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How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

application of recommendation letter

  • Writing a Recommendation Letter

Collect Information Before You Start

  • What to Include in the Letter
  • Recommendation Letter Example

Formatting Your Letter

Sending your letter.

For some jobs, employers request written  letters of recommendation . They may even request them as part of the  application process . In these cases, applicants need to submit recommendation letters (typically two or three) along with their resume and cover letter. 

Other employers may ask for references further along in the hiring process, either at the end of an interview or afterwards.

These letters of recommendation carry significant weight to their recipients. If you're asked to write one, it's important to include details that build a strong case for the applicant. If you do not feel comfortable endorsing the applicant, it's better to decline to write a letter than to write something lukewarm.

Here's what you need to know to write a positive letter supporting a job applicant.

Tips for Writing a Recommendation Letter

If you’re asked to provide a  reference for a specific job , you should write the letter with the requirements of that particular job in mind.

Read the posting or job description carefully, looking for specific skills and knowledge that you can include in the letter for your candidate.

In your letter, note where there is a match between the applicant's qualifications and the job's responsibilities. 

With a general recommendation letter, focus on the types or category of jobs for which the person is applying. Your examples in this type of letter will be more broad, and less specific. 

Ask the person for whom you are writing to supply you with a copy of the job posting and their resume or  curriculum vitae  (CV) before you begin composing your letter. It can also be helpful to review their cover letter to see how they themselves pitch their qualifications for the job.

When you are writing a more general recommendation, ask the subject of your letter to outline their targets for employment, along with providing you with an example or two of jobs they are applying for.

Also ask them to share their most marketable assets for that type of work, especially ones you may have observed in your relationship with the person you are recommending.

The more information you have about the jobs or types of jobs the candidate is applying for, the more effective your recommendation can be.

What to Include in a Recommendation Letter

The first paragraph of your letter should explain how you know the person for whom you are writing. Reference your job title and the individual's job title at the time when you interacted, as well as the nature of your relationship, including whether you supervised the person you're recommending.  

Typically, you would also include the length of time you have known the person. 

Body of the Letter

The body of your letter should reference the  skills , qualities, areas of knowledge, and other assets of the person you are recommending. Start by making a list of the  strengths  which you would like to convey in your recommendation.

Then compose sentences that show proof of your assertions—this will make your letter more credible. Provide specific examples of instances where you observed the candidate using skills they are highlighting to the hiring manager.

This might consist of a project or role where they successfully applied a certain skill. Citing accomplishments where value was added to your organization and describing the strengths which enabled the person to generate those results can be particularly compelling. If you can quantify the individual’s specific contributions with impressive sales or dollar figures, numbers, or percentages, this is even better (Example: “Joan led our sales team to achieve an unprecedented 48% growth in lead generation last quarter”).

Letter Closing

In your closing statement, it can be very effective to mention that you would hire the person again. Or, mention your belief that the person would be an outstanding addition to the company.

Share Your Contact Information

As part of your close, you can also share a telephone number and email address with a mention of your eagerness to share additional perspective on the candidate. That way, potential employers can easily get in touch if they have any follow-up questions. 

Employment Recommendation Letter Example and Template

Download the letter template  (compatible with Google Docs or Word Online) or read the example below.

Employment Recommendation Letter Example (Text Version)

Megan Greene Sales Director Acme Incorporated 14 Oak Drive Anycity, CT 32444 555-222-3333 mgreene@email.com 

May 26, 2020.

Marlene Gray Domestic Sales Manager CBI Industries 321 Main Street Bigtown, NY 12000

Dear Ms. Gray,

I am writing to you regarding Mark Slade, who has applied for the position of sales associate with your company. Mark has worked in my department as a sales associate since graduating with honors last year from University of Connecticut. We hired him after graduation in part due to his outstanding performance as an intern the previous summer.

Mark has been a fantastic addition to my team. He assimilated easily into our department, quickly and thoroughly learning about all of our products, not just those he was responsible for selling. His enthusiasm for his work and his superb communication skills made him an instant asset to the company. Mark exceeded his personal goals for every quarter and even made time to help his peers close particularly difficult sales. Mark is competent and organized, and his positive attitude and sense of humor made him popular among our customers as well as his colleagues.

I believe that Mark has a tremendous amount of potential and would be an outstanding addition to your staff. I would have no reservations about hiring him again and am confident in recommending Mark for employment with your company. If you have any further questions or would like to speak with me personally, please feel free to contact me.

Your Handwritten Signature (for a hard copy letter)

Megan Greene

Here are guidelines for  formatting recommendation letters  including length, format, font, and how to organize your letters. If this is your first time writing a letter of recommendation, you may find it helpful to use a  template . 

You may be asked to send the letter to the person you are recommending or directly to the employer. If you’re sending via email, attach a copy of your letter to the email message as a PDF or Microsoft Word document. The job posting or the employer will typically specify how the recommendation should be sent and who it should be sent to.

When You Can’t Write a Positive Recommendation

If you have difficulty honestly framing a compelling letter for a candidate, then it's fine to  decline the request .

It's actually better to say no than it is to write a letter that doesn't strongly endorse the person you are recommending.

You can simply say something vague like you don't feel totally comfortable writing a recommendation or you don't have the type of exposure that would enable you to supply the right kind of letter.

Chron. " Do Companies Check Your References Before the Interview ?" Accessed May 24, 2020.

Clemson.edu. Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation ." Accessed May 24, 2020.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

Background Image

Every now and then, applying for a position will require that you also submit a letter of recommendation. 

Or, maybe, a coworker will ask you to write a recommendation letter for their new job application.

If you're not certain how to go about it, don't worry - nothing about recommendation letters needs to be complicated. Especially once you learn the nitty-gritty of the topic. 

This is exactly what this article is here to teach you!

What is a Recommendation Letter?

What should a letter of recommendation include.

  • How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

  • How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter
  • Recommendation Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a formal document confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential. 

Typically, a recommendation letter is required for: 

  • University admissions
  • Fellowships or internship positions
  • Job applications
  • Volunteering opportunities

You should ideally write a recommendation for someone whose abilities and work ethic you are familiar with - for example, a colleague, student you taught, your employee, or someone you supervised at work.

Similarly, if you’re the one asking for a recommendation letter, you should ask someone who can attest to your professional or academic abilities. 

The types of recommendation letters are:

  • Academic recommendation letters.
  • Employment recommendation letters.
  • Character recommendation letters.

Here’s what each type of recommendation letter is about:

#1. Academic Recommendation Letters

Academic recommendation letters are typically required to be submitted by students during the admission processes of graduate and undergraduate schools. 

Generally, each prospective student is requested to submit up to three references, which can be written by any education professional familiar with the candidate’s academic background. 

Academic reference letters include:

  • Recommendation letter for undergraduate/graduate school
  • Recommendation letter for a scholarship
  • Recommendation letter for a fellowship program

#2. Employment recommendation letters 

This type makes up the most popular type of recommendation letter.

Sometimes, employers can ask you to submit up to 3 recommendation letters as part of your job application.

More often, though, a recruiter might ask you for recommendation letters if they already like your resume and want to learn more about you. 

Employment recommendation letters are written by former - or current - coworkers, employers, or supervisors.

If you can choose, pick someone with more years of experience than you. After all, the more senior they are, the more weight their recommendation carries.

Employment recommendations include: 

  • Recommendation letter for a coworker
  • Recommendation letter for a (former) employee

#3. Character recommendation letters

Character recommendation letters, also known as personal references, are used to describe an individual’s personality by someone who knows them well, including close friends, coworkers, or employers. 

Personal references serve many purposes, the primary ones being court cases dealing with criminal issues such as drunk driving offenses, or legal situations such as child adoption procedures. 

It is not uncommon, however, to have a potential landlord or even immigration officials ask for a personal reference. 

Personal references include: 

  • Recommendation letter for a friend
  • Recommendation letter for a tenant
  • Recommendation letter for a patient

Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout that make writing them significantly easier. 

In this section, we’ll cover how to do each the right way, starting with:

Letter of Recommendation Format

A letter of recommendation includes the following sections: 

  • The salutation ; if you are addressing someone whose name you know or writing a personal recommendation letter, the salutation can be addressed to “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Smith.” Otherwise, you may use the generic “to whom it may concern.”
  • The introduction , which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “ it is my pleasure to recommend… ”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is.
  • The overview, or a description of the applicant’s top skills, attributes, and strengths.
  • A personal story describing more of the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
  • The closing statement , or the final call for action, is where you encourage the recruiter to contact you if additional information is needed.
  • The signature , where you repeat your name and include your full contact information.

Letter of Recommendation Layout 

When it comes to the layout of the recommendation letter, all you need to do is follow some basic formatting rules. Here are the most important ones: 

#1. One page length. This rule applies to resumes too, but it’s even more essential for the recommendation letter. Recruiters go through hundreds of them, so chances are they appreciate concise, to-the-point letters that don’t waste their time. And besides, a good recommendation letter doesn’t have to be an essay to get the recruiter ‘hooked’ - especially if you follow the above format. 

#2. Single-spaced lining, with space between paragraphs . This also keeps your reference letter within the limit by shortening the text. 

#3. Traditional font. Don’t go for something too creative - pick a classic that works. We recommend Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.

#4. 1” margins on all sides . This creates enough white space around the margins and makes the letter easy to read. Additionally, the text should be aligned to the left - although this is a standard alignment for most documents.    

#5. 10-12pt font size . This is the font size range that makes the document easy to read. Adjusting the font size is another good way to keep your recommendation letter within the length limit.

Recommendation letters usually follow similar layout rules as resumes. Learn more about font size and style from our article on the best resume font, size, and format . 

Recommendation Letter Template 

Struggling to write a recommendation letter? 

Just follow our tried-and-tested template! 

To whom it may concern: 

[Recommend the referee for the position they are applying for.]

[Briefly introduce yourself and state your position/ job title , as well as your work experience .]

[Tell how you know the referee and describe their top skills, qualifications, and strengths.]

[Share a personal story with the referee where you highlight their strong points and key achievements .]

[Add a few more of the applicant’s skills and positive traits, preferably fitting the job description.]

[Show your availability to provide additional information for the referee if needed.]

Best Regards

[Your full signature and contact information]

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

Need to ask someone for a recommendation letter? Here’s what you need to know.

The go-to person for your recommendation letter will depend on the type of reference you’ll need. 

For example, if you need an employment recommendation letter , your top choices should involve people who are familiar with your work ethic and professional abilities, but with whom you’ve also had a positive professional relationship. For example:

  • Your team lead
  • Department head
  • CEO of the company
  • Direct manager
  • A coworker you’ve worked with together on a project

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you can ask a mentor or college professor to write you a professional reference. 

In case you need an academic recommendation letter , consider asking a professor with whom you’ve worked closely and can positively attest to your academic potential and achievements.

Your thesis advisor, for example, would make a good choice to ask for an academic reference. If you never wrote a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, any professor who knows you as more than just a face in a sea of students should do the trick. 

Finally, keep the following in mind when the time comes to ask for a recommendation letter: 

  • Whoever you end up asking, talk to them about it in advance . Then, follow up with a formal email that should contain all reference-related information, such as the submission details and deadline. The email can also include a description of what you’re currently doing (professionally, academically, or independently), what qualifies you for the position, and some relevant skills, achievements, or noteworthy facts.
  • If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, make sure to also include your resume and the job description in the follow-up email. This way, the person writing the letter will know more about you and your new position and will be able to write a more relevant recommendation by tailoring your skills to the job, or by mentioning some of your (relevant) achievements.
  • Notify the contacts you’ll be asking - considering that in most cases recruiters ask for up to three recommendation letters - at least two weeks in advance. This will give them enough time to prepare and write a good recommendation letter. This is especially important for academic references because professors are usually writing several recommendation letters simultaneously.
  • Consider attaching a recommendation letter template such as the one provided in this article to your email. The template will considerably ease or guide them through the process of writing the letter.
  • Follow up by sending thank you notes to everyone who writes you a recommendation letter. Sending a letter of appreciation is a courtesy act that will let them know you are grateful for the time and effort they took to recommend you positively.

If you’re also looking to update your resume or create one, head over to our guide on how to write a resume in 2024 !

5 Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

There’s more to writing a recommendation letter than just following the layout instructions or sticking to the format.

We’re referring to content quality, which happens to be the trickiest part of the process. 

In this section, we’ll teach you how to write a recommendation letter that will impress the recruiter and help your referee!

Tip #1. Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

First things first - the introduction.

This is where you need to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading the recommendation letter. 

How to go about it? Before formally (and briefly) introducing yourself, aim to write an attention-grabbing recommendation statement, instead of a generic one the recruiter probably knows by heart already. 

Let’s explain this more practically: 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

I am pleased to recommend Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

Nothing wrong with this introduction at first glance, right? It’s a standard way of opening a recommendation letter after all. 

Well that’s exactly what’s wrong with it - it’s way too common. No, this probably won’t get your application disqualified, but it won’t impress the recruiter either.

Want yours to strike the right note? Try something like this instead:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am sincerely glad to be the one recommending Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

This recommendation statement is not significantly different from the previous one, except for one thing: it gives the reference letter a head start by implying that recommending Sarah is an honor. And that’s more likely to get the recruiter’s attention - or, at least, curiosity. 

In case you’re struggling to come up with an attention-grabbing introduction, simply mention one of the following points, and you’re good to go: 

  • A little-known fact about the candidate. 
  • Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities.
  • A remarkable achievement or award the candidate might have won.  

Tip #2. Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate 

All recommendation letters explain what the relationship with the referee is before listing their skills and qualifications. 

To make the recommendation more meaningful, you should show the recruiter you are just the right person to attest to the candidate’s abilities. And that’s not something you can convey by simply stating how you know them. Take the following example:   

I have taught Jake Political Science for four years. 

Does this example tell the recruiter how you know the applicant? Sure, it does. 

But it does so in a boring way and without establishing a convincing relationship with them. For all the recruiter knows, Jake is just one out of a thousand students you’ve taught over the years.

It has been a pleasure for me to teach Jake for four years and guide him through his remarkable Bachelor’s thesis in Conflict Resolution.

Notice the difference? This example specifies the writer is Jake’s thesis advisor, which makes the recommendation all the more meaningful. 

Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application 

Want to put in the extra effort and make sure your referee truly stands out?

Tailor the recommendation letter to the job / university program they’re applying for.

Tailoring your letter to the candidate’s application is easiest when you’re recommending someone for employment (you can just check the job requirements), but it works for any type of recommendation (incl. academic). All you need to do is match the referee’s skills and strengths to whatever they’re applying for. 

