letter of recommendation assignment

Letters of Recommendation

What this handout is about.

Producing an effective recommendation letter involves strategy, research, and planning. This handout is designed to introduce recommenders to some best practices for writing effective recommendation letters.

Deciding whether to write a recommendation

Recommendation letters are likely to receive close scrutiny, and sparse or non-specific recommendations may negatively impact an application. If a recommender is unable or unwilling to produce a recommendation that speaks directly to the individual applicant and position, the selection committee or potential employer may interpret this negatively. If you do not feel that you could provide a positive or detailed recommendation, it is okay to decline!

There are several reasons why it may be appropriate to decline a request for a recommendation:

• You may not feel comfortable writing a positive letter, either because you have no information about the student or because they did not perform well enough in a class or position.
• You may feel you are a “bad fit” for the student’s application. For example, if your field of expertise is completely unrelated to the student’s area of interest, you might advise the student to ask recommenders with more relevant backgrounds.
• You may feel that you lack the necessary credentials to offer a compelling recommendation. For example, graduate student instructors may feel as if they cannot credibly endorse their students’ graduate school applications. Thus, students may be directed to faculty to write letters instead of graduate students.
• You may know that you will not have time to write and proofread a strong letter before the student’s deadline.

Consider setting up a meeting. This will give you an opportunity to ask about the applicant’s academic background, professional goals, and reasons for applying. It may help to clarify whether this is a one-time request, or whether you are being asked to serve as a recommender for several applications. It’s a good idea to request to see the applicant’s resume, CV, personal statement, or other components of the application. Each of these can give you a sense of the applicant’s goals and help you decide if you would be a good recommender. These items will also allow you to tailor your letter appropriately if you decide to write on the applicant’s behalf.

Confidentiality and protected information

Many applications invite applicants to waive their right to view a letter of recommendation. Confidential letters of recommendation may be viewed as more credible than letters that applicants can access.

You should be aware of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and your institution’s FERPA-related guidelines when writing recommendation letters. FERPA prohibits disclosure of protected student information such as grades and attendance without the student’s prior written consent. Students who want you to address protected information should specify which records you may disclose, the purpose for which the disclosure is being made, and to whom the information may be disclosed. You can read more about FERPA here: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html .

Writing strong recommendations

After committing to write a recommendation for an applicant, gather information about the opportunity to which they are applying. Besides asking the applicant about the organization, you may also want to reach out to someone in your own professional network who may know something about the audience or take some time to do your own research. Here are some questions to consider:

• What are the organization’s values and priorities? Some organizations state this information explicitly on their websites and other publications, and this can help you tailor your letter to directly address the audience’s top concerns.
• What information does the audience want to learn from you? Some institutions will ask you to answer specific questions about the applicant in your letter. Knowing these in advance will give you more time to talk with the student about any information you may need.
• How is this opportunity a good fit for the applicant? Referencing special features and benefits offered by a position shows that you’ve done your homework, which can add to the weight of your recommendation by demonstrating that you are willing to invest extra work in your student’s success. You will also be able to speak to the applicant’s fit for the position in greater detail.

Keep in mind that nearly all recommendations contain a positive appraisal of an applicant’s abilities and character, and it costs recommenders almost nothing to offer general and unsubstantiated praise of an applicant. Letters that claim an applicant is “the best student I’ve ever worked with” or “the hardest working employee I’ve ever had” are likely to meet with skepticism, unless the writer includes specific evidence to back up these claims. Even letters that contain genuine praise may come across as form letters unless you can speak to unique evidence about the student that corroborates your positive assessment.

Many different kinds of information may constitute evidence in a recommendation, and it is up to you to determine what would be most convincing to the audience. Here are some guidelines for what you may want to include or avoid:

• Do describe your relationship with the applicant. Say how long you’ve known the applicant and in what capacity. This information helps the audience understand how well you know the applicant. For example, sharing that you’ve advised a student for three years and taught them in two senior seminars demonstrates that you know your applicant better than a recommender who has only recently met the student or who has only taught the student in a large lecture class.
• Do include quantitative data about a student’s performance in a class or an employee’s performance in a position. Because raw grade point averages or other performance metrics are sometimes difficult to translate across different contexts, try to rank students against other students. For example, rather than saying “Judith received an A in my class,” aim for evidence that tells the audience how Judith’s performance compared to her classmates’: “Judith was among the top 5% of students in her large lecture class.” (Remember, if you do include specific grades in your letter, you must have written consent from the student as per FERPA.)
• Do compare applicants to students who have been placed into other positions. A statement like, “Over the past five years, other students with undergraduate research experience similar to Amer’s have been accepted to graduate programs at X, Y, and Z,” gives the audience a sense of where Amer stands in a wider population of successful students. Including comments like these also indicates that you have a good sense of what makes an applicant successful.
• Do mention the applicant’s personal and/or intellectual strengths as they pertain to the application. For example, it may be helpful to emphasize a study abroad applicant’s open-mindedness. Again, include appropriate evidence for this claim, which may involve discussing or even directly citing the student’s written work in your class.
• Do explain why you think the applicant is a good fit. Selection committees are often interested in hearing how students would contribute to the intellectual and professional climate of their institution. Given your experience with the student, help the audience see the type of employee or scholar the student will be: “Casey’s research experience in early-modern Arabic poetry would make them an ideal addition to Professor Seif’s Syrian cultural archival project.” If possible, mention the position/school/fellowship by name. This proves that you’ve taken enough interest in the letter to target it for each recipient. It will not always be possible to tailor recommendations to each program; for example, many postgraduate programs are moving to common applications that send the same letters to all programs to which students apply.
• Don’t shy away from discussing the applicant’s weaknesses —but only if those weaknesses are likely to already be on the audience’s radar. For example, you may have insight into why your student received an uncharacteristically low grade in your class during their final semester that could alleviate an audience’s concerns. You may draw attention to the applicant’s growth as well as the potential for continued growth in the new position. Keep in mind, however, that recommendation letters are expected to be positive in tone, so proceed with caution when discussing applicants’ weaknesses. Specifically avoid commenting on personality traits or other topics that are irrelevant to the application.
• Don’t rely on generalizations, clichés, or platitudes. Every good applicant will be “dedicated,” “hard-working,” and “enthusiastic.” Praise like this is likely to appear in dozens of other letters for other applicants, so you need to say more to help your applicant stand out. Include specific examples to support these descriptors. Convey the unique strengths of your student, especially any that you believe speak directly to the audience’s interests or values. Also pay special attention to any language that may inadvertently convey gender or other biases. For example, some studies have reported that language that pertains to effort (rather than accomplishments), personal life details (rather than relevant professional information), and emotional capacities (rather than academic or professional ability) more frequently appear in recommendations for women than for men. Focusing on traits that are demonstrable with evidence and germane to the program or position to which the student is applying is the best way to avoid implicit bias in your letters.
• Don’t include too much information about you or your class. Although some brief background information about the context in which you know the student is appropriate, do not spend so much time discussing course or assignment details that the letter is no longer focused upon the applicant.
• Don’t offer tepid praise or left-handed compliments. Half-hearted comments are almost guaranteed to attract the wrong kind of attention. Although you may honestly report that your student “completed all course assignments on time” or “was an adequate writer,” the audience will likely interpret these phrases as veiled criticism. Avoiding tepid praise is more difficult than it seems. After you’ve finished writing the letter, read over it with a critical eye and try to assume the worst of the student. Do any of your sentences invite uncharitable interpretation?
• Don’t simply summarize the applicant’s CV or resume. As with tepid praise, simply reiterating what the audience already knows from other parts of the application implies that you either don’t know or don’t care enough about the applicant to offer your own appraisal. It is appropriate to highlight a special component of a student’s resume and explain why you believe this aspect of the student makes them a great candidate, but don’t waste your opportunity to offer your own valuable endorsement by simply listing the applicant’s accomplishments.

Formatting recommendation letters

After you’ve decided what to write in your recommendation, you will need to decide how to write it. How long should the recommendation be? Should it be written on official letterhead? To whom should it be addressed? Will the letter submitted electronically, or will it be mailed?

Length: Just as there is sometimes no prescribed length for application essays, there is no standard length for recommendation letters. Most recommendations tend to be around 1 to 1.5 single-spaced pages long, although some may be longer if you have a lot to share. Business and law school recommendations tend to be briefer than graduate school recommendations. In general, try to strike a balance between writing too little (which suggests you have nothing to say about the applicant) and writing too much, which may be annoying to audiences who are reading dozens or hundreds of recommendations for a single position.

Letterhead: When possible, write recommendations on official letterhead and sign them using a handwritten signature. Producing letters on official letterhead both adds to your credibility as a recommender and demonstrates that you care enough about the applicant to put finishing touches on your endorsement. This may include sending an envelope with your signature across the seal. Some application programs ask recommenders to compose or paste their recommendations into online forms. In these cases, you would not submit the letter on formal letterhead. Learning in advance how you will need to submit your recommendation can help you avoid unnecessary work and accurately gauge the time required to submit your letter.

Salutation: Address recommendation letters as specifically as possible. If the applicant is applying for a position within a firm or office and you know who will receive the letter, address the letter to that person, like “Dear Dr. Anderson.” If you don’t know who, specifically, will receive the letter, address the recommendation to the target audience, like “Dear Fulbright Committee”. Avoid vacuous salutations like “To Whom it May Concern.” Also avoid informal greetings, including those you might use in an email or other correspondence, like “Hi,” “Hello,” “Good afternoon,” etc. “Dear” is the standard formal salutation in English.

Closing: End the letter with a simple closing word or phrase like “Sincerely,” “Regards,” or “Cordially” or by thanking the audience for considering your endorsement. Avoid personal and emotive language. If you would be willing to answer any additional questions the institution or employer may have about the applicant, it is appropriate to invite them to contact you before closing the letter.

Letters of recommendation inform the decisions of admissions committees, employers, funding agencies, and other organizations who are trying to choose between multiple candidates. Your efforts to create strong letters make a difference.

If you commit to writing a letter of recommendation, follow through. Keep track of deadlines and start early, as you may discover that you need additional information from the student or institution, and you will want to have time to request this information and incorporate it into your recommendation.

Finally, consider whether you are willing to do more than write a recommendation. Students may need help with other parts of their application, such as statements of purpose or writing samples. Since you likely have insight into what graduate programs or employers are looking for, you are in a unique position to help applicants with these other materials as well.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Brown University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Fellowships and Research. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://www.brown.edu/academics/college/fellowships/information-resources/writing-letters-recommendation/writing-letters-recommendation .

Madera, Juan M., Michelle R. Hebl, and Randi C. Martin. 2009. “Gender and Letters of Recommendation for Academia: Agentic and Communal Differences.” Journal of Applied Psychology 94 (6): 1591–99. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016539 .

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. n.d. “How to Write Good Letters of Recommendation.” MIT Admissions. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://mitadmissions.org/apply/parents-educators/writingrecs/ .

Stanford University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Teaching Commons. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/resources/teaching-resources/how-evaluate-students/writing-letters-recommendation.

Yale University. n.d. “Writing Letters of Recommendation.” Fellowships and Funding. Accessed July 2, 2019. https://funding.yale.edu/faculty-staff-recommenders/writing-letters .

Trix, Frances, and Carolyn Psenka. 2003. “Exploring the Color of Glass: Letters of Recommendation for Female and Male Medical Faculty.” Discourse & Society 14 (2): 191–220. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0957926503014002277 .

Whitaker, Manya. 2016. “Tips for Writing Recommendation Letters.” Inside Higher Ed , December 2, 2016. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2016/12/02/how-write-stronger-letters-recommendation-students-essay .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

Every now and then, applying for a position will require that you also submit a letter of recommendation. 

