A letter of recommendation is a requirement by universities for academic admission and multi-international companies for employment. It must provide accurate and relevant information about the candidate. This is easier said than done. So, How to write a Letter of Recommendation?
A letter of recommendation is a formal letter that summarizes the qualification, skills, abilities, and potential of a student, colleague, or employee. It is written by a teacher, colleague, or supervisor. The writing guidelines contain the sections of the Letter following a compelling introduction. Also, a letter of recommendation tends to follow a professional tone and the company letter style guide if mentioned.
So, the instructors or employers focus on the Letter of recommendation, as the candidates are dependent on it. It makes the job or admission more effective, and a good Letter of recommendation makes a lot of ease for the candidates.
Although it is challenging, you can write an awesome Letter of recommendation by using the correct form, methodology, and a few writing tips contained in this article.
Types of Letters of Recommendation
Here are the three main types of letters of recommendation you will need to learn how to write:
Academic Letter of recommendation
Colleges or universities require the academic Letter of recommendation to be submitted by the students applying for admission. It must be written by education professionals familiar with the candidate, must be well written, and based on honest reviews of the candidate’s skills.
While writing an academic recommendation letter, don’t exaggerate anything. Write well-connected paragraphs that give a decent impression to the instructors.
Keep it brief. Write precise and concise information about the candidate that can add strength to their admission application.
Job Recommendation Letter
Recruiters often ask for job recommendation letters when hiring a new employee. It must be written by a former supervisor, a colleague, or any individual serving in a managerial capacity. It is a critical element of the application, as the employers rely on experience of others to gauge the abilities of the employee.
If you are the one who needs the recommendation letter, then choose a colleague who has more experience as it will put more strength and weight into it. The recommendation letter written by a high-rank employee or a manager will be more effective.
If you are writing an employment recommendation letter, then write in detail, focus on specific skills and workplace behaviors. Give examples of why you are sure about the particular abilities of the co-worker or employee.
Character Recommendation Letter
The character recommendation letters are rare as they are required by the court when someone is involved in a court proceeding. Essentially, these serve to show to the court that the individual is a good person with a history of sound judgment.
It can be written by a close friend, relative, or co-worker. It must be well-written and relevant. It focuses on the personal skills and moral behaviors or attitudes of the concerned person.
It must contain enough details to prove the person’s good character so it can persuade the court.
Sections of Letter of Recommendation
The Letter of recommendation must include the following sections.
Salutations
Starting with salutation is mandatory. If you know the person’s name to whom you are writing the letter, you must address the greeting, “Mr./Mrs./Dear. Name”.
If you do not know the name, then write it as, “To whom it may concern.”
Introduction
In the introductory part, start with your statement about the person you are recommending. Then briefly write your specialty, experience, and relationship with the concerned candidate.
Overview
In the overview, start writing about the skills and attributes of the candidate. Narrow in on every attribute in a separate paragraph, and add details, such as a story or example when you saw them exhibit these in action.
Closing Remarks
When you wrap up the recommendation letter, give an open invitation to the recruiter or instructor to contact you for any additional information or further discussion about the candidate.
Contact Information and Signature
In the end, write your full name again with your complete contact information and your signature.
Tips For Making Letter of Recommendation More Effective
Following are a few tips to write an effective recommendation letter;
Write an attractive introductory statement:
Usually, when writing a statement, almost everyone uses the same lines. For example,
“I am hereby recommending Sara Guzman for the job of English teacher.”
It would be best if you went the other way to add some good words to it to make it look attractive. For example,
“It’s my honor and privilege to recommend Sara Guzman for the job of English teacher.”
Although there is a slight difference between the two statements, it can make a big impact on the recruiter. It will give the impression that the candidate is competent, talented, and has potential.
Show that the Candidate Had a Meaningful Relationship:
You must include your personal relationship with the candidate. Almost everyone writes it in the same way, mostly by mentioning the association directly. For example,
“Alex Sean has worked for our company for five years.”
It would help if you wrote it in a different way that shows you had a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with the candidate. For example,
“It was a pleasure to work with Alex Sean for four years and experience his talent, skill, and potential first hand.”
This will indicate to the recruiter that the candidate is indeed worth a second look. Remember, most applications are thrown out, so yours has to stand out.
Avoid negativity:
Don’t write anything that can be interpreted in a negative way. If the candidate is an upfront person that doesn’t mind stepping on toes if its the right thing to do, say it in a way that’ll point out the positives while omitting the negatives. Choose positive words and keep everything well connected.
Follow the instructions:
Some companies and universities have a pre-defined set of instructions for letters of recommendation. Make sure that you double-check and follow them as indicated.
If you don’t follow the instructions, the letter might get rejected, and the candidate is likely to lose any chance of selection.
Use a professional tone:
Although a Letter of recommendation is written as a creative piece, you must maintain a professional tone to make it effective for the recruiters.
Don’t overwrite or repeat anything. Proofread it two to three times to correct any mistakes.
Final words
A well-structured Letter of Recommendation can pave the way for students and employees towards a better future. It must be written as per instructions, using the appropriate methodology, and extra tips to make it more effective.
Strong recommendation letters make the selections much more likely.