Let’s assume, for example, that you’re recommending a co-worker for a marketing manager position.

Some of the job requirements are: 

  • +5 years of professional experience in marketing
  • Experience developing marketing campaigns 
  • Excellent communication skills 
  • Project-management and multi-tasking skills 

To tailor your recommendation to the job requirements, all you need to do is mention them as your referee’s best qualities. For example: 

Even after seven years working together, Ema’s skillful way of effectively communicating with clients and co-workers alike doesn’t cease to amaze me. It only comes second to her multi-tasking abilities, which I’ve witnessed throughout the many marketing campaigns we have developed and managed. 

As you can see, there’s not much to it. 

All you need to do is check the job requirements, pick several skills and qualifications, and make them part of your referee’s top skills, strengths, or personality traits.  

Tip #4. List the Candidate’s Achievements 

Mentioning some of the candidate’s achievements is another great way to help your referee really stand out.

After all, skills, strengths, and character traits are awesome, but they can also come across as meaningless if you can’t back them up with facts. 

What do we mean by this?

Let us explain:

Here’s how a typical personal story in a recommendation letter looks like:

I came to truly appreciate Eric’s work ethic, passion, and attention to detail the first time I assigned him to do a report on child trafficking. Eric was respectful of journalistic ethics but also willing to chase the story relentlessly, believing in its value and importance. 

Sure, this is a perfectly acceptable personal story. 

However, it doesn’t do much more than just list the referee’s skills, traits, and work experience through a subjective lens. 

What we’re saying is, it doesn’t really sell the candidate.

Now, let’s compare it to the following:

Eric’s ability to chase after difficult stories first became apparent when I assigned him a report about child trafficking. Despite the challenging topic, Eric not only pulled through but achieved more than expected by a) identifying a trafficking ring that put more than 50 minors into forced begging, b) interviewing 10 of the older minors and managing to bring that trafficking network down once the reportage went public and c) increasing the TV Channel’s ratings by 40% in 3 weeks. 

By mentioning those achievements, your account of the candidate’s experiences is a lot more “factual,” as well as impressive for the recruiter.

Not sure which achievements to include? Check out these 101+ achievements to list on your resum e !

Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter

Finally, here’s 5 more simple tips to get your recommendation letter ready:

  • Maintain positive rhetoric . At no point throughout your reference letter should the recruiter sense a hint of doubt regarding the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
  • Don’t overdo the positivity. Extremes are never good - which means being overly positive might also come across as a bit suspicious or weird (even if everything you're saying is true). 
  • Follow the submission instructions . A bunch of employers, but also educational institutions, will provide instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. We recommend you ask the candidate to double-check them and give you a heads up, because if you submit the recommendation letter wrong, the candidate might lose their chance.
  • Use a business tone . Even when you’re being creative, your writing tone should maintain a business tone - polite, and as formal as possible.
  • Mind your grammar and spelling . This is another tip that goes for all things application-related. You won’t compromise the referee’s chances with a typo, but your recommendation won’t matter much either if it’s filled with simple grammar/spelling mistakes. Run your letter through a grammar and spell-check app once you’re finished with it, just to be on the safe side of things.

Recommendation Letter FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a letter of recommendation?

Find your answers below!

1. What is a professional letter of recommendation?

A professional letter of recommendation - also called an employment recommendation letter - refers to an official document that is typically required when you apply for a job and which describes the applicant’s professional skills, experiences, and qualifications. 

Professional letters of recommendation are typically written by current or previous employers or supervisors. A coworker can also write you a professional letter of recommendation, but it’s not as optimal as a coworker is not really an authority figure (and might just be a friend doing you a favor instead of being honest).

2. What should be written in a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation generally follow the following format: 

  • A formal salutation
  • An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title)
  • An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can tailor to the application
  • A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements
  • A closing statement and call for action
  • A signature , with your contact information

3. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re asking for an academic letter of recommendation, you can ask:

  • Current or former professors
  • Academic mentors
  • Thesis advisors

If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, though, you can ask:

  • Current or former employers
  • A supervisor or professional mentor
  • Former professors
  • Experienced coworkers

4. How do you start a recommendation paragraph?

To keep the recruiter reading your recommendation letter interested, you should start with an attention-grabbing introduction - specifically, an interesting recommendation statement. 

This statement is the opening sentence of the letter and it should optimally express your conviction to recommend the applicant in a non-generic way. 

If you’re struggling with coming up with something creative, just start with one of the following:

  • A little-known or impressive fact about the candidate
  • Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities
  • A remarkable achievement, or an award the candidate might have won

5. How do you end a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation concludes with a call to action or a request towards the recruiter   showing your availability and willingness to provide additional information if needed. After mentioning that you remain available to discuss the candidate’s qualifications, you may finalize the letter with your signature - your name, title, and company.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope this article will make the process of writing a recommendation letter easier for you. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered: 

  • A letter of recommendation is a formal letter confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential.
  • Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout. The format typically consists of 1) the letterhead and full contact information, 2) a salutation, 3) an introduction, 4) an overview, 5) a personal story, 6) a closing sentence and 7) your signature.
  • The three types of recommendation letters are employment, academic, and character recommendation letters.
  • Who to ask for a recommendation letter depends on the type of reference you need. As a rule of thumb, pick someone who knows your skills and strengths well and whom you’ve had a positive experience (professional or academic) with.

Related Articles

  • How to List References on a Resume [w/ Examples]
  • How to Address a Cover Letter in 2023
  • Motivation Letter Writing Guide + Examples for 2023

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  • Knowledge Base
  • Applying to graduate school

How (and Who) to Ask For a Letter of Recommendation

Published on October 30, 2020 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Letters of recommendation often make or break a graduate school application . It’s important to think carefully about who to ask and how to do it.

Ideally, you should approach former supervisors who know you and your work well, and can advise you. Different programs require different types of recommendation letters, but the process of requesting them is similar.

Follow these five steps to guarantee a great recommendation, including program-specific tips and email examples.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose who to ask, step 2: reach out and request a meeting, step 3: ask for a letter of recommendation, step 4: share your resume and other materials, step 5: remind your recommenders of upcoming deadlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about recommendation letters.

Your first step is to decide who you’ll ask to write a letter for you. Ideally, this should be someone who you worked with outside of just the classroom context—for example, a former professor who supervised your research.

It’s important to ask someone who knows you well, even if they are less well known than other professors at your institution. Graduate admissions committees want to get a good sense of your ability to perform well in their program, and this is difficult to accomplish if your recommender only knows you as a face in the crowd.

Who you should ask also strongly depends on the type of program that you’re applying to. Different programs prefer different qualities in their admitted students, and thus weigh types of recommenders differently. Take a look at the program-specific tips below.

For research programs (MPhil, DPhil, PhD , Research Master’s), graduate admissions committees are looking for evidence of your potential as a future researcher.

Since this is tricky to assess from test scores and transcripts, letters of recommendation are often the most important part of a graduate research program application.

Your letter should thus be from someone who can speak to your skills as a researcher. This could be, for example, a professor who supervised you on an independent research project, or the head of a lab that you worked in as an undergraduate.

If you worked as a full-time research or lab assistant after undergrad, ask your managers, who are usually full-time researchers themselves and therefore experts on what makes a good researcher.

Unlike most graduate programs, business schools are less interested in your undergraduate academic performance. Instead, they try to assess your potential to succeed in the workplace, particularly in managerial or leadership positions. The same applies to public policy and other professional programs.

Ideally, your letters of recommendation should come from current supervisors at your work. If this isn’t possible, you should ask coworkers who are senior to you and know your work well.

Although business schools normally prefer candidates with several years of experience, current undergraduates sometimes apply as well. In this case, you should ask internship supervisors or—as a last resort—professors who know you well.

Medical schools look for evidence that you are academically prepared for the study of medicine and that your character is well-suited to becoming a doctor. Admissions committees in medicine prefer academic references, but they also require a few extra steps.

Firstly, while graduate programs usually require two or three recommendation letters, medical schools often ask for more—you may have to submit up to six letters, some of which should be from former professors in the natural sciences.

In addition, many schools recommend that you submit a letter from the premedical advisory committee at your undergraduate institution, which summarizes your overall suitability for medical school. Be aware that deadlines for materials for these letters are very early—often the spring of the year before you are due to start medical school.

Finally, if you’ve worked on any research projects, you should submit a letter from your supervisor. Medical schools view research competence as a plus.

Law school letters of recommendation should mostly be from former professors or other academic supervisors.

You should only use non-academic recommenders if they can directly speak to your suitability to study law—for example, if you regularly work with lawyers, or if your job involves skills like critical reading or research that are relevant to legal practice.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The next step is to get in contact with your potential recommender. If you haven’t talked to them in a while, begin your email with a quick reminder to jog their memory. Be friendly, direct, and concise.

If possible, it’s best to plan a meeting to discuss your request. However, if this isn’t practical (for example, if you’ve moved far away from your undergrad institution), you can skip this step and head straight to the third.

Hi Professor Smith!

I hope that everything is going well with you and that you’re still enjoying teaching your seminar on the post World War II international order. I thoroughly enjoyed taking it with you last year as a junior.

I’m currently thinking about what I want to do next year, which will hopefully involve graduate work in political science, and was hoping to meet with you to discuss your thoughts on graduate school. Do you have any time over the next few weeks to meet?

Make your request during your meeting or, if necessary, via email. Let them know what sort of programs you are applying to and when the deadlines are. Make sure to give your recommenders plenty of time!

Instead of just asking for a recommendation letter, specifically ask if they can write you a strong recommendation . This allows your recommender an “out”—for example, if they don’t feel they know you well enough. A bad or even lukewarm recommendation is the kiss of death for any application, so it’s important to ensure your letters will be positive!

If they say they can’t give you a strong recommendation, don’t panic. This gives you the opportunity to ask someone else who can provide you a better recommendation.

Hi Professor Jones!

How are you? I hope everything is going well and you’re still teaching Introduction to Labor Economics to eager students!

I’ve been out of school for a year now, working as a full-time research assistant in New York City. Come this fall, I’m hoping to apply to a few programs for graduate school, mostly doctoral programs in Economics.

Since I took two economics classes with you (Introduction to Labor Economics in Spring 2018 and Industrial Organization in Fall 2019), I was hoping that you might agree to serve as a letter writer for my graduate program. I wanted to highlight my work in labor economics, since that’s what I’m hoping to study in graduate school. Also, since I loved your classes, I thought you might be a good person to ask!

The letters of recommendation would be due to each individual program’s website in December. I understand, of course, if you’re too busy this summer or if you don’t feel that you would be the best fit to write a letter. My goal is simply to paint as complete a picture as possible of my undergrad career at Western. If you’d like, we can also discuss this on the phone.

I look forward to hearing back from you!

You should send your resume or CV to your recommenders, along with any other material that might jog their memory or aid in their recommendation.

For instance, you may want to send along your statement of purpose or writing sample if one is requested in your application. Admission committees are looking for a cohesive story that the letters of recommendation, personal statement , and CV work together to tell.

You should also check whether the school provides any prompts or guidelines for recommenders. Many programs want your recommenders to comment on your potential to serve in the specific role the graduate program prepares you for. See the program-specific tips below.

Finally, you should send an email to your recommenders a few weeks before the letters are due, reminding them of the deadline and asking if there is anything else you can send them to assist in writing the letter.

If any materials are late, programs will often reject your entire application, so it is imperative that your recommenders get their letters in on time. However, you should also keep in mind that your letter writers are probably quite busy, so don’t send too many reminders!

Dear Professor Jones,

Hope the semester is going well! Thank you again for agreeing to serve as my recommender. I just wanted to send you a quick reminder that recommendations for Program X, Y, and Z are due in two weeks, on December 15. Please let me know if you need anything else from me, and thank you again!

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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Choose people who know your work well and can speak to your ability to succeed in the program that you are applying to.

Remember, it is far more important to choose someone who knows you well than someone well-known. You may have taken classes with more prominent professors, but if they haven’t worked closely with you, they probably can’t write you a strong letter.

This depends on the program that you are applying for. Generally, for professional programs like business and policy school, you should ask managers who can speak to your future leadership potential and ability to succeed in your chosen career path.

However, in other graduate programs, you should mostly ask your former professors or research supervisors to write your recommendation letters , unless you have worked in a job that corresponds closely with your chosen field (e.g., as a full-time research assistant).

It’s best to ask in person if possible, so first reach out and request a meeting to discuss your graduate school plans.

Let the potential recommender know which programs you’re applying to, and ask if they feel they can provide a strong letter of recommendation . A lukewarm recommendation can be the kiss of death for an application, so make sure your letter writers are enthusiastic about recommending you and your work!

Always remember to remain polite. Your recommenders are doing you a favor by taking the time to write a letter in support of your graduate school goals.

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What’s a letter of recommendation?

Format of a letter of recommendation, tips for writing a letter of recommendation, letter of recommendation examples, how to write a letter of recommendation for a friend, start writing.

Sometimes, a former colleague pops up in your inbox to ask you for a favor. This time, it’s a letter of recommendation. If you loved working with this coworker, you’d jump at the opportunity to help them out.

There’s only one problem: you’ve never written a letter like that before. You don’t even know where to begin — it’s time to learn how to write a letter of recommendation.

Writing an effective letter of recommendation takes time, thoughtfulness, and insight into the person’s background and character. 

If you’re willing to write a letter for this person, you’re likely overflowing with praise for them. But how do you balance your high regard with professionalism? This article discusses what a letter of recommendation is and how to write an effective one. It also includes valuable examples to get you started.

A letter of recommendation highlights a person’s skills, knowledge, and experience to bolster an application. Someone who knows a candidate writes one of these letters to vouch for them, expressing why they’re the best person for the opportunity.

A professional letter of recommendation is usually addressed to a hiring manager, admissions committee, or potential employer. You might also need to write one for someone applying for any of the following:

A new home or apartment 

Scholarships, grants, or awards

A new job 

Fellowship programs 

Graduate or professional school programs

As the letter writer, your communication skills are tested since you’re responsible for painting a positive picture of this person. Someone you once managed might be changing careers ; they need you to highlight their transferable skills .

Your letter could include positive comments about how they have strong public speaking skills and experience juggling multiple deadlines simultaneously.

Research has shown that people referred for a job are 4x more likely to be offered it than those without a referral. While a recommendation isn’t necessarily an internal referral, these letters show that someone credible vouches for the letter’s subject to have this position. A good letter of recommendation can make or break an application.