Or, maybe, a coworker will ask you to write a recommendation letter for their new job application.

If you're not certain how to go about it, don't worry - nothing about recommendation letters needs to be complicated. Especially once you learn the nitty-gritty of the topic. 

This is exactly what this article is here to teach you!

What is a Recommendation Letter?

What should a letter of recommendation include.

• How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

• How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter
• Recommendation Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a formal document confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential. 

Typically, a recommendation letter is required for: 

• University admissions
• Fellowships or internship positions
• Job applications
• Volunteering opportunities

You should ideally write a recommendation for someone whose abilities and work ethic you are familiar with - for example, a colleague, student you taught, your employee, or someone you supervised at work.

Similarly, if you’re the one asking for a recommendation letter, you should ask someone who can attest to your professional or academic abilities. 

The types of recommendation letters are:

• Academic recommendation letters.
• Employment recommendation letters.
• Character recommendation letters.

Here’s what each type of recommendation letter is about:

#1. Academic Recommendation Letters

Academic recommendation letters are typically required to be submitted by students during the admission processes of graduate and undergraduate schools. 

Generally, each prospective student is requested to submit up to three references, which can be written by any education professional familiar with the candidate’s academic background. 

Academic reference letters include:

• Recommendation letter for undergraduate/graduate school
• Recommendation letter for a scholarship
• Recommendation letter for a fellowship program

#2. Employment recommendation letters 

This type makes up the most popular type of recommendation letter.

Sometimes, employers can ask you to submit up to 3 recommendation letters as part of your job application.

More often, though, a recruiter might ask you for recommendation letters if they already like your resume and want to learn more about you. 

Employment recommendation letters are written by former - or current - coworkers, employers, or supervisors.

If you can choose, pick someone with more years of experience than you. After all, the more senior they are, the more weight their recommendation carries.

Employment recommendations include: 

• Recommendation letter for a coworker
• Recommendation letter for a (former) employee

#3. Character recommendation letters

Character recommendation letters, also known as personal references, are used to describe an individual’s personality by someone who knows them well, including close friends, coworkers, or employers. 

Personal references serve many purposes, the primary ones being court cases dealing with criminal issues such as drunk driving offenses, or legal situations such as child adoption procedures. 

It is not uncommon, however, to have a potential landlord or even immigration officials ask for a personal reference. 

Personal references include: 

• Recommendation letter for a friend
• Recommendation letter for a tenant
• Recommendation letter for a patient

Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout that make writing them significantly easier. 

In this section, we’ll cover how to do each the right way, starting with:

Letter of Recommendation Format

A letter of recommendation includes the following sections: 

• The salutation ; if you are addressing someone whose name you know or writing a personal recommendation letter, the salutation can be addressed to “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Smith.” Otherwise, you may use the generic “to whom it may concern.”
• The introduction , which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “ it is my pleasure to recommend… ”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is.
• The overview, or a description of the applicant’s top skills, attributes, and strengths.
• A personal story describing more of the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• The closing statement , or the final call for action, is where you encourage the recruiter to contact you if additional information is needed.
• The signature , where you repeat your name and include your full contact information.

Letter of Recommendation Layout 

When it comes to the layout of the recommendation letter, all you need to do is follow some basic formatting rules. Here are the most important ones: 

#1. One page length. This rule applies to resumes too, but it’s even more essential for the recommendation letter. Recruiters go through hundreds of them, so chances are they appreciate concise, to-the-point letters that don’t waste their time. And besides, a good recommendation letter doesn’t have to be an essay to get the recruiter ‘hooked’ - especially if you follow the above format. 

#2. Single-spaced lining, with space between paragraphs . This also keeps your reference letter within the limit by shortening the text. 

#3. Traditional font. Don’t go for something too creative - pick a classic that works. We recommend Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.

#4. 1” margins on all sides . This creates enough white space around the margins and makes the letter easy to read. Additionally, the text should be aligned to the left - although this is a standard alignment for most documents.    

#5. 10-12pt font size . This is the font size range that makes the document easy to read. Adjusting the font size is another good way to keep your recommendation letter within the length limit.

Recommendation letters usually follow similar layout rules as resumes. Learn more about font size and style from our article on the best resume font, size, and format . 

Recommendation Letter Template 

Struggling to write a recommendation letter? 

Just follow our tried-and-tested template! 

To whom it may concern: 

[Recommend the referee for the position they are applying for.]

[Briefly introduce yourself and state your position/ job title , as well as your work experience .]

[Tell how you know the referee and describe their top skills, qualifications, and strengths.]

[Share a personal story with the referee where you highlight their strong points and key achievements .]

[Add a few more of the applicant’s skills and positive traits, preferably fitting the job description.]

[Show your availability to provide additional information for the referee if needed.]

Best Regards

[Your full signature and contact information]

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

Need to ask someone for a recommendation letter? Here’s what you need to know.

The go-to person for your recommendation letter will depend on the type of reference you’ll need. 

For example, if you need an employment recommendation letter , your top choices should involve people who are familiar with your work ethic and professional abilities, but with whom you’ve also had a positive professional relationship. For example:

• Your team lead
• Department head
• CEO of the company
• Direct manager
• A coworker you’ve worked with together on a project

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you can ask a mentor or college professor to write you a professional reference. 

In case you need an academic recommendation letter , consider asking a professor with whom you’ve worked closely and can positively attest to your academic potential and achievements.

Your thesis advisor, for example, would make a good choice to ask for an academic reference. If you never wrote a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, any professor who knows you as more than just a face in a sea of students should do the trick. 

Finally, keep the following in mind when the time comes to ask for a recommendation letter: 

• Whoever you end up asking, talk to them about it in advance . Then, follow up with a formal email that should contain all reference-related information, such as the submission details and deadline. The email can also include a description of what you’re currently doing (professionally, academically, or independently), what qualifies you for the position, and some relevant skills, achievements, or noteworthy facts.
• If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, make sure to also include your resume and the job description in the follow-up email. This way, the person writing the letter will know more about you and your new position and will be able to write a more relevant recommendation by tailoring your skills to the job, or by mentioning some of your (relevant) achievements.
• Notify the contacts you’ll be asking - considering that in most cases recruiters ask for up to three recommendation letters - at least two weeks in advance. This will give them enough time to prepare and write a good recommendation letter. This is especially important for academic references because professors are usually writing several recommendation letters simultaneously.
• Consider attaching a recommendation letter template such as the one provided in this article to your email. The template will considerably ease or guide them through the process of writing the letter.
• Follow up by sending thank you notes to everyone who writes you a recommendation letter. Sending a letter of appreciation is a courtesy act that will let them know you are grateful for the time and effort they took to recommend you positively.

If you’re also looking to update your resume or create one, head over to our guide on how to write a resume in 2024 !

5 Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

There’s more to writing a recommendation letter than just following the layout instructions or sticking to the format.

We’re referring to content quality, which happens to be the trickiest part of the process. 

In this section, we’ll teach you how to write a recommendation letter that will impress the recruiter and help your referee!

Tip #1. Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

First things first - the introduction.

This is where you need to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading the recommendation letter. 

How to go about it? Before formally (and briefly) introducing yourself, aim to write an attention-grabbing recommendation statement, instead of a generic one the recruiter probably knows by heart already. 

Let’s explain this more practically: 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

I am pleased to recommend Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

Nothing wrong with this introduction at first glance, right? It’s a standard way of opening a recommendation letter after all. 

Well that’s exactly what’s wrong with it - it’s way too common. No, this probably won’t get your application disqualified, but it won’t impress the recruiter either.

Want yours to strike the right note? Try something like this instead:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am sincerely glad to be the one recommending Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

This recommendation statement is not significantly different from the previous one, except for one thing: it gives the reference letter a head start by implying that recommending Sarah is an honor. And that’s more likely to get the recruiter’s attention - or, at least, curiosity. 

In case you’re struggling to come up with an attention-grabbing introduction, simply mention one of the following points, and you’re good to go: 

• A little-known fact about the candidate. 
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities.
• A remarkable achievement or award the candidate might have won.  

Tip #2. Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate 

All recommendation letters explain what the relationship with the referee is before listing their skills and qualifications. 

To make the recommendation more meaningful, you should show the recruiter you are just the right person to attest to the candidate’s abilities. And that’s not something you can convey by simply stating how you know them. Take the following example:   

I have taught Jake Political Science for four years. 

Does this example tell the recruiter how you know the applicant? Sure, it does. 

But it does so in a boring way and without establishing a convincing relationship with them. For all the recruiter knows, Jake is just one out of a thousand students you’ve taught over the years.

It has been a pleasure for me to teach Jake for four years and guide him through his remarkable Bachelor’s thesis in Conflict Resolution.

Notice the difference? This example specifies the writer is Jake’s thesis advisor, which makes the recommendation all the more meaningful. 

Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application 

Want to put in the extra effort and make sure your referee truly stands out?

Tailor the recommendation letter to the job / university program they’re applying for.

Tailoring your letter to the candidate’s application is easiest when you’re recommending someone for employment (you can just check the job requirements), but it works for any type of recommendation (incl. academic). All you need to do is match the referee’s skills and strengths to whatever they’re applying for. 

Let’s assume, for example, that you’re recommending a co-worker for a marketing manager position.

Some of the job requirements are: 

• +5 years of professional experience in marketing
• Experience developing marketing campaigns 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Project-management and multi-tasking skills 

To tailor your recommendation to the job requirements, all you need to do is mention them as your referee’s best qualities. For example: 

Even after seven years working together, Ema’s skillful way of effectively communicating with clients and co-workers alike doesn’t cease to amaze me. It only comes second to her multi-tasking abilities, which I’ve witnessed throughout the many marketing campaigns we have developed and managed. 

As you can see, there’s not much to it. 

All you need to do is check the job requirements, pick several skills and qualifications, and make them part of your referee’s top skills, strengths, or personality traits.  

Tip #4. List the Candidate’s Achievements 

Mentioning some of the candidate’s achievements is another great way to help your referee really stand out.

After all, skills, strengths, and character traits are awesome, but they can also come across as meaningless if you can’t back them up with facts. 

What do we mean by this?

Let us explain:

Here’s how a typical personal story in a recommendation letter looks like:

I came to truly appreciate Eric’s work ethic, passion, and attention to detail the first time I assigned him to do a report on child trafficking. Eric was respectful of journalistic ethics but also willing to chase the story relentlessly, believing in its value and importance. 

Sure, this is a perfectly acceptable personal story. 

However, it doesn’t do much more than just list the referee’s skills, traits, and work experience through a subjective lens. 

What we’re saying is, it doesn’t really sell the candidate.

Now, let’s compare it to the following:

Eric’s ability to chase after difficult stories first became apparent when I assigned him a report about child trafficking. Despite the challenging topic, Eric not only pulled through but achieved more than expected by a) identifying a trafficking ring that put more than 50 minors into forced begging, b) interviewing 10 of the older minors and managing to bring that trafficking network down once the reportage went public and c) increasing the TV Channel’s ratings by 40% in 3 weeks. 

By mentioning those achievements, your account of the candidate’s experiences is a lot more “factual,” as well as impressive for the recruiter.

Not sure which achievements to include? Check out these 101+ achievements to list on your resum e !

Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter

Finally, here’s 5 more simple tips to get your recommendation letter ready:

• Maintain positive rhetoric . At no point throughout your reference letter should the recruiter sense a hint of doubt regarding the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• Don’t overdo the positivity. Extremes are never good - which means being overly positive might also come across as a bit suspicious or weird (even if everything you're saying is true). 
• Follow the submission instructions . A bunch of employers, but also educational institutions, will provide instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. We recommend you ask the candidate to double-check them and give you a heads up, because if you submit the recommendation letter wrong, the candidate might lose their chance.
• Use a business tone . Even when you’re being creative, your writing tone should maintain a business tone - polite, and as formal as possible.
• Mind your grammar and spelling . This is another tip that goes for all things application-related. You won’t compromise the referee’s chances with a typo, but your recommendation won’t matter much either if it’s filled with simple grammar/spelling mistakes. Run your letter through a grammar and spell-check app once you’re finished with it, just to be on the safe side of things.

Recommendation Letter FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a letter of recommendation?

Find your answers below!

1. What is a professional letter of recommendation?

A professional letter of recommendation - also called an employment recommendation letter - refers to an official document that is typically required when you apply for a job and which describes the applicant’s professional skills, experiences, and qualifications. 

Professional letters of recommendation are typically written by current or previous employers or supervisors. A coworker can also write you a professional letter of recommendation, but it’s not as optimal as a coworker is not really an authority figure (and might just be a friend doing you a favor instead of being honest).

2. What should be written in a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation generally follow the following format: 

• A formal salutation
• An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title)
• An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can tailor to the application
• A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements
• A closing statement and call for action
• A signature , with your contact information

3. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re asking for an academic letter of recommendation, you can ask:

• Current or former professors
• Academic mentors
• Thesis advisors

If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, though, you can ask:

• Current or former employers
• A supervisor or professional mentor
• Former professors
• Experienced coworkers

4. How do you start a recommendation paragraph?

To keep the recruiter reading your recommendation letter interested, you should start with an attention-grabbing introduction - specifically, an interesting recommendation statement. 

This statement is the opening sentence of the letter and it should optimally express your conviction to recommend the applicant in a non-generic way. 

If you’re struggling with coming up with something creative, just start with one of the following:

• A little-known or impressive fact about the candidate
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities
• A remarkable achievement, or an award the candidate might have won

5. How do you end a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation concludes with a call to action or a request towards the recruiter   showing your availability and willingness to provide additional information if needed. After mentioning that you remain available to discuss the candidate’s qualifications, you may finalize the letter with your signature - your name, title, and company.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope this article will make the process of writing a recommendation letter easier for you. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered: 

• A letter of recommendation is a formal letter confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential.
• Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout. The format typically consists of 1) the letterhead and full contact information, 2) a salutation, 3) an introduction, 4) an overview, 5) a personal story, 6) a closing sentence and 7) your signature.
• The three types of recommendation letters are employment, academic, and character recommendation letters.
• Who to ask for a recommendation letter depends on the type of reference you need. As a rule of thumb, pick someone who knows your skills and strengths well and whom you’ve had a positive experience (professional or academic) with.

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Parents and educators: How to write good letters of recommendation

Because of our highly competitive applicant pool, letters of recommendation hold substantial weight in our admissions decisions. A well-written letter for an outstanding applicant can show impressive characteristics beyond their own self-advocacy.

A guide to writing evaluations for MIT

Both school counselor and teacher evaluations are most helpful when they are specific and storied. They should provide us with the information and impressions we cannot glean from the rest of the application. Try to give a complete sketch of the student and the context of their accomplishments. Support your conclusions with facts and anecdotes whenever possible.

Try to address the following questions in your evaluation:

• What is the context of your relationship with the applicant? If you do not know the applicant well and are only able to write a brief summary, please acknowledge this.
• Has the student demonstrated a willingness to take intellectual risks and go beyond the normal classroom experience?
• Does the applicant have any unusual competence, talent, or leadership abilities?
• What motivates this person? What excites them?
• How does the applicant interact with teachers? With peers? Describe their personality and social skills.
• What will you remember most about this person?
• If you have knowledge of MIT, what leads you to believe MIT is a good match for this person? How might they fit into the MIT community and grow from the MIT experience?
• Has the applicant ever experienced disappointment or failure? If so, how did they react?
• Are there any unusual family or community circumstances of which we should be aware?

Please pay special attention to the opening and closing of your evaluation. Remember, we are reading over 30,000 applications, and we appreciate strong statements that we’ll remember as we evaluate each candidate. With that said, please write in a way that makes you feel comfortable and do not shy away from giving us your honest impressions. We are only looking for glowing superlatives if they are backed up with examples and give us context; what is behind a student’s achievements. Above all else, make sure to go beyond a student’s grades and academic performance. We can get this information from other parts of the application.

Letters of recommendation are confidential in the MIT admissions process.

Examples letters of recommendation and critiques

Teacher recommendation for david :.

It is a great pleasure for me to recommend David for admission to MIT. He is one of the most extraordinary students I have encountered in 20 years of teaching. I taught David A.P. Calculus last year as a tenth grader, and he was one of the very top students in an extremely able group of mostly seniors. He has a high aptitude for math and was very much involved in his work, applying himself with persistence and dedication and often going beyond the regular class assignments. David’s abiding interest, however, is computer science. He has developed a series of “strands” for use in providing computerized drill and review in the basic skills and techniques of algebra and arithmetic and has recently adapted these to other subjects. David’s work in this area has been so original and significant that he has published a paper on it and delivered several lectures to professionals in other parts of the country. This is a phenomenal accomplishment for anyone, especially a young man in rural Arkansas. It is also worth noting that both last year and this year David taught computer programming to a tenth-grade class of mine for two weeks. He took over completely, preparing lectures, assignments, and tests with great care and thought. His lectures were clear and well organized, and it was obvious that he had expended a great deal of effort to make the course the success that it was. David’s personal qualities are as impressive as his intellectual accomplishments. An extremely kind, sensitive and sensible boy, he has had a difficult family situation for a few years now. He provides emotional support to his mother through her battle with cancer without allowing the situation to undermine his own stability and accomplishments. He has exhausted all that we have to offer him in this small community, and the maturity that he has demonstrated leads me to believe him capable of entering college a year early, as he now plans to do. I sincerely hope that you will be able to offer him a place in MIT’s freshman class.

Critique :  Excellent! This recommendation is filled with comments from someone who clearly knows this student well. We get a clear sense for not only David’s intellectual capacities, but also emotional maturity. His genuine love for computer programming comes through in this teacher’s description. We also realize that he is pushing academic boundaries in his community and making opportunities for himself—a trait that is especially important for a candidate seeking college admissions a year early.

Teacher recommendation for Jen:

Jen was a student in one of my predominately senior physics classes. She took physics her junior year in high school and was a good student. Through hard work, she was able to develop a good understanding of the subject material. Jen also had personal qualities that are commendable. In the two years that I have known her I have never known her to be dishonest or untrustworthy. Once on an exam paper I had made a grading error in her favor. She brought this to my attention even though it resulted in a lower test grade. In conclusion, I feel that Jen has both the academic and personal qualities to be a credit to the college of her choice, and I give her my recommendation without reservation.

Critique : We receive thousands of recommendations like this each year. It is all positive, but it doesn’t give any real depth to the candidate. In this instance, the reader is left feeling the writer is reaching for something to say. Honesty and trustworthiness are certainly admirable traits, but they are not uncommon among the nation’s top college applicants. We are looking for a compelling reason to admit someone, so information on the class material does not help the candidate. Although Jen may be a hard worker, most of our applicants are. Although the comments are positive, it is difficult to grasp onto anything tangible to make this candidate’s case stronger. Was this faint praise intentional? How does Jen fare in comparison with other (more outstanding?) candidates at the school?

Counselor recommendation for Mary:

Mary has contributed to the school community in a variety of ways, most notably through her participation on the newspaper and yearbook staffs. Frankly, I am impressed with her aggressiveness, creativity, determination and ability to schedule extracurricular activities around a full academic workload. I have never heard Mary complain about her workload or refuse any assignment that she has been given. It is not adequate to say that she accepts responsibility readily. She  seeks  responsibility. Oh, for more such students! As business manager for the paper and co-editor of the yearbook the past two years, Mary has done an outstanding job. She personally brought the town’s business community from the view that the school newspaper was a charitable organization to the realization that the paper is a direct pipeline through which advertisers can reach students. She also took the initiative to set up the advertising rate schedule for the paper that produced enough revenue to expand coverage from a four-page paper, so that it is an eight-page and often twelve-page paper. Her work as photographer for both publications has been equally outstanding. Her motivation is not forced upon her, nor does she wear it like a badge. She has tremendous self-discipline. Mary is also a dedicated, versatile and talented student who will be an asset to your undergraduate community. She has my respect and my highest recommendation.

Critique : Good. Lots of specifics here give us a very clear impression and help us to know why that impression is held. We have evidence of her newspaper directives and overall character.

Counselor recommendation for Jane:

Jane is an outstanding young woman whose academic record may not fully reflect her ability. Her parents were divorced during her junior year, and, for several years before that, her home situation had been in turmoil with a great deal of fighting between her parents. Her father has an alcohol problem, and Jane certainly endured a great deal of emotional distress. The fact that she has been able to do as well as she has done given the circumstances says a lot about her. Now that the home situation has stabilized, her performance has improved. I believe her senior year grades are a much better reflection of her ability.

Critique : You may wonder whether or not the above information is appropriate in a letter of evaluation. It is! We appreciate anything that gives us insight and perspective into a student’s performance and the environment. Comments about problems that a student has experienced will help us understand the context in which they have accomplished whatever they have achieved. The extent to which they have dealt with these problems is useful to know as well.

Counselor recommendation for Mike:

I do not really know Mike very well. He has come to me for routine matters but generally has not had any problems that he has discussed with me. In this large school, I do not always have the time to personally get to know each of my advisees. From the comments I get from Mike’s teachers, I have the impression that he is one of the strongest students this school has seen.

Critique : We do not learn very much from this report, but we understand why. The counselor is very honest, and we are not left guessing as to the reason there is not more information and will turn our attention to other parts of the application.

Teacher recommendation for Brian:

Brian was in the top five in my class consistently. He is certainly motivated to study. His character and personality are admirable. Brian is an excellent student, hard worker and has above average reasoning ability.

Critique : This is an example of an evaluation in which we really don’t know what the writer is trying to tell us. The comments provided certainly do not give much substantive information. We are left wondering whether there is just not much to say about this student or whether the teacher just didn’t bother to put much effort into the recommendation. This is a situation where we will probably form our impressions based on the pattern of all the recommendations. If all are equally uninformative, we will assume there wasn’t much to say, but if the others are better, we will assume this teacher did not give much effort to the recommendation.

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How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

• Writing a Recommendation Letter

Collect Information Before You Start

• What to Include in the Letter
• Recommendation Letter Example

Formatting Your Letter

Sending your letter.

For some jobs, employers request written  letters of recommendation . They may even request them as part of the  application process . In these cases, applicants need to submit recommendation letters (typically two or three) along with their resume and cover letter. 

Other employers may ask for references further along in the hiring process, either at the end of an interview or afterwards.

These letters of recommendation carry significant weight to their recipients. If you're asked to write one, it's important to include details that build a strong case for the applicant. If you do not feel comfortable endorsing the applicant, it's better to decline to write a letter than to write something lukewarm.

Here's what you need to know to write a positive letter supporting a job applicant.

Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter

If you’re asked to provide a  reference for a specific job , you should write the letter with the requirements of that particular job in mind.

Read the posting or job description carefully, looking for specific skills and knowledge that you can include in the letter for your candidate.

In your letter, note where there is a match between the applicant's qualifications and the job's responsibilities. 

