In What Capacity Have You Known The Applicant?

This is a common question asked when references are requested in a job application process and merely means 'how do you know the person in question'. The answer may be through work, thus in a professional capacity or as a friend, thus socially.

The reason they ask this is so they can get a better idea of the type of person the applicant in question is like. When employers or whoever ask for references, they like a variety of social and professional information so they can get an idea of the person as a whole rather than just the work side or just the social side of him or her.

However, there are all types of references where they may need certain people to answer this question. For example, when this question is asked for a passport application they only tend to accept persons in a professional career who are described as 'upstanding members of society'. This can mean anything from a doctor ir a policeman to a lawyer. It is simply someone who the applicant would most likely know on a less personal basis and more of a professional basis whether being a client of theirs, patient etc.

Either way, the answer they want from this question does not need to be long and overstated; it simply needs to state the truth about the connection you have to the applicant. But, in most cases, an unsuitable reference would be a family member or partner, so bear that in mind when considering who to choose to answer this question.

This question asks you to specify the nature of your relationship with the applicant. That is to say, whether you are or were that person's employer, line manager, senior colleague ( presumably you were senior to them in some way, otherwise you would not have been asked to write a reference for them.) Or you may have had another relationship; you could have been their teacher, trainer, mentor or had some other connection where you were in a position to observe their progress. You could also have been in charge of helping them on the grounds of some disability or other problem they had.

What the company issuing the form needs to know is: what sort of knowledge of the applicant are you likely to have (eg educational, work-related) So you might say "I taught Jon Smith mathematics at Kingston College" or "Jon Smith was my assistant at Hull Library." - with any extra information that is asked for. Hope this helps.

In a reference letter, if a question has been asked regarding "the capacity in which you know the applicant", it will be an open ended question. You will be required to define your relationship with the applicant. Like if the applicant has been your colleague, you need to mention that and to substantiate your answer you will have to mention some of his qualities or attributes that he holds within the position. Like: if the applicant was a sales manager, you can write "I know the applicant to be a very persuasive and effective sale manager. He or she can perform the tasks of sales with efficiency and has done some good/ground breaking work on his earlier job." Also you need to mention the number of years that you have known the applicant.

5 years good friend and someone I have always looked up to

I know the applicant as a post graduate student

Study and independently working spirit

Personally

General tom thumb was

In what capacity have you worked with him/her?

Describe your
professional relationship with the candidate.