Adult-man-writing-a-letter-how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation

Letter of recommendation versus letter of reference

Let’s not confuse a letter of recommendation for a reference letter. While a letter of recommendation focuses on skills, knowledge, and experience, a reference letter describes a person’s character. It’s when you describe their work ethic and personal qualities. Both letters require specific examples and details, but they address different aspects of a person.

A reference letter:

Used for generic reasons 

Doesn’t have to be for professional reasons

Provides an overview of a person’s character and qualities

A letter of recommendation:

Used for specific positions or opportunities

Includes details and examples

Written by someone in an authoritative position, like a former manager or professor

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You could be a little rusty when it comes to formatting a letter — or maybe this is completely new to you. One CBS poll found that 37% of Americans said it's been over five years since they've written a personal letter , and 15% had never done it at all. Don't fret if you relate. It’s never too late to learn a new skill.

Writing a letter of recommendation requires you to flex your organizational skills . If that’s something you struggle with, you might benefit from a letter of recommendation template. We've got you covered. 

Female-colleague-pinning-up-work-for-brainstorm-how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation

Here are five sections you should include in your letter:

Greetings: Keep this section short and sweet. This is where you address the recipient of the letter. Make sure you know how to spell their name and title properly, or write a general greeting like "To whom it may concern" or “Dear [University Name] admission committee.”

Introduction: In your introduction, explain who you are, your relationship to the candidate, and why you recommend them for the opportunity. Consider briefly explaining why you're writing this letter and hint at what you'll discuss further down.

Body of the letter: This section contains the most important information. It'll include an overview of the person's past experiences, skills, and industry knowledge. Make sure to share short personal anecdotes with details that illustrate their abilities. For instance, you might describe the person's communication skills by using an example of when they were part of a large research project you worked on together and had to communicate effectively with team members. 

Closing statement: A good letter needs a solid closing statement. It's your chance to summarize your points and highlight why you're giving this person a strong recommendation. Be succinct and thorough, but avoid repeating details.

Your signature: It's time to finish your letter. Add your signature and contact information at the very end to signal it's over.

Understanding how to structure your letter will help organize the writing process. Make sure you’re thoughtful with your words and pay attention to the details .

Here are five tips to consider when writing a letter of recommendation:

Collect all the necessary information before you begin writing

Keep a positive voice, but avoid clichés 

Tailor your tone to the situation 

Focus on highlighting the most important details

Proofread your letter several times

The things you include in a letter for someone hoping to gain admission into graduate school differ from someone trying to secure a job offer. Each letter follows the same format, but the details are different.

You may find that getting the first few words down is the hardest, and that's understandable. But once you start your introduction, the rest of the letter will follow suit.

Smiling-young-man-at-home-looking-sideways-how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation

Here are three examples of how to start letters of recommendation for different scenarios, plus a few things to keep in mind for the rest of the letter:

1. Recommendation letter for a job

It's my pleasure to recommend [Person's name] for the Data Scientist role at X Company. I was [Person's name] supervisor from 2011-2021 and valued their deep knowledge of software programs, time management skills, and prior experience.

Above all, their innovative problem-solving techniques helped our team excel on projects. I've watched their skills grow immensely and think they'd be an ideal candidate for the job.

Next, share detailed examples of the person's problem-solving techniques and expand on how much they've grown throughout the years. Finish the letter by telling this employer how lucky their company would be to have this candidate based on your examples and their skills. 

2. Recommendation letter for graduate school

I highly recommend [Person's name] for admission to the [program] at X University. I am a psychology professor at Y University and had the pleasure of teaching [Person's name] in [course code] during their bachelor's degree in nutrition.

[Person's name] stood out from the other students because of their ability to research topics with exceptional depth and use feedback to strengthen their knowledge on how best to present nutritional studies. They thrive in collaborative environments because of their superb teamwork skills and communicate effectively with peers and colleagues.

Consider finishing the letter by expanding on the candidate's research topics and explaining some of the reasons why they have good teamwork and communication skills. It will help to know more about the program they’re applying to and which strengths to emphasize.

Each admissions committee will have different criteria, so tailor your examples to reflect the skills they’ll need to succeed. 

3. Recommendation letter for a scholarship

I highly recommend choosing [Person's name] for your annual marketing scholarship. I'm a former coworker of [Person's name] from 2015-2022 and saw firsthand how skilled they execute marketing strategies and intuitively understand data to predict future trends.

[Person's name] started as an intern and has since secured a full-time paid position. In their time at X Company, they demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a high level of professionalism, which is why they'd be an ideal candidate for your scholarship. They would represent your scholarship and their school with dignity and integrity. 

The body of your letter should include references to specific projects the person worked on and how they’ve become a great leader in the workplace to show the selection committee why they best meet the scholarship’s criteria.

If a friend has asked you to write them a personal letter of recommendation, it won’t be as professional in tone as a letter a former employee or manager requests. It will act more like a reference letter by leaning on their character while highlighting strengths and accomplishments.

Two-happy-multicultural-female-college-girls-sit-in-the-cafeteria-how-to-write-a-letter-of-recommendation

Here are a few things to consider when writing a letter of recommendation for a friend:

Ask for details: It would be tough to provide specific examples without details about what you’re recommending them for. Asking your friend for details on where they’re applying will help you structure your letter and pack it with the most valuable information.

Explain your relationship: This doesn’t have to be long but describe how you know the person. Explain if you have a professional working relationship or if you’ve known each other since childhood. This gives you credibility as a letter writer. 

Share your contact information: Include ways for people to contact you for a potential follow-up. Consider using your work email address or LinkedIn profile.

You could encounter a situation where you don’t want to write a letter of recommendation for a friend. Whatever your reason is, don’t feel pressured to write a letter. Learning how to say “no” helps you solidify your boundaries and honor your values.

Learning how to write a letter of recommendation tests your organizational and communication skills. You need to be precise and articulate with your praise — and that’s not easy, especially if you’ve never written a letter of recommendation before.

These letters are for various purposes, like landing a job, getting into a school, or signing a lease agreement. No matter the purpose, these letters should meet the same guidelines. You’ll always benefit from being detailed, asking the person questions for greater clarity about the application, and including all necessary sections. 

Remember that writing a letter of recommendation requires your authentic self . You have to be honest with your recommendation and reasons for offering it. After you’ve written it, be proud of yourself. You’ve taken the time to do something kind for someone else, and kindness never goes out of style.

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Thought Leader

Writing a resignation letter that’s effective and professional

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How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (With Templates)

application of recommendation letter

Rachel Amos frequently finds herself asked to write a letter of recommendation — and frequently she declines.

As director of career services and employer relations for Carnegie Mellon University ’s Information Networking Institute (INI), she coaches students on their careers and is often asked by them to write a letter of recommendation on their behalf.

“I always have to say ‘no’ unfortunately,” Amos said. “I tell them it’s because I haven’t had you in a class, I don’t know if you turn your homework in on time, I don’t know the quality of your homework or projects, I don’t know if you participate in class, so I’m not the best person to ask for a letter of recommendation. The best letter of recommendation is going to be from somebody who can say the most about you.”

3 steps to politely request a letter of recommendation

  • Get buy-in from the person you are asking to write the letter of recommendation.
  • Make the process of writing the letter of recommendation as easy as possible.
  • Express gratitude after they have written the letter of recommendation and provide an update on the outcome of the application.

What Is a Professional Letter of Recommendation?

A letter of recommendation attests to your strengths, capabilities and attributes and is written by someone who is familiar with your work or academic performance. The purpose of the letter is to help you get a job or secure admission into a college or program of your choice.

Requesting a letter of recommendation shouldn’t be confused with asking someone to serve as your reference .

“When you ask someone to be a reference, it’s simply saying that you’re available to speak about the candidate to an organization. Asking them to write a letter of recommendation is a bit different. It’s much more proactive,” JR Keller, assistant professor of human resource studies at Cornell University , told Built In. “Whoever is your recommender is actually writing down and communicating all your positive attributes to the organization.”

Letters of recommendation are often required when applying to college, or popular programs that have far more applicants than available slots. And while most employers don’t require letters of recommendation when applying for a position, these letters can potentially give you an edge in the job selection process if done right, career experts and hiring managers said. 

A letter of recommendation can also be used as a vehicle for internal promotions too, such as a move into leadership or other opportunities at your current employer, said Blake Tomlinson, senior talent acquisition manager at cybersecurity firm BeyondTrust .

And while letters of recommendation may help you land a job, they are the most effective when targeting a particular position, rather than trying to serve as a one-size fits all.

“I don’t think having a letter of recommendation in the can quite works if you plan to use it for your job search,” Kevin Susman, vice president of brand and communications at Matrixx Software. “When I get asked to write a letter of recommendation, I always ask what do you want me to highlight to help you land the job? That’s why it doesn’t make sense to proactively ask for a letter of recommendation before you have a specific job in mind.”

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Who Is Qualified to Write a Letter of Recommendation?

“You should ask your current or former direct manager or supervisor, someone who actually saw your work, your metrics, your performance on a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month basis and who is in a position to assess you,” Zafar Choudhury, a senior recruiting leader at Amazon Web Services told Built In.

If given a choice between asking a current or past manager for a letter of recommendation versus a vice president or other high-level executive you worked with in the past, career experts have mixed recommendations.

A vice president or executive may have seen your work on a specific project but probably not the day-to-day challenges, said Choudhury. It’d be better to get a letter of recommendation from the manager versus an executive, he said.

A former manager, for example, could write a letter of recommendation with specific outcomes of a project and how well it was executed. While a letter from an executive might be complimentary but vague. 

However, a letter of recommendation from a vice president or other high-level executives may catch the attention of recruiters or hiring managers, who skim through applications in a matter of seconds, said Victoria Neal, HR Knowledge Advisor with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). 

It’s also wise to have a number of people in mind to approach for a letter of recommendation. For example, if you don’t land the job and need another targeted letter from a different prospective employer, you don’t want to have to go to the same person each time to write another letter, Susman warned. 

For letters of recommendation to graduate school, select professors who are familiar with your classroom participation, class projects, or office hour visits.

“You want a professor who has a taste of the kind of person you are, rather than just knowing you as a name on a class roster,” said Sarah Sikowitz, a director in Career and Professional Development at Harvard Business School.

How Do You Ask for a Letter of Recommendation?

Aim to ask for a letter of recommendation at least a month before it’s due, career experts and hiring managers said.

Make the initial request by phone or in person, whenever possible, because it’s easier to get a read on whether they would feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation for you, said Tomlinson.  Let them know why you have chosen them — maybe it’s because you really enjoyed working with them or you knocked it out of the park on a few projects with them and you want to highlight those successes, Tomlinson added.

However, if you’re writing an email with the request that could give the recipient more time to consider instead of putting them on the spot.

“I think email is better than in person because I have a chance to read through the request and decide how I want to respond,” Keller said. “I may want to let them know why I may be hesitant to write a letter and it’s harder to communicate that clearly in the moment.”

Make your initial email request concise, Amos said. College faculty are very busy with hundreds of students emailing them or dropping by during office hours, as well as having to supervise their teaching assistants. 

Be sure you include all the necessary details and make it as easy as possible for them to write the letter. You’ll want to tell them why you need it and what it’s for, plus any deadlines or instructions on how to send it, career experts said.

In general, it’s helpful to provide a list of talking points, career accomplishments as well as a copy of your resume and the job description. If you’re asking a college professor for a letter, it’s important to include your GPA, accomplishments in their class and other classes, and extracurricular activities. 

In some cases, it might be appropriate to offer to write the initial draft of the recommendation letter which your manager or professor could then review and edit if needed, Choudhury said. 

Give professors and former work associates at least a week to make up their mind whether they want to write you a letter of recommendation on your behalf, Tomlinson said. Other career experts also noted to give people an easy out when inquiring about their willingness to write a letter of recommendation.

“Letters of recommendation are a great way for me to validate what an employee has accomplished and contributed to the company. When I am asked to write one, I also see it as a reflection of the company values, in our desire to maintain a professional connection to people who, although no longer with the company, continue to shine within the industry,” said Emily Flanigan, head of North America marketing for Infobip.

Here are two templates to set you on your way.

More on Job Searching 30 Great Job Interview Tips From the Experts

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Work-Related Template)

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (person’s name),

I hope all is well with you. I’m currently interviewing at (company) for the position of (position) and wanted to inquire if you would be willing to write a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf.

It’s been (X weeks, months or years) since we worked together at (company), when I was a (former role) and you were my (former role). I remember this time fondly and truly enjoyed working with you and the work we did.

As my former (role), I believe you can speak to my skills in (select your skills that match up to the ones sought in the job description) and experience in (select your qualifications that match up to the ones sought in the job description) with specifics and examples. 

I have included a copy of my resume, a list of my accomplishments and the job posting for your reference. Additionally, if you would prefer, I could write a draft of my letter of recommendation for you to review and approve or adjust if needed. Please let me know if this is your preference.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could write and return the letter of recommendation to me by (name a date at least two weeks before you plan to use it). This will provide me enough time to forward it onto the recruiters and hiring managers at (company).

I am extremely grateful you would consider taking time out of your day to write a letter of recommendation on my behalf. Your willingness to do this means a great deal to me. 

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (College-Related Template)

Dear (Professor or Dr.) (person’s name),

I hope all is well with you. I’m currently applying to (college or program) where I hope to (major in or study) (topic) and I wanted to inquire if you would feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf.

I truly enjoyed having you as my (advisor or professor) in (subject) when I attended (college). It’s been (X months or years) since I (attended your classes or had you as an advisor) and truly enjoyed that experience and gained valuable knowledge.

I have included a copy of my resume, a list of my accomplishments and personal background, which I hope will be of value when writing the letter of recommendation and providing specific examples of my talents and abilities in and outside of the classroom.

The deadline to submit the letter of recommendation is (deadline date). Please submit the letter of recommendation per the instructions of the (college/university or program). 

I am extremely grateful you would consider writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf. It means a lot to me that you would take time out of your busy schedule to help me. 

Signs Someone Won’t Write a Letter of Recommendation

If a former manager or executive at a company where you worked declines your request for a letter of recommendation, it could stem from the company’s policy that prohibits writing letters of recommendation on corporate letterhead or from a company email account, Susman said. If that is the case, inquire whether a personal letter of recommendation can be written. 