With a general recommendation letter, focus on the types or category of jobs for which the person is applying. Your examples in this type of letter will be more broad, and less specific. 

Ask the person for whom you are writing to supply you with a copy of the job posting and their resume or  curriculum vitae  (CV) before you begin composing your letter. It can also be helpful to review their cover letter to see how they themselves pitch their qualifications for the job.

When you are writing a more general recommendation, ask the subject of your letter to outline their targets for employment, along with providing you with an example or two of jobs they are applying for.

Also ask them to share their most marketable assets for that type of work, especially ones you may have observed in your relationship with the person you are recommending.

The more information you have about the jobs or types of jobs the candidate is applying for, the more effective your recommendation can be.

What to Include in a Recommendation Letter

The first paragraph of your letter should explain how you know the person for whom you are writing. Reference your job title and the individual's job title at the time when you interacted, as well as the nature of your relationship, including whether you supervised the person you're recommending.  

Typically, you would also include the length of time you have known the person. 

Body of the Letter

The body of your letter should reference the  skills , qualities, areas of knowledge, and other assets of the person you are recommending. Start by making a list of the  strengths  which you would like to convey in your recommendation.

Then compose sentences that show proof of your assertions—this will make your letter more credible. Provide specific examples of instances where you observed the candidate using skills they are highlighting to the hiring manager.

This might consist of a project or role where they successfully applied a certain skill. Citing accomplishments where value was added to your organization and describing the strengths which enabled the person to generate those results can be particularly compelling. If you can quantify the individual’s specific contributions with impressive sales or dollar figures, numbers, or percentages, this is even better (Example: “Joan led our sales team to achieve an unprecedented 48% growth in lead generation last quarter”).

Letter Closing

In your closing statement, it can be very effective to mention that you would hire the person again. Or, mention your belief that the person would be an outstanding addition to the company.

Share Your Contact Information

As part of your close, you can also share a telephone number and email address with a mention of your eagerness to share additional perspective on the candidate. That way, potential employers can easily get in touch if they have any follow-up questions. 

Employment Recommendation Letter Example and Template

Download the letter template  (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online) or read the example below.

Employment Recommendation Letter Example (Text Version)

Megan Greene Sales Director Acme Incorporated 14 Oak Drive Anycity, CT 32444 555-222-3333 mgreene@email.com 

May 26, 2020.

Marlene Gray Domestic Sales Manager CBI Industries 321 Main Street Bigtown, NY 12000

Dear Ms. Gray,

I am writing to you regarding Mark Slade, who has applied for the position of sales associate with your company. Mark has worked in my department as a sales associate since graduating with honors last year from University of Connecticut. We hired him after graduation in part due to his outstanding performance as an intern the previous summer.

Mark has been a fantastic addition to my team. He assimilated easily into our department, quickly and thoroughly learning about all of our products, not just those he was responsible for selling. His enthusiasm for his work and his superb communication skills made him an instant asset to the company. Mark exceeded his personal goals for every quarter and even made time to help his peers close particularly difficult sales. Mark is competent and organized, and his positive attitude and sense of humor made him popular among our customers as well as his colleagues.

I believe that Mark has a tremendous amount of potential and would be an outstanding addition to your staff. I would have no reservations about hiring him again and am confident in recommending Mark for employment with your company. If you have any further questions or would like to speak with me personally, please feel free to contact me.

Your Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)

Megan Greene

Here are guidelines for  formatting recommendation letters  including length, format, font, and how to organize your letters. If this is your first time writing a letter of recommendation, you may find it helpful to use a  template . 

You may be asked to send the letter to the person you are recommending or directly to the employer. If you’re sending via email, attach a copy of your letter to the email message as a PDF or Microsoft Word document. The job posting or the employer will typically specify how the recommendation should be sent and who it should be sent to.

When You Can’t Write a Positive Recommendation

If you have difficulty honestly framing a compelling letter for a candidate, then it's fine to  decline the request .

It's actually better to say no than it is to write a letter that doesn't strongly endorse the person you are recommending.

You can simply say something vague like you don't feel totally comfortable writing a recommendation or you don't have the type of exposure that would enable you to supply the right kind of letter.

Chron. " Do Companies Check Your References Before the Interview ?" Accessed May 24, 2020.

Clemson.edu. Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation ." Accessed May 24, 2020.

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Ultimate Guide to Writing Scholarship Recommendation Letters

Embarking on the quest for a scholarship is akin to assembling a mosaic of one’s academic journey, and nestled within this assemblage is a gem often underestimated yet pivotal — the letter of recommendation. This document transcends beyond mere formality; it breathes life into the pages of accomplishments and aspirations. In the competitive arena of scholarship applications, where exceptional grades are par for the course, a well-articulated recommendation letter emerges as a beacon, illuminating a student’s persona beyond their academic prowess. This letter, when penned with insight and authenticity, can pivot the scales in a student’s favor, transforming their application from a mere dossier of achievements into a vivid narrative that captures the essence of their potential.

While personal references are invaluable, there are instances where students might not have access to suitable recommenders. In such situations, considering the option to buy a letter of recommendation could be a viable alternative. Professional services that offer such letters are adept at understanding the nuances of what makes a recommendation impactful, ensuring that the letter aligns with the student’s achievements and aspirations.

Understanding Recommendation Letters: Unveiling the Narrative

What exactly encapsulates a recommendation letter for a scholarship? It is a mosaic of trust and belief, crafted by someone who has closely witnessed the student’s academic and personal growth — a teacher, a mentor, or perhaps an employer. This letter is a tapestry woven with threads of the student’s resilience, their leadership, their unwavering commitment, and those sparkling moments that define their journey.

The profound impact of recommendation letters within the scholarship realm is undeniable. Far more than a mere endorsement of a student’s abilities, these letters illuminate the very essence of their character. They highlight a student’s perseverance in the face of challenges, their relentless pursuit of goals, and the depth of their personal qualities that set them apart in a sea of academically excellent peers.

In the landscape of scholarship applications, where outstanding grades and test scores are common, these letters bring into focus the unique attributes of a student. They cast a light on those special qualities that differentiate them, offering a narrative that resonates deeply with scholarship committees. It’s not just about demonstrating a need for financial aid; these letters craft a vivid picture of a student who is not only poised to benefit from the scholarship but is also ready to significantly enrich their own life and the communities around them.

Who Should Write the Letter

When it comes to penning a recommendation letter for a scholarship, the choice of author holds significant weight. The ideal candidate is someone who has had a meaningful and substantial interaction with the student, someone who can provide more than a superficial endorsement. Typically, teachers and counselors are the frontrunners in this endeavor, given their firsthand experience with the student’s academic diligence and intellectual curiosity. They are the witnesses to the student’s journey of growth and academic exploration, often able to provide rich insights into the student’s scholarly pursuits and personal development.

The array of suitable authors for a scholarship recommendation letter isn’t confined to the halls of academia. Employers can provide invaluable insights, shedding light on the student’s professional demeanor, leadership qualities, and collaborative skills in a workplace context. Their perspective is a window into how the student navigates real-world challenges and interactions. Likewise, coaches and mentors from extracurricular realms bring their unique viewpoints, speaking to the student’s ability to work as part of a team, their resilience in the face of obstacles, and their dedication to activities beyond the academic curriculum.

These non-academic recommenders can illuminate aspects of the student’s character that might remain unseen in a classroom setting. Their testimonials can paint a holistic picture, highlighting a well-rounded individual who thrives in various environments and situations.

A member of a scholarship committee once aptly noted, “The most impactful letters come from those who truly know the applicant and can provide specific anecdotes that bring their application to life.” This statement underscores the importance of selecting an author who can delve beyond academic achievements to paint a vivid picture of the student as a multifaceted individual.

Ultimately, the ideal author of a scholarship recommendation letter is someone who can blend personal anecdotes with professional insights to create a narrative that not only highlights the student’s qualifications but also captures their spirit and potential.

Step-by-Step Writing Guide for Crafting an Impactful Recommendation Letter

Crafting a recommendation letter for a scholarship is much like creating a detailed portrait; it demands meticulous attention, a deep comprehension of the student’s character, and a knack for eloquent expression. This guide provides a detailed roadmap to help you weave a letter that is not only engaging and perceptive but also a true reflection of the student’s merits.

Starting with the Basics: Letterhead and Introduction

• Use Professional Letterhead: Begin with a professional letterhead that includes your contact information, if available. This lends a touch of formality and credibility to your letter.
• Craft a Strong Opening: Your opening sentence should grab attention. Introduce yourself and your relationship with the student. Mention how long you’ve known them and in what capacity.

The Art of Personalization: Tailoring Your Content

• Understanding the Student: Reflect on the student’s strengths, achievements, and unique qualities. Personal anecdotes that showcase these attributes can be powerful.
• Aligning with the Scholarship’s Goals: Research the scholarship’s objectives and criteria. Tailor your letter to show how the student’s profile aligns with these goals.

Structuring the Letter: A Clear Framework

• Introduction: Here, include your professional standing, your relationship with the student, and an overview of their suitability for the scholarship.
• Body Paragraphs:
• First Paragraph: Delve into the student’s academic abilities and achievements. Use specific examples to illustrate their intellectual curiosity and dedication to their studies.
• Second Paragraph: Highlight extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and personal qualities. Emphasize traits like resilience, empathy, and creativity.
• Conclusion: Conclude with a strong endorsement of the student, reiterating their suitability for the scholarship and your belief in their potential.

Style and Tone: The Subtle Nuances

• Maintain a Formal Yet Warm Tone: While the letter should be formal, it should also convey warmth and sincerity. Your genuine belief in the student should shine through.
• Be Concise and Clear: Avoid overly flowery language. Clarity and conciseness are key to a powerful letter.

Polishing Your Letter: The Final Touches

• Proofreading Is Crucial: Check for grammatical errors or typos. A well-polished letter reflects both on you and the student.
• Seek Feedback: If possible, have a colleague review the letter. Fresh eyes can offer valuable insights.

Penning a recommendation letter is not just a task—it’s an honor and a testament to your role in a student’s academic journey. Such a letter is a conduit for their aspirations, a crucial step in their path to success. Following these guidelines, you can compose a letter that not only showcases the student’s accomplishments and personal strengths but also harmonizes with the spirit and objectives of the scholarship committee.

Templates and Examples for a Spectrum of Scholarship Types

Embarking on the task of writing recommendation letters for various scholarship types requires a nuanced approach. To aid in this endeavor, we offer a comprehensive collection of templates, each crafted to highlight the distinct qualities and achievements relevant to different scholarship categories. Explore these tailored templates:

Academic Excellence Scholarships

Ideal for academically stellar students, these templates underscore intellectual achievements, critical thinking abilities, and a profound love for knowledge, spotlighting their scholastic contributions and future academic potential.

Athletic Scholarships

Designed for sports enthusiasts, these templates highlight the candidate’s athletic skills, team spirit, and commitment to sportsmanship, emphasizing their resilience and ability to juggle sports and academics.

Arts and Creativity Scholarships

For creatively gifted students, these templates shed light on artistic talents, original thinking, and dedication to arts and culture, detailing artistic accomplishments and creative endeavors.

Community Service Scholarships

These templates are perfect for students who excel in volunteerism, focusing on their empathy, leadership in community initiatives, and dedication to social causes and community betterment.

Leadership Scholarships

Suited for born leaders, these templates emphasize leadership roles, the capacity to motivate others, and proactive efforts in enacting positive change, showcasing qualities like decision-making, ethical integrity, and visionary thinking.

STEM Scholarships

For students excelling in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, these templates highlight their analytical skills, innovative projects, and contributions to the STEM fields, underscoring their potential for future breakthroughs.

