,
______________________________________________
Role or organization: ______________________________________________
Contact information: ______________________________________________
Sample Letter with Fictional Details
Sample only—names and details are fictional.
October 8, 2026
Dear Morgan,
I would like to introduce Jamie Rivera, a customer-support coordinator who is exploring opportunities in service operations. Jamie and I worked together on a volunteer scheduling project, where Jamie kept shift information organized and communicated changes clearly to the group.
I thought it might be useful for you to connect because your team is reviewing its support processes. Jamie has agreed to this introduction and is happy to share a résumé directly. I will leave it to the two of you to decide whether a conversation makes sense.
Jamie can be reached at jamie.rivera@example.test. Please feel free to contact me if additional context about our project would be helpful.
Sincerely,
Alex Chen
Volunteer project coordinator
This sample is deliberately measured: it explains the connection and offers a relevant observation without promising that the candidate will succeed in a role or claiming knowledge of an employer’s hiring needs. For an internal welcome, replace the job-search details with the new employee’s role, team, and a suitable way to contact them.
How to Adapt the Letter to Its Audience
For a hiring contact, make the opening direct and identify the role or area of work only if you know it. If you are making a general introduction rather than recommending the person for a specific vacancy, say so. That distinction prevents the recipient from mistaking a friendly connection for a formal endorsement or a referral through an employer’s hiring process.
For a new employee’s colleagues, use a warm but work-focused tone. Explain what the employee will handle and where responsibilities overlap with the recipients’ work. If the person will be a client’s main contact, explain when the change takes effect and whether the previous contact remains involved during a handoff. Do not include private employment details, such as compensation or personal circumstances, unless there is a clear reason and authorization to share them.
Adjust the formality to the relationship. A letter to someone you do not know should use a professional greeting and a clear sign-off. A message to close colleagues can sound more conversational, but it should still be easy to understand and forward. In either case, keep the subject line descriptive, such as “Introduction: Jamie Rivera” or “Welcome our new project coordinator.”
Sending, Timing, and Follow-Up
Choose the format the recipient is likely to use. Email is usually convenient for a direct introduction because the candidate and hiring contact can reply or continue the conversation. A printed or signed letter may suit a formal setting, but it is not inherently more persuasive. Internal announcements can be sent through the normal team communication channel, provided the message reaches the people who need it.
When introducing two people by email, a simple option is to send one message to both, briefly state why they are being connected, and let them take the conversation forward. Some writers prefer to ask each person’s permission before sharing email addresses or other contact details. If either person has not agreed to a direct exchange, ask first or offer to pass along a message instead.
Before sending, check the spelling of names, role titles, contact details, and any dates. Confirm that attachments are included if the letter refers to them, and make sure the candidate has approved the version of their résumé being shared. A brief follow-up is reasonable if a reply is important, but an introduction should not create pressure for the recipient to interview or hire someone.
Common Problems to Avoid
A frequent mistake is making the letter too generic. A message that says only “I know someone you should meet” leaves the recipient without a reason to respond. Add one sentence about the relationship or relevance, while avoiding a long biography that belongs in a résumé or profile.
Another problem is overstating the writer’s knowledge. If you have met someone only briefly, do not describe them as a proven leader or claim expertise you have not observed. Keep the statement within what you can accurately say. Similarly, do not promise a job, interview, or particular outcome on behalf of the recipient.
- Do not send someone’s résumé, phone number, or personal details without permission.
- Do not confuse an introduction with a reference, employment verification, or hiring decision.
- Do not copy a large group when only one or two people need the information.
- Do not include sensitive personal information that is unnecessary to the introduction.
- Do not leave the requested next step unclear; say whether you are connecting people, sharing a résumé, or announcing a role change.
If the letter is intended to make a formal contractual or regulated employment representation, ask a qualified professional about the appropriate wording.
How It Differs from Related Documents
A cover letter is written by a candidate to explain their interest and qualifications for a position. A letter of introduction is commonly written by another person to connect that candidate with an employer, though an employee announcement can also use the term. A reference letter generally offers a more developed assessment of someone’s work or qualifications; a short introduction does not need to do that.
An employment verification letter serves a different purpose: it confirms specified facts about a person’s employment, often in response to a request. An introduction should not be used as a substitute for a formal confirmation. If a recipient needs confirmation of job title, employment dates, or another record, the person or organization responsible for those records should provide the appropriate document.
A referral may also have a specific meaning within an employer’s hiring process. A personal introduction does not automatically count as an official referral, and policies differ between organizations. If that distinction matters, check the employer’s instructions rather than describing the message as an official referral without confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an employment letter of introduction?
It is a brief letter or email that introduces a job candidate to an employer or introduces a new employee to colleagues or work contacts. It explains who is being introduced, why the connection is being made, and what should happen next.
Who should write a letter introducing a candidate?
A person with a genuine professional or relevant connection to the candidate can write one, if they are comfortable making the introduction. The writer should accurately describe how they know the person and should not imply a stronger endorsement than they intend.
Is a letter of introduction the same as a recommendation letter?
No. An introduction primarily creates a connection and provides brief context. A recommendation letter usually gives a more detailed evaluation of a person’s qualifications or work, and a reference may address specific questions about their experience.
Should I attach the candidate’s résumé?
Attach or forward it only if the candidate has agreed and the recipient would find it useful. Otherwise, say that the candidate can share a résumé directly. Make sure the letter does not claim an attachment is included when it is not.
How long should an employment introduction letter be?
For most straightforward introductions, a few short paragraphs are enough. Include the relationship, the reason for the connection, one relevant detail, and a next step; add more only when the audience needs additional context.
Can I use this template to announce a new employee?
Yes. Replace the job-seeker language with the employee’s role, responsibilities, team, and relevant contact or handoff information. Check that the person is comfortable with any personal details included before sharing the announcement.