“That’s how we’ve handled it in the past,” Susman said. “We had an events person we had to let go because of the pandemic and she asked for a letter of recommendation. I could give a personal letter of recommendation but I couldn’t do it on Matrixx’s corporate letterhead.”

On other occasions, people have asked Susman to write a letter of recommendation where he felt uncomfortable with their request. Those feelings stemmed from not knowing the person well enough to write the letter of recommendation and he had to turn them down.

If the person who you’ve asked to write a letter repeatedly reschedules your meeting to discuss your request, it’s time to look for alternative options.

“If they drag their feet on responding back to you, they’re probably not a good person to ask for a recommendation. They are either too busy or reluctant because their experience with you wasn’t great. Find another individual to write your letter of recommendation,” Choudhury said. “You shouldn’t have to grovel for this.”

More on Career Development Take Control of Your Professional Success by Setting Career Goals

When to Send a Letter of Recommendation

Timing is key when providing an unsolicited letter of recommendation. Some career experts advise uploading the letter of recommendation at the same time you upload your resume and work samples, while others suggest including it with a thank you card after the final round of interviews.

“Uploading your letter of recommendation with your resume during the application phase may be a differentiator,” Neal said. “You don’t want to hold back and hold off on submitting something that could have made a difference.”

But holding off and sending your letter of recommendation with a thank you note could reinforce your attributes and skills that came through during the interview process and will be discussed during the hiring team’s debrief,” said Choudhury, adding he feels it’s wiser to submit your letter of recommendation at the end of the interview process. 

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What to Avoid When Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

“One thing to avoid is asking for a letter of recommendation and telling them it’s due by tomorrow. It shouldn’t feel like a last minute request,” Keller said, noting professors should ideally be given at least a one month notice.

Not only should you avoid sending the request by text, but also be careful to send requests that are poorly written or contain typos, Keller said.

There shouldn’t be any confusion around why you’re reaching out for a letter of recommendation, Tomlinson said, adding, “Inform the writer of your motivation. I wouldn’t leave it open for interpretation.” 

And never ask people to write a letter of recommendation for you if they are not familiar with your work. 

8 Steps to Avoid When Asking For a Letter of Recommendation

  • Don’t ask for a letter of recommendation at the last minute
  • Don’t text your request asking for a letter of recommendation
  • Don’t send a poorly written, incoherent request to write a letter of recommendation
  • Don’t forget to say why you are asking for a letter of recommendation
  • Don’t forget to give a deadline of when the letter needs to be submitted
  • Don’t ask someone to write a letter of recommendation who isn’t familiar with your work or academic performance
  • Don’t constantly nag the letter writer to submit the document, though it’s ok to send one or two reminders.
  • Don’t rewrite the letter of recommendation 

If someone has taken the time to write a letter of recommendation, don’t re-write the letter either, Susman said.

“Be cognizant of the fact that you’re making an ask of someone,” he added. “And, frankly, they are putting their reputation out there for you and you should treat it with respect.”

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How to Show Appreciation

It sounds simple but it’s a step that’s often overlooked. You should not only thank the person for their willingness to write a letter of recommendation but also thank them after they have written it.

“You should always send a heartfelt thank you because it’s time and effort on their part, so don’t skip this step. Take the time to write a thank you,” Amos said. “That’s really important to thank someone when they go to the trouble of doing that for you.” 

Additionally, it’s equally important to loop back with the person who wrote your letter of recommendation to update them on the final outcome of your job interview or college admissions effort, said career experts and hiring managers.

“When you get your answer whether you’ve been admitted or not admitted, hired or not hired, follow up with this person and thank them again,” Sikowitz said. “I think it’s just a really nice way to close the loop.”

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5 Outstanding Recommendation Letter Samples (+ How to Write Your Own)

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Writing a recommendation letter for an employee or a coworker is a big responsibility, as your letter could make or break their job application. So how can you write an effective letter of recommendation that will impress a hiring manager?

This article will explain how to write a recommendation letter for a job, as well as provide five recommendation letter samples to guide you through the process.

Use the table of contents to jump straight to the samples, or keep reading for tips on how to write an excellent letter of recommendation.

  • Recommendation letter sample 1
  • Recommendation letter sample 2
  • Recommendation letter sample 3
  • Recommendation letter sample 4
  • Recommendation letter sample 5

Why are recommendation letters important?

Before diving into the recommendation letter samples, let’s consider what role recommendation letters play in the job application process. Why do hiring managers ask for letters of recommendation? What purpose do reference letters serve?

Powerfully advocate for the job seeker

Well for one, you can powerfully advocate for a candidate in your letter. By throwing your support behind them, the hiring manager will see that this person has successfully worked with a boss or colleague in the past.

Add personality to a job application

Your letter can also help personalize someone’s application. A hiring manager might read through lots of resumes, but your letter will help the candidate come to life by shedding light on their personality and work style.

Point out past achievements

By discussing specific achievements a candidate has made, you can also help prove the job seeker will make similar accomplishments in the future. They say past behavior points to future behavior, so sharing anecdotes in your letter will help the hiring manager see what the job seeker would be like if they got hired.

Help the job seeker get hired

If you write a generic, vague letter, it might not do much to sway a hiring manager’s opinion. Or it could easily be outshined by someone else’s letter of recommendation, where the writer took the time to get personal and specific.

But if you take the time to craft a strong, thoughtful letter, it could help push the job seeker’s candidacy over the edge and land them the job — or at least a job interview !

6 ways to make your letter of recommendation effective

Assuming you want to help the job seeker as much as you can, how can you craft a letter that will help their application stand out? Here are a few ways to make your letter of recommendation powerful.

1. Customize your letter to the job at hand

Just as a job seeker should customize their cover letter to each job they apply to, so too should you customize your letter of recommendation to the job at hand. If you send off a general letter without mentioning what job the candidate is applying for, it will look weak compared to one that was written specifically for the role.

Let’s say you’re recommending an employee who worked in marketing and is now going after a director role. If you simply describe what it was like to work with that employee, your letter will fall flat.

Instead, you should talk about why you’re recommending them to become a director; discuss what makes them ready to move into a managerial role.

In your letter, name the new job and company to show that you understand what job the candidate is applying for and wholeheartedly recommend them for the specific position. Remember, the hiring manager is looking for someone who would be a good fit; your letter can go a long way toward persuading them this is the person they’ve been looking for.

2. Use 2-3 specific examples

While calling the candidate motivated, accountable, or creative is all well and good, you want to back up these descriptors with actual examples. Let’s say you’re talking about how the candidate is great at creative problem-solving.

Choose a specific time when a problem came along and talk about how the candidate solved it. By providing two to three specific anecdotes, you can prove the candidate really has the qualities you say they do.

Plus, your letter will come to life, rather than simply being a repeat of what’s already on the candidate’s resume . If it’s just a list of titles and certifications, it doesn’t add anything extra to the application.

Since you worked with the candidate in the past, you can shed light on their past achievements. By identifying a few specific accomplishments, your recommendation letter will become even more valuable and convincing.

Bonus points in the accomplishments you highlight match up to a core competency of the job description. For instance, if the new role wants someone who takes initiative, choose a story where the candidate took initiative in the past.

3. Speak to the candidate before you write

Writing a letter of recommendation is a tall order, and you don’t have to do it all on your own. Before you sit down to write, speak with the job seeker about their plans.

Let them tell you what the new role is and why they’re excited about it. They might even share their cover letter and application materials, so you can make sure your letter complements the story they’re presenting in their application.

You might even ask the candidate to provide two to three specific anecdotes they’d like you to include in your letter. If you worked closely with this person, you can probably come up with these on your own.

But sitting down to chat will help you get insight into their goals and craft an effective letter.

4. Explain why your opinion matters

Let’s face it, a recommendation letter from someone’s mom isn’t going to hold as much weight as one from their manager. A hiring manager wants to see the letter comes from a reputable source who has worked closely with the candidate in the past.

So somewhere in the beginning of your letter, explain who you are and what makes you qualified to recommend this person. That way, your reader will understand where you’re coming from and know to take your opinion seriously.

5. Start with enthusiasm

Another good way to grab your reader’s attention is to start your letter with a strong statement of support. Some strong openers include,

  • As Juan’s former manager at XYZ Company, it’s my great honor to recommend him for the role of…
  • It’s my great pleasure to recommend Laura for the position of…

Although it’s easy to start with “I’m writing to recommend…,” that opener will look lukewarm next to something more powerful. So try to hook your reader with enthusiasm right away.

6. Format your letter correctly

Although some companies are more formal than others, it’s still important to format your letter in an official manner. Use official letterhead if possible, making sure to include your name, position, workplace, and contact information.

At the top, include the contact information for the hiring manager (see samples below). Address your letter to a specific person, if possible.

Your letter will probably be three to five short paragraphs with spaces in between, and it doesn’t have to be longer than a page.

At the end, invite the reader to follow up with you via email or phone for any further information.

5 recommendation letter samples

Now that you have a sense of what makes a strong recommendation, check out these practices in action in these five recommendation letter samples. While your letter should be unique, these examples can act as recommendation letter templates and guide you as you write your own.

Recommendation letter sample #1: Teaching job

Ms. Lila Sullivan Principal Alpine High School 1 Swiss Road Townton, Anywhere USA

Dear Ms. Sullivan,

It’s my great pleasure to recommend Stacy Nichols for the position of English teacher with Alpine High School. As the principal of Mountain High School, where Stacy has taught for the past five years, I’ve been extremely impressed with Stacy’s skills as an educator, commitment to her students, and creativity in the classroom. I have no doubt she will bring the same enthusiasm, rigor, and dedication to her new role in your school.

Along with her enthusiasm, positive energy, and attentiveness to students’ needs, Stacy brings a special talent to curriculum design. She led a committee last year to revamp the 11th and 12th grade curriculum, adding new books that better fulfilled our mission of inclusivity and diversity. She also helped revise our senior thesis project to bring in multimedia and make it more relevant to current events.

As a Google-certified educator, Stacy leads the way when it comes to bringing technology into the classroom. She’s also taken the time to train other teachers on how to incorporate technology as an effective vehicle for learning. This year, for instance, she led three trainings for the English department on how to incorporate the Google suite of tools into classroom lessons. 

Finally, Stacy is special for her ability to connect with students and be sensitive to their needs. At the end of last year, I had several parents contact me directly about what a positive impact Stacy and her class had on their sons and daughters. This positive impact was obvious by the surprise party her students threw her on the last day of the semester!

While the team and I would love to keep Stacy here forever, we have to bid her farewell when she moves across the country next month. Although we’ll miss having her as part of the team, we’re 100% confident she’ll make an incredible addition to your English department at Alpine High School.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any more information at 617-716-7566 or by email at [email protected] .

Sincerely yours,

Rachel Smith Principal Mountain High School

Recommendation letter sample #2: Remote content writer job

Roberta Moor Director of Marketing Facegramchat 55 Market St. Anywhere, USA

Dear Ms. Moor,

I’m writing to wholeheartedly recommend David Sanchez for the role of content writer with Facegramchat. As the director of marketing for Instabooksnap, I hired David when he was fresh out of college with his degree in English and communications.

David has grown tremendously over the years and has become one of the most valuable and prolific writers on our team. Although we’ll all be sad to see him go, I understand his to desire to work in a remote role, an arrangement our company unfortunately cannot offer him at this time.

David is a talented wordsmith, researcher, and editor who has a way with words. He’s extremely skilled at naturally incorporating keywords throughout his articles and has an intuitive sense of how to write SEO-optimized articles that rank well in organic search.

In fact, his article on XYZ is consistently the highest driver of traffic to our site with more than 5,000 unique visitors per day. Along with SEO-optimized articles, David is skilled at pitching original ideas, reporting on news, and interviewing sources to add original commentary to his pieces.

He’s also been a tremendous contributor to our team internally, crafting process documents to help our team run more smoothly and leading trainings in our weekly meetings. In the past month, David created a training document on best practices for competitor analysis for new writers, as well as led a training on the subject. These training documents will be an excellent addition to our onboarding guide for new team members.

David is extremely accountable to deadlines and skilled at working independently, while at the same time is proactive about contributing to the team and collaborating with his colleagues. Because he’s so accountable and communicative, I have no doubt that David will excel in a remote role with a distributed team.

As I’m sure you can tell from David’s portfolio, the quality of his writing speaks for itself. As his manager for four years, I can attest that David is an impressive, reliable, consistent, and creative employee who supports his colleagues, takes initiative, and is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Please feel free to contact me at 555-525-5252 or [email protected] for any more information.

Best regards,

Bob McIntire Director of Marketing Instabooksnap

Recommendation letter sample #3: Remote sales job

Victor Snow We Sell Stuff Co. 5 Seller’s Lane Townplace, USA

Dear Mr. Snow,

It’s my pleasure and honor to recommend Brian Danson for the account manager position with We Sell Stuff Co. Brian and I worked together for the past five years, where I was his manager at Sellers Gotta Sell, Inc.

Throughout his time with our sales team, Brian proved himself to be a hard-working, motivated, ambitious, charismatic, and reliable employee. His honesty, dependability, confidence, and excellent communication skills helped him become the top salesperson two years running, surpassing his quarterly goals by an incredibly impressive 22%.

Positive testimonials about working with Brian have poured in from our clients. Our team also holds Brian in the highest regard, not just because he’s a great person but also because he’s taken a proactive role in organizing office parties and celebrations.

While Brian’s next sales role will be remote, I have no doubt he’ll continue to make a positive impact on his teammates, wherever they’re located. He’s a talented salesperson and overall great person to be around. While we’ll miss having him on the team, I have no doubt he’ll exceed all expectations as a member of We Sell Stuff Co.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions at 677-776-6767 or [email protected] .

Kim Commercio Director of Sales Sellers Gotta Sell, Inc. 5 London Lane Los Angeles, CA

Recommendation letter sample #4: Customer service job

Kathy Rosenstein Director of Customer Support Glossy Glasses Co. 1 Clients Way Anywhere, USA

Dear Ms. Rosenstein,

It’s my great pleasure to recommend Jill Harrison for the position of customer support representative with Glossy Glasses Co. Jill has worked as a customer support representative for our company for the past two years. As her direct supervisor, I’ve been incredibly impressed with her warmth, personability, and commitment to our customers.

Jill is a true people person who loves speaking with customers and resolving their questions and concerns. She truly embodies our mission to put the customer first and help solve issues in any way we can.

Positive reviews have flooded in from customers that have spoken with Jill about the customer service they received, with most recommending her for our top monthly incentive prize of an Amazon gift card (satisfied customers can also choose a free coffee or lunch).