Environmental Advocacy Scholarships

These templates are tailored for environmental champions, emphasizing their commitment to environmental causes, initiatives in sustainability, and efforts to raise awareness about ecological issues.

Entrepreneurial Scholarships

For budding entrepreneurs, these templates focus on business acumen, innovative ideas, and the ability to transform visions into reality, highlighting their entrepreneurial spirit and potential for future business success.

Cultural Heritage Scholarships

Ideal for students who actively engage in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, these templates illuminate their efforts in cultural activities, contributions to cultural preservation, and the impact on their community.

Nursing Scholarships

Tailored for those with a calling in nursing, these templates underscore the compassion, unwavering commitment to healthcare, and scholarly excellence in nursing studies. They shed light on the candidate’s practical nursing skills, their innate empathy, and their steadfast dedication to enhancing patient care. Ideal for illustrating their hands-on healthcare experiences, these templates also delve into the candidate’s resilience and adeptness in navigating the complexities of healthcare settings. This approach highlights their readiness and potential to thrive in the demanding yet rewarding field of nursing.

In sum, each of these templates serves as a foundational guide, enabling you to vividly portray the candidate’s unique attributes and accomplishments in a manner that resonates with the specific criteria of each scholarship type. From academic prowess to artistic flair, from community service to environmental activism, these templates help in crafting recommendation letters that are both impactful and emblematic of the candidates’ respective strengths and passions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Writing Scholarship Recommendation Letters

Writing a recommendation letter for a scholarship is a delicate balance of art and precision. While it’s crucial to encapsulate the essence of the student’s achievements and character, it’s equally important to be aware of common blunders that could diminish the effectiveness of your letter. Here, we outline typical errors often seen in recommendation letters and provide insights on how to skillfully avoid them. This guidance aims to ensure that your letter not only highlights the student’s strengths but also resonates with clarity and authenticity.

Overgeneralization

• The Pitfall: Falling into the trap of writing vague, non-specific letters.
• How to Avoid: Personalize each letter. Include specific anecdotes and examples that vividly showcase the student’s abilities and character.

Excessive Length

• The Pitfall: Crafting overly lengthy letters that lose the reader’s interest.
• How to Avoid: Be concise. Aim for a balance where you provide enough detail to be persuasive without being verbose.

Lack of Focus on the Student

• The Pitfall: Spending too much time discussing your own credentials or experiences.
• How to Avoid: Keep the spotlight on the student. Your role is to support their application, not to highlight your own achievements.

Neglecting the Scholarship Criteria

• The Pitfall: Ignoring the specific criteria or values of the scholarship.
• How to Avoid: Tailor your letter to align with the scholarship’s objectives. Emphasize aspects of the student’s profile that resonate with these criteria.

Skipping Proofreading

• The Pitfall: Submitting a letter with typos or grammatical errors.
• How to Avoid: Always proofread your letter, or better yet, have a colleague review it. A polished letter reflects well on both you and the student.

Overly Generic Tone

• The Pitfall: Using a tone that is too formal or impersonal.
• How to Avoid: Write with warmth and sincerity. A genuine tone can make the letter more engaging and memorable.

By steering clear of these common errors, your recommendation letter will stand as a testament to the student’s worthiness for the scholarship, effectively conveying their unique qualities and potential. Remember, a well-crafted letter not only benefits the student but also reflects positively on your role as their mentor or guide.

FAQ Section: Navigating the Nuances of Recommendation Letters

In the process of crafting and submitting a scholarship recommendation letter, numerous questions often arise. This FAQ section aims to address some of the most common inquiries, offering clear and concise answers to guide you through this important task.

How to Write a Letter for a Recently Known Student?

When writing for a student you’ve recently met, focus on first impressions and potential. Highlight their enthusiasm, initial accomplishments, or immediate impact in your class or organization. Even a short interaction can reveal significant qualities like eagerness to learn or a positive attitude.

Addressing a Student’s Potential Over Academic Record

If a student’s academic record isn’t their strongest suit, emphasize their potential and other strengths. Discuss their work ethic, improvements over time, resilience, or contributions to class discussions. Mention specific instances where they’ve shown growth or a strong commitment to learning.

Describing Personal Growth and Resilience

To illustrate a student’s personal growth or resilience, share a story where they overcame challenges or adapted to new situations. Describe how they handled a particular project under pressure or bounced back from a setback, showing their growth mindset and perseverance.

What if I Don’t Have All the Details About the Scholarship?

If you’re missing specifics about the scholarship, write a more general letter that focuses on the student’s overall strengths and suitability for a range of scholarship opportunities. Highlight their universal qualities like leadership, academic integrity, and community involvement.

Balancing Professionalism with Personal Insights

To strike the right balance, maintain a formal tone but weave in personal anecdotes. Share stories that reveal the student’s character in a professional context. This approach will give the committee a well-rounded view of the student.

Handling Requests from Multiple Students

When juggling multiple requests, it’s crucial to personalize each letter. Avoid using a one-size-fits-all template. Take notes on each student’s unique qualities and achievements to ensure each letter is individualized and reflective of the student’s distinct traits.

Writing for a Student in a Non-Academic Context

If your experience with the student is outside the classroom, focus on skills and qualities they displayed in that context. Talk about their teamwork, leadership, initiative, or any project-specific skills. Relate these qualities to how they could translate to academic success.

As we draw this guide to a close, let’s revisit the essence of what makes a scholarship recommendation letter not just good, but truly impactful. Crafting such a letter is an art form, where the interplay of eloquence, insight, and authenticity takes center stage. Your words have the power to open doors of opportunity for a deserving student, to illuminate their path towards academic and personal growth.

Remember, a great recommendation letter is one that reflects a deep understanding of the student’s character and achievements. It is personalized, detailed, and resonates with the specific criteria of the scholarship. It’s not just about listing accolades but about telling a compelling story that showcases the student’s unique journey and potential.

We encourage you to utilize the templates and examples provided as a starting point, a foundation upon which to build your narrative. Let your genuine knowledge of and belief in the student shine through. Use anecdotes and specific examples to breathe life into your descriptions. Above all, write with sincerity and a sense of purpose.

This guide is designed to be your companion in this significant task. By avoiding common pitfalls and focusing on what truly matters, your letter can be a pivotal factor in a scholarship committee’s decision. So, as you set pen to paper, remember the impact your words can have. You are not just writing a letter; you are helping to shape a student’s future.

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How to Craft the Perfect MBA Recommendation Letter (Sample)

Asking for a letter of recommendation is always a daunting task—even more daunting when you’re the one tasked with writing it.

If you’re hoping to be accepted into a high-quality MBA program at a respected university, you’ll need letters of recommendation. Read this guide to know what to expect from someone who can write a letter of recommendation for you. Even better, share this guide with anyone you want to write a great letter of recommendation for you.

Navigating exactly how to write a letter of recommendation for business school—or any school for that matter—can be quite confusing.

Here we’ll provide you with a few MBA recommendation letter tips, provide specific examples and anecdotes, and help you craft the perfect recommendation letter for your applicant.

Skip to a section:

Crafting the Letter

• The Student’s Goals
• Directions for Submitting

An Overview of the Letter

• Example MBA Letter of Recommendation
• MBA Letters of Recommendation Templates

What is an MBA Recommendation Letter?

Before you get into the writing, you need to know the exact purpose of the letter of recommendation . Submitting a strong reference letter is a vital part of their application process.

Typically, when your student asks you to support them in this way, the ultimate goal is to have someone of a specific level of academic authority add credibility to the student’s application.

You are likely to have a strong relationship with the student who you will be writing for. This is necessary for you to communicate your support in a genuine manner.

In the letter of recommendation, you will need to focus on aspects of your student’s character that, based on your professional/academic relationship, you have observed to be most commendable in their discipline. Also use examples of their past work as a foundation for why they would excel in a Master of Business Administration program.

How do MBA Applicants Choose Reference Letter Writers?

The student’s choice of who they request a letter of reference from is entirely dependent on the relationships that student has fostered and how those relationships have affected their academic and professional career.

If you work or otherwise interact with this student often, you can bet you’ll be chosen to write a recommendation letter. This is especially important for those students who are not coming fresh out of their undergraduate experience, but who have reached the stage of accumulating work experience .

Typically, prospective MBA students need an average of two or more years of professional experience. This will have given them a significant amount of time to not only showcase skills they will need to excel in their MBA program but also identify relationships that will be most conducive to their future academic and professional success.

Now that you have a better understanding of why this student has selected you to write them a letter of recommendation, you can build on that information and relationship to construct it.

Before You Begin

Your student will need the letter of recommendation to match the tone and message of their personal statement in order to compose a cohesive application. What better way to achieve this than to have it written by someone who spends ample time with them?

With this in mind, the keywords for a letter of recommendation need to be directly related to:

• The student’s relevant experience : Have they demonstrated leadership, critical thinking, analytical, or communication skills? Take the time to observe them at work and be reminded of their most applicable traits to be highlighted in this recommendation letter.
• The influence of their work and academic experience on their future goals : Was there a particular course or work assignment they excelled in? How does that relate to their eligibility for the prospective MBA program?

Your natural relationship with the student will determine whether or not they request a letter of recommendation from you and the type of information that will need to be included in the business school letter of recommendation.

Below, we’re going to lay out an MBA recommendation letter template to guide you in constructing the perfect recommendation letter for your future MBA student.

Understand the Student’s Goals

To write the best possible letter of recommendation for a master’s in business leadership (or any type of MBA program), you need to tailor your information around the following subjects:

• Your applicant’s transcripts/academic credentials : Whether good or bad, examine your student’s academic record and find where their academic performance shined. Based on your experience with the applicant, how do their best course grades, extracurricular activities, or teaching assistant experience relate to their ability excel in the MBA program?
• Know the MBA applicant’s purpose or end goals : In the MBA recommendation letter samples below, you will see how to connect the student’s professional and academic history to their ultimate goals in their prospective MBA program.
• Identify points of the applicant’s history you can accentuate or relate to : This is directly related to the previous point. Remain aware of how the applicant’s past academic and professional experiences play into their eligibility as a prospective student and what aspects of their history can strengthen the overall student body of the institution in question.
• If necessary, ask about which universities the applicant is applying to : This will allow you to understand your audience. What qualifications is the institution looking for? What information is required in application packages, and how does that influence the content of your recommendation letter?
• Discuss points of interest with the applicant: What do they want to emphasize?
• Remain formal throughout the letter : Refrain from discussing casual anecdotes, as this will detract from the focus of the letter.

It may look like an overwhelming amount of information to consider but don’t worry; that is why we’re providing a MBA recommendation letter sample below to guide you. Your priority in this letter, and what you will see in the MBA recommendation sample, is to highlight the skills and qualifications of the applicant that you have directly observed and how that fulfills (or exceeds) the MBA program requirements.

Review the Directions for Submitting

Your student should provide you with any submission instructions you may need. Most likely, this recommendation letter will not be submitted through the student. You will have to submit the letter of recommendation directly to the university’s administrative staff.

Should you feel uninformed on the process of submission, despite the information provided by the applicant, you may want to ask the following questions:

• Should the recommendation letter be submitted directly through the university website or received by email?
• What are the submission requirements? (Is a standard business letterhead/format necessary?)
• Is the letter being sent by mail or fax?
• What is the deadline for submission?

Ideally, this is information you should have before you even begin the writing process.

