So, you would need to find three different people to write a letter of recommendation for you. When reference letters are requested, they are typically asked for in a set of three. A reference letter may also be referred to as a recommendation letter, letter of reference or letter of recommendation. The person who writes a reference letter is typically an employer, professor, supervisor or another individual who is familiar with the person the letter is being written for. Most reference letters are written in a positive manner and used for job applications, scholarship applications or admission into a university. A reference letter is a letter in which a person provides a personal reference of another individual's capabilities, experience and skills.