Along with providing excellent support to our customers and helping build long-term relationships with our client base, Jill has been proactive about improving our team processes. She volunteered to outline our procedures and answers to common questions, creating documents that are a great help to our current team members and will be extremely useful when onboarding new hires.

Jill stands out for her kindness, commitment, and initiative, and I’m completely confident she will surpass all expectations when joining your customer service team.

Thanks for your time, and please feel free to contact me at 888-888-8888 or [email protected] .

Elizabeth Ward Director of Customer Service Moda Moda

Recommendation letter sample #5: Remote web designer job

Melanie Davos Director of Engineering Coding XX 9 Computer Way Austin, TX

Dear Ms. Davos,

It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend Julie Brown for the role of web designer with Coding XX. Julie has worked with our company Outdoor Gear Inc. on a freelance basis for the past three years. From her work with us, as well as our Slack chats and video meetings, I’ve gotten to know her as a highly skilled and passionate web designer with a knack for visual design.

In her work with us, Julie redesigned our web page to our specifications while contributing great ideas herself on how to make our website user-friendly and beautiful for our users. Since her redesign, we’ve seen our time on page and conversion metrics increase by five times what they were with our old site.

Julie also ensured her new, elegant designs are consistent across all our branding platforms, including email newsletters, social media, and our outreach efforts with other sites. Her contributions have been absolutely invaluable, and it seems there’s no challenge too big for Julie to tackle.

Julie is especially passionate about your company’s mission to teach girls and young women to code, so I’m excited for her to have the opportunity to join your team. I’m completely confident her skills and experience as a web designer, combined with her commitment to your important cause, will make her an invaluable employee who will drive your organization forward.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions at 454-321-1234 or [email protected] .

Steven Programmer Engineering Manager Outdoor Gear Inc.

Writing the best letter of recommendation you can

Now that you’ve read through the sample recommendation letters, you have a general recommendation letter template to guide your writing.

  • Start with the name, job title, and company address of the hiring manager, and address your letter to a specific person.
  • In your intro, explain why you’re writing and what your relationship to the job candidate is.
  • In two to three short paragraphs, describe what’s so special about the candidate, and do your best to provide specific anecdotes to back up your assertions.
  • Finally, conclude with a final message of support, and invite the hiring manager to contact you via phone or email with any questions.

Make your recommendation letter positive but accurate, and think of ways to make it stand out from others that might be in the pile.

And don’t forget to customize your letter to the specific job. Maybe the new company has a mission that the job seeker is especially passionate about, for instance, or perhaps you know the job seeker would excel in a remote role where they can have a flexible schedule.

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Letter of Recommendation Examples for College Applicants

Admissions pros highlight what makes a recommendation letter stand out.

College Recommendation Letter Examples

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To help applicants and recommenders know what colleges are looking for in recommendation letters, some schools provide examples on their admissions website.

Recommendation letters can serve as powerful testimonials about a student's accomplishments, and the most effective letters demonstrate a candidate's potential for greatness, according to college admissions officers.

The best person to write a letter of recommendation is someone who knows the applicant well and can describe that person's journey in detail, says Kristen Capezza, vice president of enrollment management and university communications at Adelphi University in New York.

Ask for a recommendation letter from the teacher with whom you have the strongest rapport, Capezza suggests – not just someone who gave you a high grade. "That, to me, makes for a more powerful letter, because it will be more personalized and less generic."

Strong relationships shine through in letters and can help in situations where grades are poor, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company. Jones previously worked in college admissions at Elon University in North Carolina and Saint Joseph's University in Pennsylvania.

"Some of the best recommendation letters I’ve read over the years actually came from where a student might have had a lower grade than just an A," he says. "The reason being was the teacher knew that student and was able to go through and talk about the time they struggled and how they worked through the processes to overcome mastery of a new subject."

Similar to personal essays , recommendations should add to a student's application rather than repeat information, experts say. Admissions officers want to hear the story behind students to understand them holistically. For example, learning about a creative project a student participated in or the fact that the basketball player also starred in the school musical are examples that provide deep context, Jones says.

To help applicants and recommenders know what colleges are looking for in recommendation letters, some schools provide examples on their admissions website. Arizona State University provides this template , which shows how to format the letter as well as the type of content that should be included.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology also provides a breakdown on how to craft a strong letter, with several example letters and critiques on what makes them effective or ineffective.

College admissions pros also offered U.S. News insights on outstanding recommendation letters they've read during their careers.

Recommendation Letters That Swayed Admissions Officers

Admissions officials note that various types of recommendation letters can help a student's admissions odds. Those include letters that explain difficult personal circumstances, showcase remarkable achievements or reveal a student's personality.

Effective recommendation letters help admissions officers imagine how a student could contribute to their class, Capezza says.

"Reading about stories of perseverance, tales of transformation or simply honest accounts of the student's dedication to learning and the community help me to visualize the student as a future member of our community – and that visualization can be the turning point for a difficult admission decision," Capezza wrote in an email.

Challenges Faced and Overcome

Sometimes recommendation letters explain extenuating circumstances that clarify why a student's academic performance was subpar during a particular period in high school, says Skye Telka, admissions counselor at Sora Schools, a virtual private middle and high school. Telka previously served as a college admissions counselor for Warren Wilson College , a liberal arts school in North Carolina.

For instance, she once received an application from a student who performed exceptionally well in her freshman and sophomore years, but faltered in her junior and senior years.

The letter explained that the student's mother was critically ill, and the student had assumed the responsibility of parenting her own siblings, becoming her family's caregiver. Because of this letter, the Warren Wilson admissions committee accepted the student despite her lackluster grades, Telka says.

She also recalled admitting a student who had struggled in mathematics until eventually being diagnosed with dyscalculia , a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to do math.

"This letter of recommendation was important in not only revealing the student’s intellectual capacity, adaptability, and persistence, but also helped further contextualize their academic journey," Telka wrote in an email. "Especially in light of a global pandemic and some of the knowledge loss or academic irregularities associated with that, a clear and dedicated passion can really win over an admissions committee in the review process. Such passions are weighed heavily when it comes to shaping the incoming class."

This letter example from MIT shows how a school counselor provided context about a student's difficult life outside of school and previous struggles in the classroom.

Jane is an outstanding young woman whose academic record may not fully reflect her ability. Her parents were divorced during her junior year, and, for several years before that, her home situation had been in turmoil with a great deal of fighting between her parents. Her father has an alcohol problem, and Jane certainly endured a great deal of emotional distress. The fact that she has been able to do as well as she has done given the circumstances says a lot about her. Now that the home situation has stabilized, her performance has improved. I believe her senior year grades are a much better reflection of her ability.

The anonymous critique provided on the MIT admissions website says some may wonder if it's appropriate for recommendation letters to include such personal details. It is, the critique explains.

"We appreciate anything that gives us insight and perspective into a student’s performance and the environment," the critique reads. "Comments about problems that a student has experienced will help us understand the context in which they have accomplished whatever they have achieved. The extent to which they have dealt with these problems is useful to know as well."

These types of letters can be particularly valuable in cases where a student is less eager to share the details on their own, Jones says.

Information about a student's difficulties can not only mitigate deficits in an application, but also increase scholarship opportunities, Jones says. He adds that if a recommendation letter is especially compelling, the admissions committee might offer a student a scholarship or a spot in the honors program.

Abilities and Passions

Admissions officers say there are some recommendation letters that convey a student's strong interest in and aptitude for a specific academic discipline. Telka says she was amazed by a recommendation letter for a prospective agriculture student that was written by the student's employer at an apple orchard. The student had worked to revive a nearly extinct heirloom apple variety by planting it in various places.

"Because I had such context of what they had already achieved, it allowed me to reach out to faculty on campus (and) reach out to a couple of endowed scholarship opportunities," Telka says.

Another example from MIT shows a student interested in journalism who took on leadership responsibilities for the school newspaper and yearbook.

As business manager for the paper and co-editor of the yearbook the past two years, Mary has done an outstanding job. She personally brought the town’s business community from the view that the school newspaper was a charitable organization to the realization that the paper is a direct pipeline through which advertisers can reach students. She also took the initiative to set up the advertising rate schedule for the paper that produced enough revenue to expand coverage from a four-page paper, so that it is an eight-page and often twelve-page paper. Her work as photographer for both publications has been equally outstanding.

"Lots of specifics here give us a very clear impression and help us to know why that impression is held," the critique reads. "We have evidence of her newspaper directives and overall character."

When a student says he or she is strongly committed to a specific field or a particular type of community service , it is a plus if that statement is corroborated by a third party in a recommendation letter, Telka says.

It's also helpful when recommendation letters highlight a student's unusual interests. "We like to see nuggets of authenticity and anything that makes the student stand out," she says. "Clubs, extracurricular activities or anything else that makes a student unique. For example, we had one student who founded the juggling club at their high school. That sticks with you."

Strong Character

A recommendation letter may also offer insight into a person's character. Capezza recalls a letter she received about a student in a military family who had moved across the country. Written by a high school counselor , the letter described how the student had adjusted to the various places he moved.

"Throughout it all, the student was able to show upward trajectory in the grades and the types of classes being taken, but it also spoke to the student's ability to adapt to new situations," Capezza says. "No matter how overwhelming and daunting it was, the student was up for a new challenge and really learned to become his own self-advocate, and it was just a story of transformation by way of circumstance."

The following example, provided by college admissions consulting company IvyWise, describes a high-performing student's character.

Ashley’s teachers say she is an organized student who is not afraid to ask questions when she is uncertain about a skill or concept. She also works well in group settings, always making sure all members are actively involved in the work, instead of simply taking over, as many of her similarly high achieving peers are wont to do. She is also extremely goal-oriented; once she sets her mind to completing a task or project, she pursues it in earnest until it is done, regardless of any obstacles that pop up along the way. Far from the ruthless competitor, however, her peers characterize her as a compassionate friend, someone that everyone feels comfortable opening up to.  

This section of the letter "backs up the things the committee will likely see in her other recommendations and essays and provides a qualitative understanding of who she is as a student and a member of a school community," says Carolyn Pippen, master college admissions counselor for IvyWise.

A Strong Introduction and Conclusion Help

Like any piece of writing, it's important for a letter of a recommendation to immediately grab the attention of the reader. Though students don't necessarily have control over how a letter is written, experts say having deep relationships and offering anecdotes can help recommenders craft a more compelling letter.

"Experienced readers glance at the opening and concluding sentences before deciding if the letter is worth reading," he says. "A good anecdote is far more effective than even the most carefully chosen list of adjectives."

Jones provided an example of a teacher's recommendation for a fictitious student that demonstrates this well.

Introduction

One of my professors used to remind us daily of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Nothing great has ever been accomplished without enthusiasm.” ... Jack epitomizes this quotation because he displays enthusiasm and energy toward everything he commits. Whether it be his intense dedication to academics, his devotion to making sure his customers are happy, his role as a lead in our Future Business Leaders of America club, or his overall school spirit, Jack puts forth every effort to produce the best possible results. He seems to live a fearless life. I have witnessed this first-hand.

The letter goes on to explain how Jack started his own lawn care service as a 10th grader and was managing more than 20 properties by his senior year. It also explains that Jack spent time working alongside his mother at a medical treatment center to help restore a decades-old barn that would help a local farm rebuild its revenue stream.

The conclusion should summarize the letter and tie everything together, Jones says. This example, written from the perspective of a school counselor for the same fictitious student, demonstrates that well, he says.

Jack is well-rounded – academically sound, athletic, and a leader. He has an entrepreneur's outlook, spirit, and risk-taking calculus. Life is more than what's happening for him today or next weekend – he is a strategic, forward thinker who enjoys planning for the future. He wants the next part of his journey to be in an environment where he can stretch himself, try different things, and confidently spread his wings. I am happy to give my full recommendation for admission to Jack Wright!

"A brief summary of the student's accolades will leave the reader with a positive feeling," Jones says.

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Letters of Recommendation

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How important are recommendation letters in a college application? According to William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard, they are "extremely important."

If you're a student, examples of great letters of recommendation can help you understand how to get strong letters yourself from your teachers. If you're a teacher, the examples in this guide will inspire you to support your students strongly as they apply to college. Keep reading for four excellent letters from teachers that will get anyone into college , along with expert analysis on why they're so strong.

Important Note: Are you looking for job recommendation letters? If so, check out my great post here!

First, let's understand the role of recommendation letters in your application.

Why are Recommendation Letters Important?

The majority of admissions officers at four-year colleges, especially private schools, emphasize that their process is holistic . They seek to gain a sense of the student as a "whole person," rather than focusing on pieces of who she is based solely on grades and test scores. Since they rarely meet the student in person, the recommendation letters, along with the student's own personal essay, play a huge role in illuminating her intellectual and personal qualities.

That's why recommendation letters from teachers, especially those who know their students well, carry a great deal of weight in applications. A letter that expresses a strong vote of support, as well as highlights a student's impressive academic and personal strengths , can have a powerful effect on that student's chances of admission.

Let's look at some samples of strong recommendation letters, one from an English teacher, another from a physics teacher, the third from a history teacher, and the final one from a math teacher. Then we'll break down exactly why these letters of recommendation are effective.

The first example recommends Sara, a senior who loves to write and read poetry.