Here are the individual sections of a proper letter of recommendation for an MBA program example. The letter of recommendation as a whole should fill one page and consist of an introduction, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

The body of the recommendation letter should include:

• An explanation of how you, the recommender, know the MBA applicant
• A brief description of the applicant and their best qualities as they relate to the program and their future goals
• Specific examples of the applicant’s skill set; provide real-life, concrete examples of your student’s excellence

If you are struggling to find the proper tone of the letter of recommendation, you may want to review an MBA recommendation letter sample from a professor, manager, or other leadership figure to guide the language used in the letter.

Introduction

In any business school letter of recommendation template, the following aspects need to be included in the introduction:

Paragraph One

Once you get into the body of the recommendation letter, the balance of tone gets a little tricky. You will need to describe the candidate’s qualifications and positive attributes without being overly complimentary. Try your best to maintain a formal, objective tone, while still representing your personal relationship with the applicant.

In this portion of the letter, it is best to discuss your student’s problem-solving abilities within a professional setting, work ethic, leadership skills, and any stellar academic qualities the applicant may possess. Take a look at the executive MBA letter of recommendation samples below to get a feel for how this portion should be constructed.

Paragraph Two

Further into the body of the letter, ideally in the second paragraph, you need to go more in-depth regarding the applicant’s character. Provide specific examples of how they manage responsibilities and why this trait contributes to their eligibility for acceptance to the MBA program.

Keep in mind that the purpose of the letter is to honestly review why the applicant is the best choice for acceptance into the MBA program. That said, mild criticism (if applicable) can go a long way in terms of objectivity and credibility when coupled with your praise of the applicant.

For example, you can describe how the candidate responded to an adverse situation or criticism if their response was negative in nature. Make sure to follow this up with how they are improving on this trait.

In the conclusion of your letter, summarize why you are recommending the applicant for acceptance in the MBA program. Briefly reiterate your observations of the candidate throughout your relationship and their strongest qualifications for acceptance.

Finally, leave the university an invitation to contact you should they require further information, and finish the letter of recommendation with a formal sign off—your printed name and signature beneath it.

Letter of Recommendation for MBA Program Example

Here is an example of a strong letter of recommendation for an MBA program applicant.

Dear Augsburg University MBA Program:

I am writing this letter to recommend Jane Doe for the MBA program at Augsburg University. I have directly supervised Jane for the past three years at [Name of company]. In my time working with Jane I have personally witnessed her dedication and hard work for the organization. Jane is responsible for capital purchases, information technology equipment, and pediatric care equipment.

Jane’s interest and ability in learning news tasks have allowed her to be very knowledgeable in many of the procurement procedures that exist. She always volunteers for new assignments and demonstrates an ability to learn and retain information quickly and accurately. Jane is always willing to do what it takes to get the job done and truly lives up to the company ideals.

I believe Jane will be very successful in your MBA program and is well equipped to handle the challenges and learning experiences that Augsburg can provide for her. She is fully capable of balancing the workload between her job responsibilities and school. The knowledge she will gain from the MBA program will serve her well and will prepare her for promotional opportunities in the near future. I believe Jane is a great candidate for the MBA program and will be very successful in your program. 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

[Your name] 

More MBA Letter of Recommendation Templates

To further assist you in writing the recommendation letter, it is advised that you review MBA reference letter templates.

Below are some letter of recommendation samples for MBA programs that demonstrate an effective letter of recommendation format, and further, specific examples of how to write from different perspectives. A letter of recommendation for MBA programs from a professor will look different than one written by an employer or manager; however, it may be difficult to find an MBA recommendation letter sample from a professor.

• As an employer, you may face the opposite challenge of many writers in that you may be inclined to communicate a little too formally. This business school recommendation letter example will help you to relax your tone to produce the best letter of recommendation possible.
• This is a great example letter of recommendation for an MBA program. It is not often that peers, rather than employers, managers, or professors, are chosen to write reference letters. As a peer, this sample will guide you in balancing impartiality while highlighting the strengths of the applicant.

With these guidelines and MBA recommendation letter examples, you’re ready to write the perfect recommendation letter, such as a letter of recommendation for a master’s in business leadership, entrepreneurship, or other concentrations, and make your applicant shine.

With these resources available, there’s no reason you shouldn’t improve a worthy candidate’s chances of gaining admission with a powerful letter of recommendation.

If you’re an MBA applicant : Share these templates with the person you’re hoping will write a recommendation letter for you. These examples and insights will make it as easy as possible for the author, especially if they’re unfamiliar with writing a letter of recommendation.

Explore our MBA blog to learn about other specializations or find out more about the requirements for applying to Augsburg’s MBA degree program. Get started today!

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How to ask for a letter of recommendation (with examples)

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What are letters of recommendation typically for?

Letters of recommendation vs. references, steps to ask for a letter of recommendation, who to ask for a letter of recommendation, what is the fastest way to ask for a letter of recommendation, how to ask for a letter of recommendation via email, tips for requesting a letter of recommendation, letter of recommendation request samples.

Although it’s not always required, a recommendation letter can increase your chances of being hired for your dream job.

But do you know how to ask for a letter of recommendation? And who to ask?

Asking for a letter of recommendation can be quite daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before. You want to ask someone who will be honest and highlight your best attributes and accomplishments.

Here’s how to confidently ask for a letter of recommendation and some examples to use.

A recommendation letter is written by someone who can recommend your professional or academic performance. Because the writer is personally recommending you, the letter can add favorable weight to your reputation. It shows that you have the personality, character traits, and abilities to succeed in the program or role you’re applying for.

Most letters of recommendation fall under two categories: employment and academic recommendation letters.

Employment recommendation letters are typically used to apply for a new job or to help you get a promotion . They are sent to potential employers or hiring managers in addition to your job application.

Because letters of recommendation help make a good first impression , they can create opportunities for your career development and 5 year plan . A well-written letter can give you that confidence boost you need to overcome job search depression and nail your dream job.

Academic recommendation letters are usually for college applications, scholarships, or fellowship programs. They are often sent to admissions officers as part of the application process. These letters provide additional information about your academic achievements and talents.

Most selective colleges and universities require one to three recommendation letters with your application . They are usually written by a guidance counselor or teacher. 

In this article, we are going to focus on letters of recommendation in a career setting.

While they may sound similar, references and a letter of recommendation are not the same things.

A reference letter is more general in nature than a letter of recommendation. It is a broad assessment of skills and experience. Reference letters are usually addressed "To Whom It May Concern" rather than a specific person.

Potential employers will often ask for a list of references in addition to your resume to determine if you’re a good fit for a role . According to a recent survey, 94% of employers conduct at least one kind of background check .

Each reference should include the contact information of people who have agreed to vouch for your character and skills. For references, you can ask former employers, supervisors , business contacts, mentors , clients, teachers, lecturers, or faculty members. 

A letter of recommendation also covers a person’s work ethic, attitude, and suitability for what they are applying for. It is a unique letter written based on the writer’s personal experience with you.

A good letter of recommendation is often stronger than a reference because the writer is recommending you for a certain job or program. These letters are addressed to a specific recipient, such as the hiring manager of a company.

Choosing the right person to write your letter of recommendation is essential. While it’s ideal for them to be a professional in their field, what’s more important is their relationship with you . Choose someone that has an understanding of your personality and career aspirations . 

Depending on your situation, you could ask a manager , supervisor, teacher, or coach. While they may know you best, family members and close friends aren’t a good idea, as they have an emotional bias.

It’s also important not to ask the same person to be both a professional reference and to write a letter of recommendation. This is because they serve different purposes.

It’s also preferable to have a diverse group of people vouching for your abilities. If the same person writes your letter of recommendation and acts as a reference, this could appear as though you do not have enough people willing to attest to your skills and personality.

Now that you understand what defines a recommendation letter, let’s focus on the next step in the learning process: how to ask for one.

• Make a list of possible people to ask
• Reach out to the person, followed by a formal letter
• Provide enough time
• Send your resume or brag sheet
• Provide other necessary details
• Send a thank-you letter

Let’s look at what each step entails.

1. Make a list of possible people to ask

Before you dive in and send your request, think about who would be the best person for the task. Make a list of your networking connections that are close to you. Remember, they should know you well enough to speak to your character on a personal level.

2. Reach out to the person, followed by a formal letter

If possible, it’s best to have an in-person conversation with the person you’d like to write your letter of recommendation. Writing a letter of recommendation requires time and effort, so you should put in some effort to connect with them , too.

If you can’t ask in person, the next best thing is to give them a call or send a friendly email. We’ve covered how to ask for a letter of recommendation via email below. 

Once you’ve made that initial connection, email a formal written request. This way, you can include all the necessary details, and you’ll have a paper trail of the request.

3. Provide enough time

Most professionals have busy schedules and many priorities to consider. Even if they are eager to write your letter of recommendation, you should give them ample time to write it. The last thing you want is a rushed letter.

4. Send your resume or brag sheet

Make it easy for the person writing your letter by sending them your updated resume or ‘brag sheet.’ A brag sheet is a list of relevant and transferable skills and accomplishments that you would like highlighted.

Sending these documents won’t just make the writer’s life easier. It will also prevent them from leaving out any important details that they may not have been aware of. 

5. Provide other necessary details

Give detailed information about the job or program you are applying for. This includes logistical information like who to address the letter to and the letter due date. 

6. Send a thank-you letter

A little bit of gratitude can go a long way. Express your appreciation by sending a thank-you letter or email to the person writing a letter of recommendation for you.

Another great way to show your appreciation for their act of kindness is to keep the writer of the letter updated. Keep them in the loop about your future endeavors so they know the impact their letter made.

Deciding who to ask for a letter of recommendation is a crucial part of the process. 

They need to be someone who knows you well. They also need to have neutral judgment and have some professional gravitas in your field. 

You might be tempted to ask someone who simply holds a lot of power . But it is more important that you pick someone who has personal experience with you as an individual.

The intention for your letter of recommendation is also a determining factor when choosing who to ask. 

Academic letters would be best written by a teacher or lecturer. Professional or career-based letters are best left to trustworthy colleagues, supervisors, or managers. 

Start to narrow your list of potential candidates down until you are left with just two or three. Then, you can ask those around you for objective guidance about who would be best suited for the task.

If you are between jobs or competing with others for a certain position, you might feel stressed and pressed for time. 

If you work or study in the same property as them, making a scheduled appointment and asking them in person would be the fastest way. 

If that isn’t possible, asking via email is the quickest, most efficient way to reach them. You could also call them to request the letter, then follow up with the details in an email.

Requesting a recommendation letter via email is different from asking in person because of the lack of eye contact and human interaction . You will need to be even more clear and deliberate about your request. 

If you are wondering how to ask for a letter of recommendation via email, we’ve got you covered. 

Here are some top tips for compiling a solid recommendation letter request via email:

• Use a concise subject line. You want the recipient to know exactly what to expect from your email. Avoid emojis, excessive punctuation, and long-winded statements.
• Make them aware of who you are. Advocate for yourself by announcing who you are clearly and confidently at the beginning of the email. If there’s a chance they don’t remember you from previous interactions, make sure to remind them of your connection.
• Be friendly but direct. This is a professional request for something that could drastically alter the trajectory of your career path . Be straightforward without compromising on affability.

• Make it as easy as possible for them. You can show your respect for their time and energy by doing everything you can to make their job easy. Don’t leave the research up to them. For example, you could share your personal vision statement with them so they are aware of what you want to do and why.
• Attach the necessary information. The last thing you want is to appear disorganized. Triple-check that all of the necessary PDFs and documents are attached before hitting send. This includes documents like your resume and the job description of the position you are applying for.
• Be honest about your timeline. Ensure the person you ask knows the application deadline and when you hope to submit the letter. Even if you’ve left it to the last minute, it’s best to be honest. This way, they can politely decline if they aren’t comfortable writing the letter in time.

