Letter of Recommendation Template
A letter of recommendation is a formal document that vouches for someone's skills, qualities, and achievements. Whether you're writing for a student, colleague, or employee, this comprehensive guide will help you craft a compelling recommendation that makes your candidate shine.
What This Template Is For
This template is designed to help recommendation writers create professional, detailed letters that effectively communicate a candidate's strengths. It's particularly useful for academic references, professional recommendations, and character testimonials. The structure ensures you include all crucial elements while maintaining a professional tone and format.
When To Use This Template
Use this template when:
- Writing an academic recommendation for college or graduate school
- Providing a professional reference for a job application
- Supporting a scholarship application
- Recommending someone for a promotion or new role
- Writing a character reference for professional certification
How To Customize It
Follow these steps to create an effective recommendation:
- Start with your professional letterhead and current date
- Include recipient's complete contact information
- Clearly state your relationship to the candidate
- Provide specific examples of the candidate's achievements
- Include measurable results and concrete anecdotes
- Close with a strong endorsement and your contact information
Common Use Cases
This template adapts well to various scenarios:
- Professor recommending a student for graduate school
- Manager providing a professional reference
- Supervisor supporting an internal promotion
- Mentor endorsing a mentee for a leadership role
- Department head recommending faculty for tenure
Best Practices
- Be specific and use concrete examples
- Focus on relevant achievements and skills
- Maintain a professional tone throughout
- Include quantifiable results when possible
- Keep the letter between 3-4 paragraphs
- Proofread carefully for errors
Template Variations
Adapt the template for different contexts:
- Academic recommendation letters
- Professional references
- Character references
- Performance-based recommendations
- Leadership endorsements
Success Stories
Our template has helped professionals across industries write effective recommendations that have supported successful college admissions, job placements, and career advancements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a letter of recommendation be?
A letter of recommendation should be one full page, typically 3-4 paragraphs. This length allows enough space to detail the candidate's qualities while remaining concise.
What if I can't provide specific examples?
If you can't provide specific examples, you should consider declining to write the recommendation. Strong letters require concrete evidence of the candidate's abilities.
Should I include negative information?
No, a recommendation letter should focus on positive attributes. If you can't honestly recommend someone positively, it's better to decline writing the letter.
Can I use the same letter for multiple purposes?
While you can use the same basic structure, each letter should be customized for its specific purpose and recipient to be most effective.
How recent should my experience with the candidate be?
Ideally, you should have worked with or known the candidate within the past 1-2 years to provide current and relevant insights.