Sample Letter #1: Sara the Poet

Dear Admissions Committee, I had the pleasure of teaching Sara in her 11th grade honors English class at Mark Twain High School. From the first day of class, Sara impressed me with her ability to be articulate about difficult concepts and texts, her sensitivity to the nuances within literature, and her passion for reading, writing, and creative expression- both in and out of the classroom. Sara is a talented literary critic and poet, and she has my highest recommendation as a student and writer. Sara is talented at considering the subtleties within literature and the purpose behind authors' works. She produced an extraordinary year-long thesis paper on creative identity development, in which she compared works from three different time periods and synthesized cultural and historical perspectives to inform her analysis. When called upon to give her thesis defense in front of her peers, Sara spoke clearly and eloquently about her conclusions and responded to questions in a thoughtful way. Outside of the classroom, Sara is dedicated to her literary pursuits, especially to poetry. She publishes her poetry in our school's literary magazine, as well as in online magazines. She is an insightful, sensitive, and deeply self-aware individual driven to explore art, writing, and a deeper understanding of the human condition. Throughout the year Sara was an active participant in our discussions, and she always supported her peers. Her caring nature and personality allow her to work well with others in a team setting, as she always respects others' opinions even when they differ from her own. When we held a class debate about gun laws, Sara opted to speak for the side opposite her own views. She explained her choice as motivated by a desire to put herself in other people's shoes, view the issues from a new perspective, and gain a clearer sense of the issue from all angles. Throughout the year, Sara demonstrated this openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along with shrewd powers of observation, all qualities that makes her outstanding as a student of literature and burgeoning writer. I am certain that Sara is going to continue to do great and creative things in her future. I highly recommend her for admission to your undergraduate program. She is talented, caring, intuitive, dedicated, and focused in her pursuits. Sara consistently seeks out constructive feedback so she can improve her writing skills, which is a rare and impressive quality in a high school student. Sara is truly a stand-out individual who will impress everyone she meets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at [email protected]. Sincerely, Ms. Scribe English Teacher Mark Twain High School

This is a thorough, glowing recommendation for a student that Ms. Scribe clearly knows well. What other features make it stand out as a strong letter of rec?

body_booksofpoetry

The Breakdown

Ms. Scribe has a high opinion of Sara and her skills at writing and literary analysis. One way that she expresses this is by using powerful and specific language. She doesn't merely say Sara is a good writer. She says she's articulate about difficult concepts and sensitive to the nuances within literature. She calls her insightful and self-aware with shrewd powers of observation.

These descriptors don't happen by accident. Ms. Scribe took the time to choose her words carefully , and that effort paid off with a strong letter that captures Sara's special qualities.

Ms. Scribe also supports her characterization of Sara with examples . She describes her thesis paper and how she responded to questions thoughtfully under the pressured situation of her thesis defense. She gives the example of the debate on gun laws to illustrate Sara's openness to many different points of view.

In addition to illuminating her intellectual and personal strengths and supporting them with specific examples, Ms. Scribe speaks to Sara's goals for the future. She points out that she is talented at writing, poetry specifically, and that she is committed to continuing to improve as a writer in her future.

This letter, by virtue of its wording, length, and specificity, shows that Ms. Scribe took the time and effort to recommend Sara thoughtfully and with conviction. The fact that she knows Sara well and is committed to helping her application succeed with a thoughtful letter further adds weight to her assessment.

This letter would be a boon to Sara's application, especially if she's applying to study writing or English. She clearly impressed her English teacher and, in return, got a memorable, complimentary letter of recommendation for her college application.

This next example is similarly enthusiastic and detailed. It's for a student applying to an engineering program.

application of recommendation letter

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Sample Letter #2: Stacy the Engineer

Dear Admissions Committee, It is a great pleasure to recommend Stacy for admission to your engineering program. She is one of the most exceptional students I have encountered in my 15 years of teaching. I taught Stacy in my 11th grade honors physics class and advised her in Robotics Club. I am not surprised to find out she is now ranked at the top of an extraordinarily capable class of seniors. She has a keen interest in and talent for physics, math, and scientific inquiry. Her advanced skills and passion for the subject make her an ideal fit for your rigorous engineering program. Stacy is a perceptive, sharp, quick individual with a high aptitude for math and science. She is driven to understand how things work, whether they be the old computer hard drives in the school library or the forces that hold our universe together. Her final project in class was especially impressive, an investigation of frequency-dependent sound absorption, an idea that she said was sparked by not wanting to bother her parents with her hours of guitar practice at home. She's been a strong leader in Robotics Club, eager to share her knowledge with others and learn new skills. I have the students in the club prepare lessons and take turns leading our after-school meetings. When it was Stacy's turn, she showed up prepared with a fascinating lecture on lunar nautics and fun activities that got everyone moving and talking. She was our only student teacher to be met with much deserved applause at the end of her lesson. Stacy's personal strengths are as impressive as her intellectual accomplishments. She's an active, outgoing presence in class with a great sense of humor. Stacy's the perfect person to get a group project rolling, but she also knows how to sit back and let others take the lead. Her cheerful nature and openness to feedback means she's always learning and growing as a learner, an impressive strength that will continue to serve her well in college and beyond. Stacy is just the kind of driven, engaging, and curious student that helped make our classroom a lively environment and safe place to take intellectual risks. Stacy has my highest recommendation for admission to your engineering program. She has demonstrated excellence in all that she puts her mind to, whether it's designing an experiment, collaborating with others, or teaching herself to play classical and electrical guitar. Stacy's endless curiosity, combined with her willingness to take risks, leads me to believe there will be no limit to her growth and achievements in college and beyond. Please don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. Sincerely, Ms. Randall Physics Teacher Marie Curie High School

Ms. Randall is clearly as much of a fan of Stacy as she is of Mileva Marić. How does she communicate her recommendation?

body_mileva

Ms. Randall plugs for Stacy right off the bat with a statement of outstanding ranking : Stacy is one of the most exceptional students she's had in 15 years of teaching. A statement like this is pretty extraordinary and will make an impact in the mind of its readers. Stacy sounds like a special student, and she chose her recommender well.

Like in the last example, this letter uses strong, specific language , calling Stacy a perceptive and sharp person who has the confidence and good humor to take intellectual risks. Through its accurate and expressive language, this letter helps Stacy come to life in the mind of the reader.

Beyond the evaluation, Ms. Randall gives specific examples of Stacy's academic and personal strengths. She talks about her successful teaching in Robotics Club, her leadership in group projects, and her dedicated practice to teaching herself to play the guitar.

Rather than spreading the letter too thin, Ms. Randall highlights a few core themes. She connects Stacy's love of music with her passion for physics by talking about the frequency-dependent sound absorption project. All the threads tie together in a nice, memorable bow.

This letter is a strong vote of support for Stacy's application to an engineering program. Her physics teacher admires Stacy's skills and goals, and she made it clear that Stacy had her highest recommendation in this letter.

This next example also comes from a teacher who's extremely impressed with his student. It focuses on the student's performance in class and his volunteer work outside the classroom.

body_map-1

Sample Letter #3: William the History Buff and Social Organizer

Dear Admissions Committee, It is hard to overstate the meaningful contributions that William has made to our school and surrounding community. As both his 10th and 11th grade History teacher, I've had the pleasure of seeing William make profound contributions both in and out of the classroom. His school and community service is motivated by a strong sense of social justice, which he informs through a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of historical trends and events. I can say with confidence that William is one of the most caring and driven students I've ever taught in my fifteen years at the school. As a child of immigrant parents, William is especially drawn to understand the immigrant experience. He produced an extraordinary semester-long research paper on the treatment of Japanese-Americans in the U.S. during WWII, in which he went beyond all expectations to conduct Skype interviews with relatives of his featured subjects to incorporate into his paper. William has a great capacity to draw connections between past and present and to ground his understanding of current issues in the context of historical events. He never retreats to a simple answer or explanation, but is comfortable dealing with ambiguity. William's fascination with U.S. and World History and skill for deep analysis have him an exemplary scholar, as a well as a motivated activist driven to promote civil rights and work towards social equity. In sophomore year, William noticed that the college planning seminars students attended included little information for first generation or immigrant students. Always thinking about how institutions can better serve people, William spoke with counselors and ESL teachers about his ideas to better support all students. He helped collect resources and design a college planning curriculum for immigrant and undocumented students to enhance their college access. He further helped organize a group that connected ESL students with native English speakers, stating his mission to be helping ELLs improve their English and increasing multicultural awareness and social cohesion at the school as a whole. William identified a need and worked with students and faculty alike to meet it in an extremely effective and beneficial way. Ever the history scholar, he did plenty of research to back up his ideas. William believes passionately in social progress and working for the common good. His own personal experiences, along with his profound grasp on social history, drive his advocacy work. He is a talented, intelligent student with the charisma, confidence, strong values, and respect for others to make a huge difference in the world around him. I'm looking forward to seeing all the good that William continues to do for his fellow humanity in college and beyond, as well as the excellent work that he will produce at the college level. William has my highest recommendation. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected]. Sincerely, Mr. Jackson History Teacher Martin Luther King, Jr. High School

Mr. Jackson's letter makes William sound like a pretty amazing student and person. How does he go about expressing his admiration for William in this rec letter?

body_mlk

Like Ms. Randall did in her letter, Mr. Jackson provides a statement of outstanding ranking for William, calling him one of the most caring and driven students he's ever taught. Considering his long teaching career of 15 years, this says a lot about William as a student and a person.

Also like in the last example, Mr. Jackson focuses on a few core aspects of William's character. He talks about his love of history and how it informs his social activism. He comments on his exceptional historical scholarship, as well as his personal qualities of caring for those around him and working for the social good.

Mr. Jackson also gives insight into William's personal life , explaining how he has a personal connection to his projects and volunteer work as the child of immigrant parents. This letter reveals that William is a thoughtful, motivated individual who connects his own experiences with his learning and desire to contribute to his community.

The letter also showcases William's exceptional accomplishments by giving specific examples of William's research paper and his work supporting the academic and personal needs of ELL students. Mr. Jackson expresses his enthusiastic recommendation while illuminating William's love of learning and strength of character. This letter would be both impressive and memorable to admissions officers considering William for admission to their school.

This next example comes from a math teacher. Let's see what Mr. Wiles has to say about Joe.

body_hardwork

Sample Letter #4: Joe the Hard Worker

Dear Admissions Committee, It is my pleasure to recommend Joe, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Joe demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout the year and brought a great energy to class. He has that combination of a positive attitude and the belief that he can always improve that's rare in a high school student, but so essential to the learning process. I am confident that he will continue to display the same commitment and diligence in everything he does. I highly recommend Joe for admission to your school. Joe would not describe himself as a math person. He's told me on several occasions that all the numbers and variables make his mind go fuzzy. Joe did, in fact, struggle to comprehend the material at the beginning of the year, but his response to this is what really struck me. Where so many others have given up, Joe took on this class as a welcome challenge. He stayed after school for extra help, got extra tutoring at the nearby college, and asked questions in and out of class. Due to all his hard work, Joe not only raised his grades, but he also inspired some of his classmates to stay after for extra help, as well. Joe truly demonstrated a growth mindset, and he inspired his peers to adopt that valuable perspective, too. Joe helped contribute to our classroom environment as one where all students can feel supported and able to ask questions. Joe's strong belief in his ability to acquire new skills and improve through practice was likely shaped by his years as a baseball player. He's played all through high school and is one of the team's most valuable players. In his final for our class, Joe designed an impressive project calculating and analyzing batting averages. While he initially described himself as not a math person, Joe reaped the benefits of his tremendous effort and found a way to make the subject come alive for him in a way that he was personally invested in. As a teacher, it is incredibly fulfilling to witness a student make this kind of academic and personal progress. Joe is a trustworthy, reliable, good-humored student and friend who supports others in and out of the classroom. He was a pleasure to have in class, and his positive attitude and belief in himself, even in the face of difficulty, is an immensely admirable asset. I'm confident that he will continue to demonstrate the same diligence, perseverance, and optimism that he showed myself and his peers. I highly recommend Joe for admission to your undergraduate program. Please feel free to contact me with any further questions at [email protected]. Sincerely, Mr. Wiles Math Teacher Euclid High School

While the students featured in the first three examples were top of their class or demonstrated leadership in the school, Joe isn't a top achiever in the traditional sense. However, this recommendation is still a strong one, even if it says he struggled in the teacher's class. What does Mr. Wiles focus on to recommend Joe?

body_growthmindset

Mr. Wiles writes a strong letter for Joe, with the same kind of enthusiasm and specific examples as the other three letters. Even though Joe may not have gotten the strongest grades in his math class, he found an enthusiastic recommender in his math teacher. Mr. Wiles was extremely impressed with Joe's attitude, effort, and growth mindset , which he demonstrated throughout the year and inspired in his fellow classmates.

Mr. Wiles focuses on Joe's substantial personal strengths, ones that would likely be impressive to his future educators. Even in a subject that may not come naturally to him, Joe is diligent and committed. He's not self-conscious about asking questions or seeking extra help, and he retains a strong belief in himself that he can continuously learn, improve, and acquire new skills.

This letter, like the others, is effective because it is focused, supportive, and backed up with examples. As you can tell from these examples, recommendations can communicate a great deal about a student. Because of this, they can have a powerful impact on a student's chances of admission. So what can teachers and students do to make sure they are sending a strong recommendation letter that will help their chances?

body_excitedkid

Enthusiasm is key.

How to Get a Strong Recommendation Letter

While these letters are about different students with different interests, they share certain fundamental features. One, they sound excited and enthusiastic. The teachers clearly communicate that they are impressed by these students and eager to help them get into college.

At the same time, the letters don't go overboard because they have examples to back up their assessments. Specific examples and stories are key for backing up the assessment. Plus, they make a letter more interesting and memorable. Rather than just another engineering applicant, Stacy is the student who researched sound-absorption to spare her parents from hours of guitar scales.

Finally, the teachers all discuss their students' personal strengths , along with their academic strengths. They present the holistic view that admissions officers are looking for, along with their strong vote of confidence in the students' future success.

Teachers should incorporate all these features into their letters, and students should help provide them with the raw material to write about. While students should choose a teacher who knows them well and has stories and observations to share, they should also give their teachers a detailed "brag sheet" and let them know what would go into their ideal letter. That way it can be even more personalized and complement the story the student is telling in the rest of her application.

While recommenders may or may not share their letters with students, there should still be open, two-way communication when the student makes her request . That way students and teachers can work together to produce an insightful, enthusiastic, and specific letter of recommendation to send to colleges.

What's Next?

Are you a teacher writing recommendations for your students? Read all about how to write an outstanding recommendation letter for your students , along with what not to include.

Are you or a student you work with applying to a selective school, like Harvard? Learn about what kind of letter she should get for the Ivy League.

Now that you've read these examples of strong teacher recommendation letters, check out these examples of bad ones . Warning: rec letters may appear better than they actually are.

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Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter and Why You Need One

Posted: April 18, 2023 | Author: Clare-Estelle Perkins | Read Time: 3 minutes

How to ask for a recommendation letter

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

A letter of recommendation is essentially someone's assessment of you and your potential. A writer lists your strengths and weaknesses so a potential employer or college/institution can have an idea of you and whether or not they want to admit you to their team.

Why are Letters of Recommendation Important?

Letters of recommendation are used for all sorts of professional advancement. Whether you are applying to a school, a new job, or a career position, letters of recommendation provide valuable information that may not be obvious from your application alone. That is why getting quality letters of recommendation is so important.

