Hi this.to.firstName,

We are currently working through an application from applicant.name for a position as position.name at company.name. applicant.name has listed you as a reference, and as such, can you confirm the following details about their employment at previous.company.name?

Dates of employment:
Description of duties:
Reason for end of employment:

Can you also provide your assessment of applicant.name's strengths/weaknesses, and his/her performance at previous.company.name? We are particularly interested to learn more about skill.name1 and skill.name2.

Please let us know if you have any more questions, and if this information needs to be kept confidential.

Kind regards,
this.fullName