Asking someone for a letter of recommendation can be daunting because so much of your future relies on it. But the fact that you are here and doing the research is already an indication that you are taking it seriously.

Use this list of tips to help you feel more prepared.

• Don’t leave it to the last minute . A slap-dash request rarely conveys competence. Manage your time efficiently so that the letter writer has plenty of time to write a good recommendation.
• Preferably ask in person . When possible, request a letter of recommendation in person. This may allow for better communication through body language .
• Show appreciation . It is important to acknowledge that they are doing you a favor.

• Use a bit of flattery . There is nothing wrong with using a touch of flattery to amplify your chances of success.
• If they aren’t comfortable, ask someone else . If they are too busy or simply don’t want to assist, be understanding and move on to the next person on your list.
• Be graceful if they decline . Even though it can be disappointing, try to be accepting and understanding about a declined request.
• Be clear about what you need . Avoid a disappointing letter of recommendation by clearly stating what you would like the letter to include.
• Use professional and confident language . Avoid slang and being over-familiar. Pull out the stops and be your most professional self.

Below are two different examples for recommendation letter requests. Let’s first take a look at a professional example:

Dear Mr. Collier,

I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation in support of my application for Head Manager at JHI Associates. The hiring manager has asked me to provide a letter of recommendation from someone who knows me on a professional level and can speak to my skills and achievements.

Since we have worked together for several years, I believe you can provide some insight into my qualifications as an ideal managerial candidate. I learned a lot from you while working at Collier Caller Services. With this in mind, I think you would be a great person to vouch for my interpersonal and decision-making skills.

Please let me know if you are comfortable endorsing my candidacy for a managerial role. Should you be willing, I can provide you with all the necessary information to help you write your recommendation. 

I have attached my resume to bring you up to date with my experience and professional accomplishments.

Thank you in advance,

Mary Jackson

Now, let’s take a look at an academic example.

Dear Professor Jameson,

I thoroughly enjoyed your Mathematics class last semester, and I learned so much. In fact, it confirmed my belief that pursuing a career in accounting is the right choice. I’m hoping that you feel you got to know me and my academic abilities during the semester because I’d like to ask you to write a recommendation letter.

I’m working toward a scholarship that’s awarded by ACME Accounting. I have enclosed my cover letter to the scholarship committee and a copy of my application. I’ve also included a summary sheet of my achievements in your class and those outside the classroom to refresh your memory.

Could you please let me know if you are comfortable endorsing me for this scholarship? If need be, I would be more than happy to answer any questions or provide additional information that would help you write your recommendation.

Thank you for all your support and for taking the time to review my request.

Jenna Smith

Some of the most important parts of a recommendation letter request include the following elements:

• Formal greeting : Dear Name
• Statement of intent : I would like you to write me a letter of recommendation
• Offering specific details : It is for X Program or X Employment Position at X University/Business
• Purpose of letter : It will allow me to graduate/find employment
• Reason why you are asking them : We have X years of working experience together
• Affirmation of ambition : I am confident in my ability to reach this goal
• Gratitude : Thank you for your time
• Signature : Your Name

Drafting a request for a letter of recommendation may feel a little overwhelming. But keep in mind that it is a common practice in professional settings.

Ready to ask for a letter of recommendation?

Despite its ability to influence your career path , knowing how to ask for a letter of recommendation is not something everyone is taught. It’s normal to feel awkward about asking for a recommendation letter, especially if it’s from a boss if you are leaving your job .

However, it’s important to remember that most people are more than willing to oblige if you ask nicely, especially if you have a good relationship with them.

A strong letter of recommendation can help you stand out from other applicants during a job search. It can also reinforce your social capital in the corporate or academic world and increase your confidence in yourself.

All of these things are important for professional development.

If you’d like to take your career and individual transformation to the next level, BetterUp can help. Get in touch with us today to find the right expert coach for you.

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Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Character references: 4 tips for a successful recommendation letter

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 9 sample excellent recommendation letters for your job.

Letters of Recommendation

Anyone who's applied for a job knows how important recommendation letters can be to getting hired. While you've probably asked for a reference letter in the past, you may be less familiar with writing one. If someone asks you for a reference, how can you produce a great letter that will help your employee, colleague, or friend get hired?

To help you through the writing process, we're providing nine samples of effective letters of recommendation (scroll down to skip to the samples!). By reading through these examples, you'll gain a clear understanding of how to structure your own letters.

Before getting to the free recommendation letter samples, let's briefly review the role that reference letters play in the hiring process. Why are they important, and what makes some stand out over others?

Why Are Recommendation Letters Important?

Many employers request recommendation letters to help them decide who to hire or internally promote. Throughout the hiring process, the applicant strives to present herself in the best light. Beyond the interview and resume, hiring managers look to recommendation letters to confirm the candidate's qualifications and to gain insight from an outside party.

The hiring manager wants to know what experiences the candidate will bring to the new role, how she'll contribute to the company or organization, and how she'll behave in the day-to-day. 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. They complement the candidate's story and suggest what she'll bring to the table in her next job.

If you get asked to write a letter for someone, it's safe to assume you want to do a good job. Helping someone get hired is not just a satisfying good deed, but it's also good professional karma! So how can you turn those good intentions into a stand-out employee letter of recommendation?

Each letter will, of course, be different, but good letters share certain key features. Read on to learn about three important characteristics of strong reference letters.

Your recommendation letter's not the time to be cagey about your identity! The hiring manager wants to know who you are and why you're qualified to recommend the applicant.

What Makes a Recommendation Letter Stand Out? 3 Key Features

Strong letters give positive descriptions of a candidate's skills in a concise and powerful way. Beyond using language that's clear and error-free, what elements should your recommendation letter include to be effective?

As you write your letter, make sure it does the following:

#1: Explains Why You're Qualified to Recommend the Candidate

In order to hold weight, a recommendation letter should come from a reputable source. If an employer wants a professional reference, then the writer of that letter probably worked with the candidate in a supervisory capacity. Some employers will also be interested in letters from a colleague or, occasionally, a friend, neighbor, or family member. Most letters, though, will be written by a supervisor, manager, or boss of some sort.

In the first paragraph, you should explain who you are and how you know the candidate. How long did you work with her and in what capacity? By explaining your relationship, you show that you're qualified to give an honest assessment.

If someone who feels like a relative stranger asks you to write a letter, you might consider declining or recommending someone else to write it. If you didn't get to know the candidate's work performance or only did so in a way completely unrelated to the new position, then you might not be able to provide a helpful letter of recommendation from employer to employee.

The best letters are written by people who can speak to the candidate's skills and accomplishments. Make sure to state clearly in the beginning of your letter who you are and why your opinion matters.

#2: Customized to the New Position

While you should speak to the candidate's accomplishments in her past role, you should also show why she'd make a good fit in the next one. Even if the candidate's making a career change, you can explain why she'll be able to do well in the new industry.

Here's where open communication with the applicant is important. She should share the job description so you have a clear understanding of the position's requirements. As the writer, you're not expected to do much research on the new job. The candidate should provide you with everything you need to know to customize your letter.

By drawing on this information, you can express confidence that the candidate will succeed in the new role. Then when the hiring manager reads your letter, she'll feel reassured that the candidate would make a good fit.

#3: Uses Specific Examples and Anecdotes

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, your letter should provide specific examples about the candidate. Don't just list adjectives like, "friendly, intelligent, and hard-working"; instead, present circumstances in which the candidate demonstrated those qualities. To borrow a favorite phrase of English teachers, "show, don't just tell."

Not only will examples point to the value the candidate brought to your organization or company, but they'll also paint a picture of how she works in day-to-day operations. Using two to three specific anecdotes in your letter will boost its level of persuasiveness. It will also sidestep a common rec letter trap: becoming a generic list of cliches.

Just as you should only write a recommendation letter if you feel qualified to assess the candidate, you should also only write it if you can provide a great one. While you don't want to go over the top and sound insincere, your letter should be a strongly positive endorsement.

Sample Recommendation Letters

As you read through the nine free job recommendation letters below, notice how they all share the three key features described above, even though they differ in terms of their source and target audience. Below are nine sample recommendation letters, each followed by an analysis of what it does well!

• Sample Recommendation Letter 1: Written by a Direct Manager for a Full-Time Employee
• Sample Recommendation Letter 2: Written by a Principal for a Teacher
• Sample Recommendation Letter 3: Written by a Direct Manager for a Part-Time Employee
• Sample Recommendation Letter 4: Written by a Manager for a Remote Worker
• Sample Recommendation Letter 5: Written by a Supervisor for an Internal Promotion
• Sample Recommendation Letter 6: Written by a Supervisor for a Student Intern
• Sample Recommendation Letter 7: Written by a Coworker
• Sample Recommendation Letter 8: Written by a Professor for a Former Student
• Sample Recommendation Letter 9: Written by a Friend as a Character Reference

After checking out the above samples of recommendation letters, read on for some final thoughts on how to write an excellent letter of recommendation for an employee, coworker, or friend.

Now that you've got all the building blocks, you can put them together into a powerful letter of recommendation!

Writing Strong Letters of Recommendation: Final Thoughts

While the above samples of recommendation letters will help guide you through the letter writing process, they can't look exactly like your final product. Writing a letter is a significant undertaking, as it requires you to customize your words to the candidate and make your letter unique. Even though the specifics will vary, strong letters of recommendation do have certain features in common. Each letter should...

Use an Official Format

The sample letters show the proper format for a recommendation letter. They have the employer's name, position, company, and company's address at the top. To give one example, here's the header for recommendation letter sample #1:

Ms. Greta Johanssen Sales Manager Streambase Corp. 66 Western Boulevard Santa Fe, New Mexico 87500

You should also use official letterhead that has your name and contact information across the top, in whatever way you've chosen to present it. Each letter is addressed to a specific person, a greeting that's more personal than, "Dear Hiring Manager." Typically, paragraphs are single-spaced with a double space in between each one.

Finally, every letter concludes with an invitation to contact the writer for any further information. Then the writer may include her position, company, phone number, and email below her name.

Start with a Strong Opener

The strongest letters start out with an immediate statement of support. They might say, "It's my honor," "It's my pleasure," or "I'm very pleased to provide this letter of recommendation for Joe." Stating the obvious with a sentence like, "I'm writing to recommend Joe," looks weak beside a more enthusiastic opener.

In the first paragraph, explain who you are and why you're qualified to recommend the candidate. Write a line or two of praise about her professional and personal strengths, perhaps with a summary of the main points you'll present in the rest of the letter.

Include Two to Three Specific Examples

As mentioned above, strong letters typically include two to three body paragraphs with specific anecdotes about the candidate. They don't just describe the applicant's great qualities and accomplishments; they give examples and prove to her prospective employer that she's made achievements in the past that predict future success.

You might talk about a project or responsibility of the applicant or the value she's brought to your company. Consider relevant qualities like flexibility, initiative, leadership, growth, collaboration, interpersonal skills, and/or ability to perform within a certain environment or culture.

To Sum Up...

Depending on your relationship with the candidate, you might focus more on her work performance or personal character in your recommendation letter. An employer will focus more heavily on professional skills while a coworker may add personal qualities.

A friend or neighbor providing a character reference would produce the most personal letter. It falls upon the candidate to choose her recommenders wisely and to share any relevant information about the prospective position to help them write the best letter they can.

As long as you incorporate the key features discussed above and take the time to make your letter positive and specific, you'll provide a strong recommendation letter that will help your employee, colleague, or friend get hired. And who knows—perhaps in a year or two, she'll be writing a recommendation letter for you!