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter

Requesting a letter of recommendation can be an uncomfortable thing. You are asking a person of authority to write a good review of you. You want to ask someone who you have a positive relationship with, someone who may also be invested in your success. This ensures that you will more likely be painted in a good light. You can request a letter of recommendation from a teacher, a coach, a previous employer, or an ecclesiastical endorser. Here are some tips for requesting a letter of recommendation:

  • Be straightforward. This is not a time to beat around the bush; that may only make it more uncomfortable. Tell them you need a professional letter of recommendation for your application and that you would be grateful if they wrote you one.
  • Let the person know why you are requesting this recommendation from them. For example, maybe you look up to them or you value their professional opinion.
  • Provide all the information. Explain the details of the application and be sure to clarify the deadlines to your writer. That being said, make sure to give them a generous amount of time before the deadline. Sometimes professionals are extremely busy so you may have to remind them. It is also a good idea to reach out to more recommenders just in case someone does not respond in time.
  • Try to include mentionable instances or talking points. Make an example of a work experience/career highlight or one of your positive personality traits to help get the ball rolling.
  • Offer to write a simple letter yourself. This sounds especially strange but happens more often than you’d think. These people of authority in your life are most often very busy. You could suggest that you write the letter, send it to them, and if they agree with what you wrote, they could sign it. If they agree with the things you wrote and decide to sign off on it, send it with your application.

A letter of recommendation can really help you in your job search and in your academic applications. Employers and admissions officers know what kind of person they want for their institution and a letter of recommendation sheds light on who you are. The more recommendations you can get, the better!

Learn more about recommendation letters, writing your resume, and other professional resources from the SUU Career and Professional Development Center .

Tags: Student CurStu Career Center

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  • The Graduate School
  • Application Materials

application of recommendation letter

When you apply to the Graduate School, you'll submit transcripts and a statement of purpose. You'll also provide information regarding letters of recommendation. Check the information page for the graduate program you're interested in for details on additional requirements, such as a writing sample, test score or audition.

To help make the application process as smooth as possible, we encourage you to create an electronic file folder to hold your application materials. When you add a file to the folder, take care to name it appropriately. For example, save your GRE score to a file named "GRE for NIU."

Transcripts

You should upload a transcript and proof of degree from each college and university you've attended (except for community colleges from which you transferred courses for a four-year degree). Completed degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution or one with equivalent international recognition. Current or former NIU students do not need to send NIU transcripts if their transcripts are in the NIU portal. However, you may need to provide transcripts from all other colleges attended.

  • Failure to upload proper academic records will delay consideration of your application and incur additional costs.
  • If you're admitted, you'll be required to submit official transcripts and proof of degree.

Please note: International students should review additional information about transcripts.

Letters of Recommendation

You must provide names and email addresses of referees, people who will write letters of recommendation for you. Letters should describe your academic ability and goals, as well as your ability to succeed in your chosen program. Submit only the number of letters required for your program.

  • Ask your referees if they're willing to write a letter for you. Tell them what program you plan to apply to and the due date for the letter (the application deadline).
  • Enter the referees' names and email addresses on the application. You can then trigger emails to the referees requesting the letters. Be sure to submit your application as soon as possible after triggering the emails to your referees.
  • Make sure your referees' email addresses are not designed to block emails from unknown or unapproved senders. Services such as Sendio and Boxbe will block emails from our application system. We cannot respond to requests to be an approved sender.
  • When you apply, you must indicate if you wish to waive your right to see the letters. Some referees will only consent to write a letter if you waive your right to see it. If you plan to retain your right to read the letter, talk to your referee first.

Statement of Purpose

Your statement of purpose, or personal statement, should be approximately 250 to 750 words in length. It should outline your preparation for graduate study in your chosen field, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. It should also explain why you believe the program at NIU can best help you meet those goals.

Test Scores

The program you're applying to may require you to submit an unofficial copy of your GRE, GMAT or MAT score.

  • When preparing your score report for upload, be sure that your name and all scores are legible.
  • If you're admitted, you must have your test score sent to NIU from the testing center. When having your GRE score sent, use institution code 1559. NIU does not require department codes; neither does the testing center.

Please note : International students should review additional information about test scores.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Though not required, you may wish to submit a resume or curriculum vitae. The document should outline your education, work experience and other achievements that show your ability to complete your chosen program.

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How to request letters of recommendation for nursing school

application of recommendation letter

Congratulations on your decision to go back to school to get another nursing degree ! It’s a big life move and we know it’s not one that’s made lightly. But now that you’ve made your decision, you have to complete your applications. A common requirement of nursing school applicants is to provide one or more letters of recommendation from someone who can attest to your ability to complete the program and pursue a career in the field of nursing . How do you decide who to ask? What if you haven’t been to school in a long time? What if you took a break from nursing and now are getting back into the workforce? We have advice for all of these situations and more.

Getting started on your application

The first step you need to take in your plan for applying to nursing school is to read closely through all the requirements of your various nursing school applications. While some schools may be ok with your recommendations coming from anyone, others will require you to supply at least one letter to come from a previous faculty member or supervisor. You should also determine the maximum number of letters you require in order to plan on how many people to ask. It can be helpful to create a timeline or set due dates for yourself so that you make sure you get all of your application tasks done on time and also leave ample time for your letter writers to do their part.

Who should you ask for letters of recommendation for nursing school?

In most cases letters of recommendation for nursing school can come from your:

  • Current and former supervisors
  • Former professors or instructors
  • Current and former coworkers

In some cases a personal reference like a mentor could be applicable.

You’re looking for someone who can attest to your:

  • Commitment to nursing
  • Practical knowledge of the field
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Ability to successfully complete the program–especially as an online learner
  • Assets as a student to the institution

Think about your letters of recommendation as backing up or providing validation for the information you’ve given in your other application materials like your resume or personal statement. If you’re submitting more than one letter of reference for your nursing program, consider the different perspectives each writer could provide. For example your coworker could be well-meaning but not make a convincing argument for why you’ll be a good online student , but a former professor (whether their class was online or in-person) certainly could.

Prepare your letter writers

Once you’ve selected the individuals whom you’d like to have write your letters, reach out to them with a politely-worded request. Depending on your relationship with each writer you might want to ask in person, over the phone or via an email. Make sure to provide information about the program and why you’re taking it, your admissions timeline, instructions for the writer to submit their letter and what skills or experiences you’d like them to speak to. It might be a good idea to give a former professor examples of papers you wrote or projects you completed in their class, or provide a supervisor with a list of professional accomplishments you want them to illustrate in their letter. Always include a copy of your resume and a link to the program’s website or a one-pager describing the program for your writers to reference.

What should your letters of recommendation say about you?

Consider the traits the school you’re applying to puts value on through their mission statement, partnerships, website, and other promotional materials. Does the university dedicate a lot of resources to health equity projects? Is the nursing program focused on research? Are you planning to enroll in a certain specialization? Advise your recommendation writers to position you within their letters as a student fitting those criteria and having relevant interests or career goals.

Considerations for common situations:

  • For individuals returning to the nursing field after a break: Advise your recommendation letter writers speak to your prior experience but also your excitement and motivation to get back to nursing. They might also include relevant details about what you were doing in the interim whether it was caring for children or another family member, volunteering, or working in another capacity that strengthened your understanding of health care, your problem-solving skills, and so on.
  • For individuals who haven’t been to school in a long time: While you may not have a close relationship with a college professor from your previous school experience, you could still get a recommendation from the nurse education coordinator at your work. You may also have a supervisor who can speak to your consistent demonstration of a desire to learn and improve your skills through CEUs and other opportunities.
  • For individuals with limited professional nursing experience: Education is a clear and common path to professional development for nurses, so it’s not totally unusual to continue your academic journey even early on in your career. Make sure you have at least one recommender who can speak to your professional experience and maybe explain why you’re eager to get back to school. Also consider if this is really the time to go back to school. On top of licensure, nursing schools require a certain number of CEUs and/or hours of clinical practice experience for application so make sure you meet those requirements before applying.

Keeping things on track

As you’re working through the application process, use a checklist to make sure you’ve completed the necessary tasks. Make a timeline and keep important dates on your calendar. You should also schedule reminders to check in with your letter writers to make sure they’re on-schedule and have everything they need. Last but not least: write thank you notes for each writer once they’ve submitted your letters of recommendation.

Ready to start your application to nursing school?

Don’t wait to get in touch with your writers! While you can complete the other parts of the application on your own, your letters of recommendation require other people to generously spend their time helping you. You can find all the information you need about Oklahoma City University’s online RN-BSN and online MSN programs at our website but you can also reach out to an Admissions Advisor for more information and to get help with completing your application.  

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5 sample letter of recommendation for students

5 sample letter of recommendation for students

When your students start their college and higher education applications, they are likely to ask you for a letter of recommendation.

Generally, a letter of recommendation provides an overview and a positive case for a student's higher education application. Often, teachers and educators provide these letters for college and university applications.

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A letter of recommendation is important for colleges to see because it provides the admissions officers with an all-around view of the student. Institutions must get as clear a view as possible of a possible student.

Table of Contents

What to include in a letter of recommendation, how to write a recommendation letter for a student, 1. what is a recommendation letter for student, 2. how to start a letter of recommendation for a student, 3. how to write a reference letter for a student for university.

In this article, we share three strong examples of positive letters of recommendation that focus on different student strengths. Also, we outline what makes a strong letter and tips on how to form a strong recommendation for your students.

Also read: How to Write a Letter of Recommendation?

Firstly, we explain what you should generally include in any letter of recommendation. When writing your letter, try to include the following features.

  • Your contact information.
  • The date of writing.
  • Contact information of the admissions officer or institution.
  • A formal greeting.
  • An introduction of your role and relationship with a student.
  • Explanations of the student’s strengths and recommendations for them.
  • Short real-life examples about the student.
  • A conclusion and summary of recommendations.
  • Closing paragraph and signature.

Also read: Best Letter of Recommendation Format

Writing a recommendation letter for student requires careful thought and a detailed assessment of the student's abilities, achievements, and character.

Follow these steps to write an effective recommendation letter:

1. Introduction and salutation

Begin with a formal salutation, addressing the recipient (e.g., "To Whom It May Concern" or use the specific recipient's name if known). Introduce yourself and your relationship to the student, mentioning the capacity in which you know them (e.g., teacher, supervisor, counsellor).

2. State your support

Express your willingness to write the recommendation and state your overall support for the student's application, scholarship, or opportunity they are pursuing.

3. Provide specific details

Offer specific examples of the student's achievements, skills, and qualities that make them a strong candidate. Mention academic performance, leadership roles, extracurricular activities, projects, or any other relevant accomplishments.

4. Highlight personal qualities

Discuss the student's character, work ethic, interpersonal skills, and any personal qualities that make them stand out. Provide anecdotes or examples that illustrate their strengths and positive traits.

5. Explain relationship and observation period

Describe the duration and context of your relationship with the student to establish your credibility as a recommender.

6. Conclude with a strong recommendation

Summarise your recommendation and state your confidence in the student's potential for success in the desired opportunity.

“Writing an effective recommendation letter for a student involves assessing their abilities, achievements, and character.”

Positive letter of recommendation samples

Here, we share some positive letter of recommendation samples to give you an idea of the content, tone and layout of the document. Also, we provide a short analysis of the good parts of each letter.

These letters are generally positive and should focus on a student's pros and key achievements at school.

Sam Smith (Teacher at School or College)

135 Main Street, Central Town, 77016, Texas

123-123-1234

[email protected]

Monday 5th September 2022

Admissions Committee

University of Texas, Austin

Inner Campus Dr., Austin

78712; Texas

Dear Admissions Committee,

As John Jones’ teacher, I formally recommend this student for the English undergraduate course at the University of Texas, Austin. 

I have taught John in English classes for the past two years and he has been an impressive, creative and hard-working student. John has also displayed a high level of maturity and intellect in English as well as a strong enthusiasm to learn more in this subject.

On many occasions, John has displayed his strengths and talent for English. For example, he wrote an excellent analytical essay about the themes in John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ that used strong examples from the text to highlight his arguments. John also displayed excellent teamwork and leadership skills when completing a group project about ‘The Great Gatsby.

John has also contributed to the wider school community on many occasions. This year, he helped to organise a charity fun run to raise money for various charities. The event was well received by staff, parents and students and John received praise for his role in setting up and collecting donations during the event.

I have no hesitation in recommending John for the English undergraduate course at the University of Texas, Austin. I am confident he would achieve well on the course and be an asset to your institution.

If you have any further questions, please contact me at 123-123-1234.

Yours sincerely,

Overall, this sample letter has everything needed for a strong recommendation. It highlights many of the student's academic achievements, showing they are ready for undergraduate study.

Also, the teacher uses real-life examples, such as specific essay writing skills and strong extra-curricular achievements. These help to provide a rounded and positive picture of this student.

The tone is positive and the teacher indicates that they know the applicant as both a student and as a person outside of classes.

Iowa University

52242, Iowa

With great pleasure, I recommend Sarah Jones for admission to the Mathematics course and Iowa University. 

Sarah has been in my mathematics class this year and teaching her has been a privilege. She is a determined student that always gives 100% for every task and she regularly shows an understanding of math topics at an advanced level. 

On many occasions, Sarah has shown a willingness to go beyond her class time to improve her math knowledge. For instance, Sarah helped her peers set up a group study programme to help each other revise and prepare for upcoming examinations. This showed initiative, helpfulness and maturity.

Beyond her academic studies, Sarah is an active participant in wider school life. Throughout her time at this school, she has taken part in athletics competitions and events and also coached the younger students on occasion. Furthermore, she has received various awards for playing the trumpet in the school band and she took part in a trip to perform at the local concert hall that parents and teachers praised. 

I do not doubt that Sarah would be a positive and enthusiastic student at Iowa University. She is a student with many skills that would help her to succeed at the undergraduate level.

For any further information or questions, please contact me at 123-123-1234

Yours Sincerely,

This letter of recommendation focuses on the student's ability to go the extra mile to succeed in their studies. It also highlights ways the student worked hard to improve academic grades and standards.

In addition, it looks at the student’s strengths in terms of extra-curricular activities and achievements. This shows how recommendations can pick key events and examples from a student’s time at school that will be useful at university.

Overall, the tone is very formal and it highlights how the student is a proactive member of the school community.

Northeastern Illinois University

5500 N St Louis Ave

60625, Illinois

I am writing to you today to provide my recommendation for Steven Sawyer to complete the BA in Justice Studies at Northeastern University, Illinois.

I have taught Steven in English for the last two years and he is a dedicated student who is committed to pursuing a long-term career in law. Steven has demonstrated many academic and personal skills that would help him to complete the Justice Studies course.

