How to Write a Recommendation Letter?

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

Before you figure out how to write a recommendation letter, you need to understand the nature of this write-up. Basically, it is a written reference that aims to provide the reader with information about a specific character. A well-written letter of recommendation is very helpful in achieving career goals as it may help get the desired job offer. When working on such a paper, you need to know that it aims to validate someone`s work, certifications, or academic performance. You may need to write a recommendation for a person applying for an internship, a job, an academic program, etc. The primary purpose of a letter of recommendation is to inform the audience about what you have learned about the applicant and provide additional information about their habits or performance.

Why It Is Important to Know How to Write a Recommendation Letter?

Although many employers focus mainly on the resume, cover letter, and portfolio documents when reviewing the job application, a letter of recommendation is a particularly important source of information about the applicant. Even if a recommendation letter is not the necessary element of a job application, it holds significant value in the eyes of the recruiter. Now, a recommendation letter may have different forms. If you need to write such a paper but you are unsure how to do it accordingly, you can always find a reliable writing service and pay for letter of recommendation. Cooperation with a skilled writer will enable you to receive a flawless document without spending much time and effort.

Common Types of Recommendation Letters

There are various reasons why a person may need the following document. No matter what kind of recommendation letter you have to complete, its goal is standard. This write-up has to present an individual as a perfect match for the position they are seeking. Now, let us have a closer look at the common types:

Academic

If you need to write a recommendation letter for a student, then your document has to include information about their academic performance, as well as the skills that make them a perfect candidate for the grant or program they are seeking.

Professional

A lot of candidates ask their former mentors or employers to assist them in job searching by recommending them for specific job positions. When composing a professional letter of recommendation, you need to focus on the exclusive candidate`s skills and qualities that make him or her a perfect match for the particular job offer.

Home Rental Referral

When you need to complete a home rental referral, you need to consider the new landlord`s concerns and highlight the aspects that made your relationship with the tenant positive. For instance, you may mention their promptness in paying the rent or their attention to your requests.

Format Your Document in a Proper Way

No matter what kind of recommendation you are writing, it has to include the following sections:

• Date (the date when the letter is written);
• The name of the recipient;
• The title of the recipient;
• Address;
• Greeting (You need to address the recipient by his or her name if possible. For instance, Dear Mr. Jones,);
• Personal introduction. Make sure to begin your letter by introducing yourself and telling a few words about your relationships with the applicant;
• Recommendation. In this part, you have clearly to explain what makes an applicant a good fit for a position chosen. Ensure to provide specific real-life examples that would illustrate your words;
• Anecdote. It is appropriate to include a short story about what it is like to work with the applicant. This story will help your audience learn more about the applicant`s skills you observed during the work;
• Closing. Finally, you need to provide a brief overview of why you would recommend this person for a specific job position;
• Contact information: Ensure to provide your e-mail address or phone number to enable the reader to follow up on your recommendation.
• Signature.

Useful Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter

Customize your letter. When following the traditional structure, you ought not to forget to customize your document. So, the qualifications, skills, and certifications you mention in your document should fit the job offer preferred by the applicant;

Request for some pointers to include in a letter. When a person is asking you to write a recommendation, he or she definitely expects some things to see in it. You will significantly facilitate the writing process if you figure out these points before you start writing. By verifying the specific instances, you will be able to create a good-looking letter. At the same time, you have to be maximally honest and unbiased as this document affects your reputation too;

Be specific. When mentioning any skills and qualifications of the applicant, you have to support your words with the appropriate examples. Make sure to use strong and accurate adjectives avoiding any clichés. When working on a recommendation, you have to think about what information may be interesting for a recruiter;

Focus on soft skills. In addition to technical skills required by the job offer, it is also important to include information about soft skills too as they will help the recruiter learn more about the applicant. For instance, you may mention such soft skills as collaboration, teamwork, empathy, interpersonal skills, and others that are highly valued by any employer;

Be honest. A letter of recommendation ought to be honest and sincere. You have to avoid exaggerating the person`s qualifications just to make a good impression on the recruiter. If the information you include in your write-up is not accurate, it may negatively affect the application process. Thus, you have to think about the way to present the skills and competencies of your applicant without any exaggeration;

Proofread your document. Once your recommendation is ready, you need to look it through and fix all mistakes compromising its quality. Please note that grammar, spelling, and punctuation flaws will make a negative impression on the recruiter;

Encourage your reader to get back to you. At the end of your paper, you need to encourage the reader to reach out to you so that you could provide more information about the applicant. This gesture will help the recruiter wonder what additional data about the applicant you can provide;

Keep it simple. By using complicated words and lengthy sentences, you will confuse your reader. Therefore, we strongly recommend you keep your letter simple and straightforward.

How to Write a Recommendation Letter? Common Don’ts:

• Do not refer to the characteristics, including nationality, race, marital status, age, or anything else that may be considered discriminatory;
• Do not use bland words, such as satisfactory, good, nice, etc.;
• Do not underestimate the importance of a recommendation letter. If you believe that you cannot write a powerful letter, you may just ask the applicant to refer to someone else.

There are common guidelines for writing a recommendation. If you lack inspiration, feel free to look for some efficient examples available online. Take into consideration that your write-up has to be customized to the job offer pursued by the applicant. Thus, your letter has to perfectly match the goal. All in all, by following our suggestions, you will be able to create a one-of-a-kind letter that will help the applicant reach his or her career goals.