How To Write a Recommendation Letter in Five Steps

Very often, situations arise when a person’s past records or conduct may come into question. The contemporary culture of record-keeping and usage has become so prevalent that many institutions or persons make it a duty to uncover a person’s performances in previous capacities.

There are many situations where you may need a letter of recommendation. You could be an employee leaving your current job to apply for another, and your prospective employer is interested in what your superiors say about you and your interpersonal relationships. You could be the supervising officer or professor, and your opinion about a subordinate is requested. 

In this article, we will take a look at the most common questions regarding such letters: what are letters of recommendation, what do they look like, and why are they so important?

A letter of recommendation is an official document communicating one person’s thoughts, observations, and commendations about another. Alternatively, it is a letter informing another person of a student’s or subordinate’s conduct while under the author’s supervision. From these definitions, a valid letter of recommendation must meet two requirements: 

Recommendation letters are defined by what they do.

While they all serve a similar function, there are different recommendation letters based on what the writer needs to include. Knowing the distinctions between each type is necessary for understanding what information is relevant to be included.

Otherwise referred to as a professional recommendation letter, this kind of letter is obtained from a previous employer as a part of an application to a new position. An employment recommendation letter usually attests to the employee’s qualities, skills, expertise, and work ethic and may be requested from the employee’s current or previous immediate supervisor.

This type of letter involves students and schools and is often used when a student wishes to change schools, apply for grants or scholarships, and an advanced educational program.

A school recommendation letter, also referred to as an academic recommendation letter, affirms the student's performance, goals, and accomplishments while in school.

This type of letter is also called a personal recommendation letter. A friend or colleague may need to write this letter to affirm a person’s good character, personality, or lifestyle. 

Personal recommendation letters are instrumental when a person’s character is relevant or called into question, such as when conferring immigration status or determining business trustworthiness.

A rental recommendation letter is used to vouch for the likelihood that a person will be a good tenant. This type of letter could be necessary for a landlord to determine whether to rent or lease a property to a particular person. It confirms that a person can abide by tenancy agreements, pay rent on time, and maintain the property.

A quality recommendation letter can help someone take advantage of opportunities that may not otherwise be available. Recommendation letters are essential for many reasons, including the following:

That’s why it’s important to do everything within your control — maintain good relationships, perform your best, and act professionally — because you can’t always control what others write about you. And if you ever face a negative recommendation, here’s how to handle it effectively.

Recommendation letters are often used in the same discourse as reference letters due to their perceived similarities. Still, on a closer inspection of their qualities, these letters are, in fact, distinct from each other. 

A recommendation letter is more inclined toward supporting the individual’s candidature than a reference letter, which is more generic. Thus, recommendation letters are often sent directly to the requesting entity, and the individual collects reference letters for different situations.

Moreover, recommendation letters are usually affirmations written by people with first-hand experience working with candidates under conditions similar to the one they are pursuing. These letters also contain more information about the person’s qualities in that capacity and an opinion about whether they would excel in the position.

Conversely, the generic nature of reference letters makes them open to a broader pool of potential authors who can comment on a person’s general character and capabilities.

A winning recommendation letter could be the decisive step in an individual’s candidacy. Learn how to write a college or employment recommendation letter. Start by asking what a letter of recommendation should include. There should be five parts, so write your recommendation letter using the following steps.

Because letters of recommendation are specific, the salutation should be directed to the letter's recipient if possible. If the letter is being sent to a group, something like “Dear Recruitment Committee” would be appropriate. If the name of the recipient or group is unavailable, “To Whom It May Concern” may be used.

This part focuses on establishing the writer’s identity and relationship with the candidate. The writer should also indicate why they are writing the letter, which is generally to support the individual’s candidacy. The introduction should be succinct but sufficient, hitting the main points without elaborating too much on the peripherals.

The body is the main part of the recommendation letter. This is where the writer goes into detail about the reasons the candidate is qualified and competent enough to occupy the position. These could be supported with stories and examples from the writer’s time working with the individual. 

To make a convincing letter, the author should refrain from mentioning qualities or examples considered basic or standard under the circumstances. Instead, emphasis should be placed on what makes the candidate stand out.

Another strong point would be highlighting the candidate’s potential, passion, and ability to improve.

The conclusion paragraph is an opportunity to aggregate all the positive qualities of the candidate and restate why the writer has adopted their opinion of the individual. This is also the place to briefly highlight why the position would be best for the candidate and how the letter’s recipient would benefit from choosing them.

The closing is the last part of the letter before the signature. A professional closing should be used, such as “Due Regards,” or “Yours Faithfully,” or even “Sincerely.” The closing follows the author’s name, professional title, and contact details.

A recommendation letter serves three functions. Firstly, it provides the recipient with an informed opinion about a candidate's previous position. Secondly, it lends credibility to the candidate's job application. Lastly, it allows the author to share a practical assessment of the candidate with the recipient.

To write a recommendation letter, the author must be knowledgeable about the information they include, as the letter is intended to support the candidate's application for a specific position. Using a ready-made template of a recommendation letter or reference letter sample may be useful. It can save time and effort without compromising quality.