What's Next?

Are you tasked with writing a recommendation letter for a student applying to college? If so, check out these samples of recommendation letters from teachers and counselors, along with additional writing tips and a thorough recommendation letter template!

• 4 Amazing Samples of Recommendation Letters from Teachers Should You Move to a State with No Income Taxes
• 3 Examples of Excellent Recommendation Letters from Counselors
• Complete Guide: Writing a Strong Letter of Recommendation
• Unsecured Credit Cards for Those with Bad Credit
• A Great College Recommendation Letter Template

Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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Letters of Recommendation

The most effective letters of recommendation are written by professors or work supervisors who know you well enough to describe your academic, personal, or professional achievements and potential with candor, detail, and objectivity. Letters that compare you to your academic peers are often the most useful.

Most schools do not consider general, unreservedly praiseworthy letters helpful.

LSAC Letter of Recommendation (LOR) Service

Access to LSAC’s Letter of Recommendation (LOR) service is included in Credential Assembly Service (CAS) registration . This service allows you to manage your letters of recommendation through your LSAC JD Account .

If you use LSAC’s LOR service, your references will only need to submit their letters of recommendation once to LSAC — even if you intend to include these letters in every one of your law school applications. LSAC will make copies of each reference’s original letter to include in your CAS Reports .

You get to assign which letters you want each law school to receive. If you change your mind early enough in the application process, you can reassign your letters through your LSAC JD Account.

How to Use LSAC’s LOR Service

• In your LSAC JD Account , provide the name and contact information for each of your recommenders.
• Indicate the number of letters that each recommender will submit, and describe each letter’s use (e.g., for all law schools).
• You must assign the appropriate letters to each law school to which you’re applying (or they will not be sent). You can find information about each school’s requirements by clicking the “LOR Requirements” link beneath the school names on the Letters of Recommendation page of your LSAC JD Account.

This is important.  If your recommender is submitting your letter of recommendation on paper, you must print the required LOR Form from your LSAC JD Account and deliver it to your recommender. This form must accompany your letter of recommendation. Paper letters received without an accompanying LOR Form or without the recommender’s signature will be returned to the recommender.

If your recommender is sending more than one letter for you, be sure to emphasize the importance of attaching the correct form to the corresponding letter.

Please allow LSAC two weeks from the time of receipt to process your paper letters.

The status of each of your letters will be listed on the homepage of your LSAC JD Account .

Do I Need to Use LSAC’s LOR Service?

Most ABA-approved law schools accept LSAC’s LOR service. However, unless a law school states that you must use this service, you may choose not to use it. For individual application requirements, log in to your LSAC JD Account or contact the law school .

Can My Campus Credential Service Submit Letters to LSAC?

Yes, LSAC accepts copies of letters from undergraduate school credential services or career planning offices. However, the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Form must still accompany each letter, even if the school’s service uses its own preprinted forms in the collection process.

There must be one LSAC LOR Form for each letter your campus service will be sending to LSAC. This is true even if the credential service issues a “packet” that includes several recommendations. Be certain that your school’s service understands that each LOR Form you give them must be submitted with the packet to LSAC.

When identifying your recommenders in your LSAC JD Account, enter the name and contact information for each individual recommender, NOT the name and contact information of your campus credential service. LSAC will use this contact information to send your recommender a confirmation of receipt.

In the event that a recommender on file in the credential service office is no longer associated with the institution, or has passed away, you should still enter the recommender’s name on your LOR Form. However, enter the contact information associated with your credential service office. LSAC will send a confirmation of receipt to the campus credential service.

Describing Your Letters

Descriptions will help you assign the correct letters to each school to which you’re applying. If you aren’t sure how to describe your letters, these examples might help:

• Program/Specialty-Specific References: If you interned for the EPA, you could ask either a professor or your supervisor to write a letter about that experience. Describe this letter as “Environmental Law Programs” if you only plan to assign it to law schools that offer environmental law specialties.
• School-Specific References: If one of your professors is a law school graduate, you could ask this professor to recommend you to their alma mater. The description for this letter could read: “Smith School of Law.” You would assign this letter to Smith School of Law only .
• General References: For letters that aren’t targeted to specific specialties or law schools, the description could read: “General Use.” You could assign this letter to any law school.

Law schools receive both the LOR Form and the letter, so write your descriptions carefully.

• Letters sent to LSAC remain the property of LSAC and will remain active for the life of your file. Letters will be neither returned to nor copied for you, the candidate.
• If you intend to reuse a letter of recommendation for an admission year other than the one for which it was written, or for a different law degree program, it is a good idea to contact the recommender as a courtesy to make sure that the person does not mind this reuse. Some recommenders may wish to write an updated letter when you apply in a subsequent reporting year or to a different type of program. A recommender may decide to rescind a letter after becoming aware that it has been repurposed, if permission to reuse the letter has not been requested and granted.

Questions You May Have

• How Law Schools Determine Whom to Admit : What other factors do law schools consider?
• The Application Process: An Overview : What steps are involved in the law school application process?
• Requesting Transcripts : How do I request transcripts?
• CAS FAQs : I have a different question.

Letters of Recommendation

LoRs must be uploaded through the ERAS Letter of Recommendation Portal by the LoR Author or their designee. It is your responsibility to follow up with LoR Authors about LoRs. 

In this Section:

Creating lor entries, confirming lor entries, downloading letter request, emailing letter request, uploading lors, assigning lors.

You must create a separate LoR entry for each LoR you intend to use during the application season. 

• Each LoR entry created can contain author name*, author title/department*, specialty to which the letter will be assigned, program director/department chair, and selection of whether to waive the right to view.* (*denotes a required field). 
• You may label LoRs you intend to assign to programs of specific specialties. The specialty field will be viewable only by applicants, their Designated Dean’s Office, and the LoR Author. Programs cannot view it. 
• The optional program director selection should be made only for LoRs written by a program director in a current or previous residency or fellowship where you trained. This selection should be used only by residents and fellows. It does not apply to rising seniors. 
• The optional department chair selection should be made only for LoRs written by a department chair where you completed a clerkship training. Group departmental letters must be signed by the team composing the letter. 
• You must indicate whether you waive your right to view the LoR for each LoR entry created. If you waive your right to view a LoR, you are not permitted to view or obtain the LoR under any circumstances. 

• Only LoRs that are Not Confirmed for Upload can be edited or deleted. Errors in any LoR that has been Confirmed for Upload can only be changed through creating a new LoR entry. 

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You must confirm a LoR entry before an associated Letter ID can be generated.  

To Confirm LoRs: 

• Mark the checkbox for the LoR entry/entries that need to be confirmed.  Note: Checkboxes can be marked individually or all at once by marking the ”select all” checkbox at the top of the column.   
• Select “Confirm” at the top of the page to the right of the LoR selection count. 
• Enter the MyERAS password and select “Confirm” to complete the process. 
• LoR entries can be confirmed only on the Letters of Recommendation page by either: 
• Selecting individual entries and selecting “Only checked” in the Confirm drop-down menu, then entering the MyERAS password to complete the process. 
• Selecting multiple entries by selecting “All on this page” or “All Records” in the Confirm drop-down menu, then entering the MyERAS password to complete the process. 
• Once a LoR entry has been Confirmed for Upload, a Letter ID will be generated and the option to print the Letter Request Form will become available under the Actions column. 
• The Letter Request Form is a PDF that includes the following: 
• LoR Author Details (as you entered them). 
• LoR Author Name.  
• LoR Author Title/Department.  
• Program Director/Department Chair Indicator (If applicable). 
• Applicant Details. 
• Full Name.  
• Preferred Name (If entered). 
• Contact Information.  
• AAMC ID.  
• ERAS Letter ID.  
• Specialty to which this letter will be assigned.  
• Waiver Indicator for rights to see the letter. 
• Letter of Recommendation Portal Instructions. 

The Letter Request Form can be downloaded as a PDF. 

The Letter Request Form can be delivered to LoR Authors via email directly from the MyERAS portal. When you choose to send the form as an email, you will have the ability to send the author a custom message. 

The Letter ID contained in the Letter Request Form must be used to upload the associated LoR through the Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP). 

• An accurate and valid Letter ID must be used to upload each LoR through the LoRP for each associated LoR entry. 
• Only LoR entries that have been Confirmed for Upload with the right to view (NOT waived) may be uploaded by the applicant. 
• All LoRs uploaded into the ERAS system will be watermarked with the full name on the AAMC account of the uploader along with the date and time they were uploaded. 
• A notification will be sent to the email address entered in the Personal Information section that alerts you when a LoR has been uploaded. 
• Once a LoR has been uploaded, its status will update to “uploaded” and the option to assign will become available under the Actions column. 

Note: Letter Request Forms should not be duplicated and distributed to multiple LoR Authors. They are customized for each letter and contain a unique Letter ID that can be used only once. 

You may designate the assignment of up to four LoRs to each program. 

• Only LoRs that have been uploaded can be assigned to programs. 
• LoRs assignments to programs that have been applied to cannot be changed. 
• LoRs can be assigned to any saved or applied to programs from the Letters of Recommendation page by selecting “Assign” under the Actions column of the intended LoR. 
• Programs listed with a disabled checkbox already have the maximum number of four LoRs currently assigned. 
• When assigning by LoR, you should review any LoRs that are listed under the LoRs Assigned column before making selections or changes. 
• When assigning by LoR, you will not be able to make selections for programs with a status of withdrawn. 
• LoRs can be assigned by program using the Assign option under the Actions column on both the Saved Programs and Programs Applied To pages. 
• LoR assignments can be made throughout the application season to any programs that do not have the maximum number of four LoRs currently assigned, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review newly assigned LoRs received after initial application to their program. 
• Once the maximum number of four LoRs have been assigned to any given applied to program, additional LoR assignments cannot be made during the application season. Letters cannot be replaced after being assigned to any given applied program. 
• A LoR cannot be assigned to programs that are closed. 
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Letter of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are, for the most part, all alike: SSG Smith performed here and there as this and that and always did an outstanding job. The challenge is in how to say it and how to include enough justification to make sure it gets approved. The real strength in a letter of recommendation lies with the credibility of the writer. And, whether your goal is to become a warrant officer or an astronaut, you must have the backing of your superiors: your rater, your Senior rater, and your Commander.

• AK ARNG Recommendation for Enlistment
• Letter of Recommendation - Enlistment

Green to Gold Program

• Green to Gold Program Recommendation
• Recommendation for Green to Gold Program

Special Duty/ Position

• Recommendation for Special Duty
• Recommendation for New Position

Soldier of the Month

• Recommendation for Soldier of the Month
• Soldier of the Month Board Recommendation

Audie Murphy Club

• Recommendation for Audie Murphy Club
• Recommendation, Audie Murphy Club
• Letter of Recommendation, Employment
• Letter of Recommendation - Employment

Miscellaneous

• Recommendation for ARCOM
• Letter of Recommendation - 1SG
• Command Recommendation
• GAARNG Letter of Recommendation
• Sample Letter of Recommendation (.doc)
• Letter of Recommendation - EFMB (.doc)
• Letter of Recommendation - OCS
• Letter of Recommendation - Warrant Officer
• Letter of Recommendation - General/Duty
• Recommendation for Commendation
• FLARNG Letter of Recommendation
• Air Force Letter of Recommendation
• Recommendation, Order of Saint George
• Recommendation, Order of Saint George (2)

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Guidelines for writing letters of recommendation (lor) for residency and fellowship.

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine designates this Enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

• 1.00 MA Risk Management
• 1.00 Participation