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Confirm their work history and experience. Add credibility to their application. Stand out from other candidates. For academic opportunities, reference letters can: Showcase the person’s academic achievements. Highlight their potential for success in the program. Offer insights into their work ethic and dedication.
May 16, 2024 · A letter of recommendation is a formal letter of support which serves as a professional or academic reference. Its contents highlight specific skills and experiences which are relevant to...
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4 days ago · A letter of recommendation is a written testimonial that recommends someone for a specific position or program. An effective letter of recommendation highlights an individual’s abilities and achievements to promote their suitability and qualification for a role.
- Overview
- What is a letter of recommendation?
- 15 tips for writing a letter of recommendation
- Use a simple structure
Writing a letter of recommendation is a chance to show your appreciation for the hard work of a former employee or student. It’s also an opportunity to let the candidate know that you recognized their effort and abilities. Because a great letter of recommendation can have a powerful impact on a candidate’s ability to successfully obtain a job or enter into a college program, it’s important to take the time and effort to write one that will be effective. In this article, we explore what a letter of recommendation is and share 15 tips to help you write a great one.
Key takeaways:
•A letter of recommendation is written by a person to assure employers of an individual's skills and achievements with the intention to prove they're the right person for the job.
•Writing a letter of recommendation includes specific details that highlight the candidate's experience, qualifications and potential, and also includes an introduction about the person writing the letter.
A letter of recommendation is a letter written by a former employer, client, colleague or teacher who can recommend a person’s work or academic performance. The goal is to have someone vouch for the person’s achievements, skills and aptitude to emphasize how they would be a great fit for a position or college program.
Recommendation letters are usually requested by a student or potential employee and then written directly to the hiring manager or admissions department, depending on the purpose behind the letter.
1. Create a new letter for each recommendation
While it can be helpful to have a basic template, make sure you customize each letter with specific details that highlight the candidate’s qualifications. Try to sketch a general outline before you begin to ensure you don’t miss any of the key points you want to include regarding the candidate’s qualifications.
2. Review the resume
Before you begin writing, review the candidate’s or student’s resume to get a complete overview of the types of experiences they have had in other jobs. Having a full understanding of their background can help you write a more thorough letter that addresses their strengths and specific goals they’re working toward. You could also look for any areas that may need improvement on and suggest edits to the candidate or student.
3. Request some bullet points
To save yourself time and ensure you touch on the points that the candidate feels are most important for the position, suggest that they provide you with a list of bullet points or a few paragraphs that you can refer to. They might provide you a draft of the letter that you revise in your own words.
Use this simple structure to format your letter:
•Salutation: If you are writing to someone specific, include a salutation that says “Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. [name]:” If you are writing a general letter, don’t include a salutation or simply say, “To Whom it May Concern:”
•Introduction: Use the first paragraph to explain the purpose of the letter and how you know the person that you’re recommending. You may also want to include the length of time in which you have known them.
•Details: The second paragraph should detail why you believe the person you’re recommending is qualified for the job or program. Include specific examples that demonstrate their abilities and qualifications. You can use more than one paragraph to detail their qualifications, if necessary.
•Summary: In this section, summarize why you are recommending this person. A phrase you could include is, that you “highly recommend” or “recommend [name] without reservation for [program/role].”
•Conclusion: In the final paragraph, you should offer to speak with them further to offer more information about the candidate’s qualifications and abilities. End the letter with “Yours sincerely” when you are writing to someone named on the letter or, if you don’t know who the letter is going to, “Yours faithfully.”
Apr 8, 2024 · In this article, we go over how to write a letter of recommendation, provide both a template and an example to reference, plus we review how you can request a letter of recommendation for yourself from someone who knows your work.
Recommendation letters can point to a candidate's future performance by talking about her past achievements. Reference letters can also shed light on what it's like to manage, work with, or, in the case of a character reference, be friends with the person under consideration.
People also ask
Why should you write a letter of recommendation?
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5 days ago · This letter is typically sent to an admissions officer or hiring manager considering a candidate for admission, employment, or a scholarship. Explore how to write a letter of recommendation for a coworker, friend, or student.
