[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 22, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 22CFR10.735-213]

[Page 57-58]
 
                       TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS
 
                     CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
 
PART 10--EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONDUCT--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart B--Ethical and Other Conduct and Responsibilities of Employees
 
Sec. 10.735-213  Recommendations for employment.

    (a) Making recommendations in official capacity. In general, an 
employee shall not, in the employee's official capacity, make any 
recommendations in connection with the employment of persons unless the 
position concerned are with the Government of the United States and the 
recommendations are made in response to an inquiry from a Government 
official authorized to employ persons or to investigate applicants for 
employment. A principal officer in answer to a letter of inquiry from 
outside the U.S. Government concerning a former employee assigned to the 
post, may state the length of time the person was employed at the post 
and the fact that the former employee

[[Page 58]]

performed duties in a satisfactory manner, if such is the case. Also, an 
AID Mission Director may provide names of persons or firms from which a 
cooperating government may select an employee or firm to be used in some 
phase of the AID program.
    (b) Making personal recommendations. An employee may make a personal 
recommendation in connection with the employment of any person, 
including present or former employees, their spouses and/or members of 
their families, except for employment in a position of trust or profit 
under the government of the country to which the employee is accredited 
or assigned (22 U.S.C. 806(b)): Provided, That the employee does not 
divulge any information concerning the person derived from official 
sources. When a letter of introduction or recommendation is written by 
an employee, precautionary measures should be taken to prevent its being 
construed as official correspondence and used by an unscrupulous 
individual to impress American or foreign officials. Accordingly, 
official stationery should not be used for this purpose. The letter may, 
however, show the recommending employee's status as an employee of the 
U. S. Government. Every personal letter of recommendation shall contain 
a statement clearly indicating that the letter constitutes a personal 
recommendation and is not to be construed as an official recommendation 
by the Government of the United States.