I wish to ask the head of my department for a letter of reference, with official company logo etc.

Is there a Thai term for letter of reference, or do I have to explain I need an official letter stating that I worked for the company from May 2008..... I was the best employee ever etc.

Thanks.

จดหมายรับรองการทำงาน

edited to add การทำงาน

จดหมายรับรองการทำงาน

Okay, great thanks.

And to say this it would sound like?

(get ready to laugh)

jadt hamai rab rong gar tham ngan?

edited to add การทำงาน

Gar tham ngan?

It's pronounced more like jote-mai rup-rong gahn tum-ngahn (That's "rup" as in "cup", and "tum" as in "bum", btw. I'd recommend using a dictionary like thai-language.com that has audio files for common words.)

Note that what you actually get may vary. The Thai phrase can be interpreted as "letter of support" or "letter of recommendation". Make it clear what you need. If you're looking for one in English, offer to draft it for them and let them edit it.

The reason that you might not get what you expect if you're not specific is that จดหมายรับรอง and จดหมายรับรองการทำงาน have multiple purposes. Thais often ask for them when they make visa applications to other countries, for example. In this case, the letter likely won't say anything other than state the fact that one has been employed from date X to the present at company Y. It might not say anything at all about one's value as an employee, because in this case the letter is intended to demonstrate that one has a job and should be granted a visa, because one isn't likely to become an illegal immigrant in that country.

The general term for "letter of recommendation" is just จดหมายรับรอง, by the way.

There is also "จดหมายแนะนำ"

See: http://www.polsci.chula.ac.th/supachai2/From/recommanLT.html

Note that that is a form to request a recommendation letter, though -- not a form for such a letter itself.

The teacher writes at the beginning:

"นิสิตที่ประสงค์จะให้ผมเขียนจดหมายแนะนำเพื่อไปศึกษาต่อในระดับปริญญาโท ขอให้ช่วยกรอกข้อมูลต่อไปนี้ให้ด้วย เพื่อผมจะได้ใช้ประกอบการเขียนสะท้อน “ตัวตน” และ “ศักยภาพ”ของนิสิตได้อย่างถูกต้อง"

i.e. "Students who wish to have me write them a recommendation letter for further study towards a Master's degree: Please fill out the information below, so I can write a letter that properly reflects your individuality and potential."

In this context, what is an "อ้างอิง" ?

In this context, what is an "อ้างอิง" ?

Its a reference to the source of your information.