What is a Recommendation Letter?
A recommendation letter is a document prepared for an individual applying for a college place, internship, job role, leadership position or a position as a volunteer. The purpose of the letter is to provide validation to the application and provide the reader with an insight into the person’s performance, character, or traits.
If you happen to write a letter of recommendation, it needs to provide an honest appraisal of your experiences with the applicant. If you need to ask for a letter, make sure you do so from someone who knows you relatively well.
What is the Importance of a Recommendation Letter?
Recommendation letters enable employers and educational institutions to sort through a long list of applications quickly. Candidates with this document immediately receive preference because they are recommended by a respected professional. This letter also reinforces what is in a person’s CV and cover letter.
How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter
First and foremost, make sure you ask for the letter from someone you have a positive relationship with. Secondly, give them plenty of time to write it; don’t ask two days before you are due to send your application! Whether you are asking a college professor or a manager, bear in mind that they have plenty of students or employees to deal with and will probably need plenty of convincing.
A good idea is to prepare a summary document of the courses you took (if in college) or the projects you completed (if in work). Give them your CV and cover letter, and request a meeting if possible.
How to Write a Recommendation Letter
Before you begin, make sure you only accept requests from students or employees that you know well. Make sure you can say ‘yes’ to the following:
• Have you worked directly with the applicants or have observed them closely.
• Do you have a good idea of their strengths and skills.
• Can you view samples of the individual’s work.
• Can you provide positive feedback about the applicant in good faith.
Recommendation Letter Format & Tips
You can follow this format when crafting a letter of recommendation:
• An introduction that outlines who you are, your level of personal or professional experience, and your relationship to the individual in question.
• An outline of the individual’s strengths as you have seen them, and how they relate to the recipient of the recommendation letter.
• A personal story that elaborates on a couple of the applicant’s characteristics.
• A conclusion which summarises why you believe the applicant is an ideal fit for the opportunity.
Here are some quick tips on recommendation letters according to the role:
• Nurse Recommendation Letter: Highlight non-clinical skills, be specific about the person’s qualifications, and use powerful words to convey why the applicant is a good choice.
• Teacher Recommendation Letter: Follow a business letter format, focus on the job description, and maintain a positive tone.
• Friend Recommendation Letter: Focus on the specific job, outline how you know the person, collect information from your friend, and make sure you only agree to write the letter if you feel comfortable doing so.
• Co-Worker Recommendation Letter: Use a copy of their CV and cover letter to highlight the right achievements, describe the problems your colleague can solve for the recipient of the letter, and double-check to ensure there isn’t anything your co-worker doesn’t want mentioned.
• Recommendation Letter from Employer: Make sure you provide them with plenty of information and give them ample time to write the letter.
How long should a recommendation letter be?
A recommendation letter doesn’t have to be long. In fact, a single A4 page with 400 words or less is usually sufficient.
Recommendation Letter Template
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I am delighted to recommend John Smith for the position of Accountant with Acme Limited.
My name is Mark Doe, and I am the senior manager of Numbers Accountants. John has worked with me for eight years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with him. Overall, I have 24 years’ experience in the accounting industry and have managed countless young professionals. I can safely say that John is among the top five I have ever worked with.
During our time together, John displayed outstanding talent in the analysis of accounts and business plans, dealing with insolvency cases, risk analysis & financial forecasting, auditing financial information, preparing tax returns, and managing a team to meet deadlines. It is his ability to oversee difficult projects with tight deadlines that have helped John stand out from the rest of my employees.
John’s knowledge of tax planning and expertise in compiling budgets was an enormous advantage to the whole company. John regularly put his skillset to work to assist important clients.
Aside from his immense talent, John is a wonderful individual to share an office or a room with. He is the epitome of a team player and always ensures that positivity flows through the workplace. Early on, John showed an ability to get the best out of others, so it was no surprise that he ultimately excelled as a leader that his colleagues liked and respected.
I have no hesitation in recommending John to join your team at Bartlett’s Accountants as your senior manager as he is unquestionably ready for such a challenging and complex role. He is a dedicated, knowledgeable, hardworking, and loyal individual who would be an asset to any organisation.
Please feel free to contact me at 0871111111 if you wish to discuss John’s experience and qualifications any further. I would be delighted to expand upon this letter of recommendation.
Best Wishes,
Mark Doe
Download our Sample Recommendation Letter
As you can see, it is a letter of recommendation that is likely to get John the job. However, you should also note that the writer has worked with John for several years so is easily able to create a glowing reference letter in the knowledge that John is everything Mark says he is. When creating a recommendation letter, the more customised it is, the better.
IrishJobs.ie has been helping people find the job they want for over 20 years. Our team is delighted to share our job hunting tips and advice with you.