In my classes, Steven has shown advanced analytical skills when looking at evidence and arguments in various high-level literature. This included unpicking the strengths and weaknesses in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, which Steven put into a compelling argument in his essay on the topic. Also, he has regularly shown confidence to read passages in class and when presenting arguments and ideas in written and spoken form. 

Outside of our English classes, Steven has shown a dedication to a career in law by volunteering at a local law firm during the school holidays. This shows how committed he is to achieve in this career path. Steven has also taken a lead role in the debate club to further his presentation and analysis skills.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Steven for the BA Justice Studies course at Northeastern University. He has regularly demonstrated the skills and desire to enroll on this course and he would bring passion to his studies at your institution.

Please contact me at 123-123-1234 for any questions or queries.

This example shows how a letter of recommendation can focus on a student’s commitment to a particular area of study or career. At various points, the writer highlights the dedication of the student to start a career in law. This is shown by specific examples in academic achievements, such as strong analytical skills and communication.

However, the letter still focuses on some examples that highlight the student’s personality and interests. For instance, it praises the student’s involvement in extracurricular clubs to show an engagement in activities outside of academia.

Emily Turner

English Department Head (Acme Academy)

789 Oak Street Citysville, Stateville 12345 

[email protected] 

(555) 987-6543

August 1, 2023

Admissions Committee 

ABC University

456 University Avenue Townsville, Stateville 67890

Subject: Strong Recommendation for Admission to ABC University - Jake Smith

I am thrilled to provide a strong letter of recommendation for Jake Smith, a graduating senior at Acme Academy. I have had the pleasure of teaching Jake in my English classes for the past two years, and I am confident that he will be a remarkable addition to ABC University's academic community.

Jake Smith is an outstanding student and an exceptional individual. He is graduating in the top 5% of his class with a cumulative GPA of 4.0, making him one of the most accomplished students in his cohort. His dedication to academics is evident in his consistent high performance, and he consistently impresses both his peers and teachers with his analytical abilities and insightful contributions to class discussions.

What sets Jake apart from his peers is his unwavering passion for literature and writing. His essays and creative pieces demonstrate a depth of thought and originality that are rarely seen at his age. Whether it's analysing complex literary works or crafting captivating narratives, Jake exhibits an exceptional command of language and storytelling.

Beyond his academic achievements, Jake is an active participant in several extracurricular activities. He serves as the President of the School Debate Club, showcasing his exceptional leadership and public speaking skills. He is also a member of the community service organisation, volunteering regularly and displaying a strong sense of civic responsibility.

Jake's character is equally impressive. He is a compassionate and empathetic individual who genuinely cares about the well-being of others. He is often seen assisting his classmates, both academically and emotionally, and his positive influence on the school community is palpable.

Considering Jake's exceptional academic record, passion for literature, leadership abilities, and outstanding character, I have no hesitation in recommending him for admission to ABC University. I firmly believe that Jake will thrive in your rigorous academic environment and will make a significant positive impact on your campus community.

I am confident that Jake Smith's potential as a scholar and a leader will continue to shine brightly at ABC University. If you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (555) 987-6543.

Thank you for considering Jake's application to ABC University. I am certain that he will be an asset to your institution and will contribute greatly to the university's legacy.

Emily Turner English Department Head Acme Academy

The above recommendation letter sample for student provides a comprehensive and specific evaluation of the student, Jake Smith, highlighting his academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, leadership abilities, and character traits.

Dr. Sarah Johnson

Principal Researcher Tech Innovators Lab

321 Tech Street Innovation City, Stateville 98765

[email protected]

(555) 123-7890

Scholarship Committee

Bright Future Scholarship Foundation

789 Scholarship Avenue Opportunityville, Stateville 54321

Subject: Strong Recommendation for the Bright Future Scholarship - Lisa Thompson

Dear Scholarship Committee,

I am delighted to provide a strong letter of recommendation for Lisa Thompson, a remarkable student with whom I have had the privilege of working closely at the Tech Innovators Lab. It is my pleasure to endorse Lisa for the Bright Future Scholarship, as I believe she embodies the ideals and aspirations the scholarship aims to support.

Lisa Thompson is a high-achieving senior and aspiring computer scientist. Over the past two years, she has been actively involved in our research projects focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Lisa's academic performance has been outstanding, consistently earning top grades in advanced math and computer science courses. Her exceptional problem-solving skills and analytical thinking make her an exceptional candidate for this scholarship.

Beyond her academic prowess, Lisa has actively engaged in extracurricular activities related to her field of interest. She is the co-founder of the Women in Technology Club at our school, where she encourages and empowers young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her leadership in this initiative has had a positive impact on the school community, promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology sector.

Lisa possesses remarkable interpersonal skills and has proven herself to be a valuable team player. She excels at collaborating with fellow researchers, displaying strong communication and project management abilities. Her contributions to our research projects have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of AI applications in various industries.

In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Lisa's character is exemplary. She is compassionate, empathetic, and always willing to lend a helping hand to her peers. Her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others is commendable and aligns perfectly with the values of the Bright Future Scholarship.

I wholeheartedly recommend Lisa Thompson for the Bright Future Scholarship. Her passion for computer science, outstanding academic achievements, leadership, and commitment to promoting diversity in technology make her a deserving candidate for this scholarship. I have no doubt that she will make significant contributions to the field of computer science and bring positive change to society.

If you require any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or (555) 123-7890.

Thank you for considering Lisa Thompson's application for the Bright Future Scholarship. I am confident that she will make the most of this opportunity and continue to shine as a future leader in the tech industry.

Dr. Sarah Johnson 

Principal Researcher 

Tech Innovators Lab

The sample letter of recommendation for student provides a comprehensive evaluation of the student, Lisa Thompson, emphasising her academic excellence in computer science, leadership qualities, and commitment to promoting diversity in the technology field. The recommender offers specific examples of Lisa's achievements in research and her involvement in the Women in Technology Club, highlighting her exceptional problem-solving skills and interpersonal abilities. 

The letter convincingly endorses Lisa's character, emphasising her compassion and empathy. Overall, the detailed assessment and enthusiastic endorsement make this letter a compelling recommendation for the Bright Future Scholarship, showcasing Lisa as a highly deserving candidate with the potential to excel in the tech industry and positively impact society.

Also read: What do you need to do after getting a conditional letter?

When writing a letter of recommendation, ensure you focus on the positives. Also, you must pick two to three of the student’s strong traits. Then, try to recount some key examples where they have demonstrated these skills.

Overall, the letter aims to help your student to stand out to the Admissions Committee. Keeping the letter short, to the point and clear helps the committee to get a snapshot of the student’s capabilities and personality.

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Frequently asked questions

A recommendation letter for student is a reference letter written by a teacher, counsellor, employer, or mentor that evaluates the abilities, achievements, character, and potential of the student.

To start a letter of recommendation for a student, you should address the recipient with a formal salutation and then introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the student, mentioning the capacity in which you know them (e.g., teacher, supervisor, advisor).

To write a reference letter for a student for university, start with a formal salutation, and introduce yourself and your role in the student's life. Mention the duration you have known the student and provide specific examples of the student's academic achievements, skills, and qualities that make them stand out. End the letter with a positive and confident recommendation.

Unlock your potential with a standout Letter of Recommendation. Learn how to secure compelling endorsements that make you shine.

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IMAGES

  1. 43 FREE Letter of Recommendation Templates & Samples

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  2. 43 FREE Letter of Recommendation Templates & Samples

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  3. FREE 9+ Example of Recommendation Letters Samples in PDF

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  4. FREE 7+ Sample Job Recommendation Letter Templates in PDF

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  5. 30 Free Letters Of Recommendation For Graduate School

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  6. Free College Recommendation Letter Template

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COMMENTS

  1. Letter of Recommendation: How to Write + Samples & Templates

    Following these steps will help you create a compelling letter that's sure to be an important part of your recommendee's application. 1. Include a heading for a letter of recommendation. The heading that appears at the top of your recommendation letter should include your name and contact details.

  2. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (Template + Tips)

    Letters of recommendation help round out an application. They do this by offering insight into an applicant's personal qualities like integrity, intellectual curiosity, or leadership potential. Writing a strong letter of recommendation as a teacher, counselor, manager, or co-worker can help give an applicant an edge over their competition.

  3. How To Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Example)

    Letter of recommendation format. Your letter of recommendation should include five items: A brief introduction stating who you are, your relationship to the applicant and your personal experience or expertise. An overview of the applicant's strengths as you've experienced them and as they relate to the recipient.

  4. Letter of Recommendation Template (With Examples)

    Download a recommendation letter template (compatible with Google Docs or Word) or read the example below. This letter template shows the format of a typical letter of reference for employment or educational purposes. The format is appropriate for an employment reference, as well as a reference for college or graduate studies.

  5. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

    The body of your letter should reference the skills, qualities, areas of knowledge, and other assets of the person you are recommending. Start by making a list of the strengths which you would like to convey in your recommendation. Then compose sentences that show proof of your assertions—this will make your letter more credible.

  6. How to ask for a letter of recommendation (with examples)

    Employment recommendation letters are typically used to apply for a new job or to help you get a promotion. They are sent to potential employers or hiring managers in addition to your job application. Because letters of recommendation help make a good first impression, they can create opportunities for your career development and 5 year plan.

  7. How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (Template + Tips)

    With a bit of preparation, you can maximize your chances of getting stellar recommendations. 1. Choose who you want to write your letters. The most effective recommendation will come from someone who knows you well and can speak to your character on a personal level. Make a list of several people who you could ask.

  8. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

    Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application Tip #4. List the Candidate's Achievements Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter Recommendation Letter FAQ Key Takeaways Related Articles.

  9. How (and Who) to Ask For a Letter of Recommendation

    Table of contents. Step 1: Choose who to ask. Step 2: Reach out and request a meeting. Step 3: Ask for a letter of recommendation. Step 4: Share your resume and other materials. Step 5: Remind your recommenders of upcoming deadlines. Other interesting articles.

  10. How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation For A College Application

    Letters of recommendation are crucial to the college application process at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. As a teacher, professor, employer or mentor, you can attest to an ...

  11. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

    Keep it to approximately the same length as a cover letter: a few tight, focused paragraphs that express your point without fluff. Tone-wise, a letter of recommendation should be professional. Write it in the same tone you would use to write an email to a professional contact or a reference letter.

  12. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

    1. Recommendation letter for a job. It's my pleasure to recommend [Person's name] for the Data Scientist role at X Company. I was [Person's name] supervisor from 2011-2021 and valued their deep knowledge of software programs, time management skills, and prior experience.

  13. 9 Sample Excellent Recommendation Letters for Your Job

    Below are nine sample recommendation letters, each followed by an analysis of what it does well! Sample Recommendation Letter 1: Written by a Direct Manager for a Full-Time Employee. Sample Recommendation Letter 2: Written by a Principal for a Teacher. Sample Recommendation Letter 3: Written by a Direct Manager for a Part-Time Employee.

  14. How to Write a Letter of Recommendation (Sample, Template, and ...

    A positive letter of recommendation can make a candidate's application stand out, and will give employers further insight into an individual's experience. Discover how to write a great recommendation letter, including formatting tips, an easy-to-use template and a sample for your reference.

  15. 14 Do's and Don'ts When Asking for Letters of Recommendation

    Here are seven don'ts to consider when asking someone to write you a letter of recommendation: 1. Use a reference without their permission. Before using someone as a reference on an application, make sure you ask them first. This step is a professional courtesy that shows the person you have respect for them.

  16. How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (With Templates)

    3 steps to politely request a letter of recommendation. Get buy-in from the person you are asking to write the letter of recommendation. Make the process of writing the letter of recommendation as easy as possible. Express gratitude after they have written the letter of recommendation and provide an update on the outcome of the application.

  17. How To Ask for a Letter of Recommendation (With Examples)

    A man is leaning back in a chair at a desk with a coffee mug and pen; there are papers in the background. There is a list titled "How To Ask for a Letter of Recommendation" and numbered steps: 1. Create a referral list of 5-10 individuals 2. Call each person on your list 3. Send a formal recommendation request 4. Send a thank you for each recommendation

  18. 43 FREE Letter of Recommendation Templates & Samples

    11 Letter of Recommendation Samples. 12 Writing Tips. 13 Conclusion. A previous colleague, employer, teacher, or client can provide a recommendation on your behalf. They can do this with a letter of recommendation by talking about the traits and skills that make them a good applicant for the job, college, or graduate program you're applying for.

  19. 5 Outstanding Recommendation Letter Samples (+ How to Write Your Own)

    Here are a few ways to make your letter of recommendation powerful. 1. Customize your letter to the job at hand. Just as a job seeker should customize their cover letter to each job they apply to, so too should you customize your letter of recommendation to the job at hand. If you send off a general letter without mentioning what job the ...

  20. Letter of Recommendation Examples for College Applicants

    Conclusion. The conclusion should summarize the letter and tie everything together, Jones says. This example, written from the perspective of a school counselor for the same fictitious student ...

  21. How To Write A Recommendation Letter (With Examples)

    Here are some steps to follow to create an effective recommendation letter: Follow traditional formal letter writing rules. Start with a brief opening line praising the candidate. Outline the letter's intent. Detail why the candidate is a good fit for the job. Provide specific examples and anecdotes.

  22. 4 Amazing Recommendation Letter Samples for Students

    Sample Letter #4: Joe the Hard Worker. Dear Admissions Committee, It is my pleasure to recommend Joe, who I taught in my 11th grade math class. Joe demonstrated tremendous effort and growth throughout the year and brought a great energy to class.

  23. How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter and Why You Need One

    Here are some tips for requesting a letter of recommendation: Be straightforward. This is not a time to beat around the bush; that may only make it more uncomfortable. Tell them you need a professional letter of recommendation for your application and that you would be grateful if they wrote you one. Let the person know why you are requesting ...

  24. Application Materials

    Application Materials. When you apply to the Graduate School, you'll submit transcripts and a statement of purpose. You'll also provide information regarding letters of recommendation. Check the information page for the graduate program you're interested in for details on additional requirements, such as a writing sample, test score or audition ...

  25. How to request letters of recommendation for nursing school

    In most cases letters of recommendation for nursing school can come from your: Current and former supervisors. Former professors or instructors. Current and former coworkers. In some cases a personal reference like a mentor could be applicable. You're looking for someone who can attest to your: Commitment to nursing.

  26. Get Accepted: What Looks Good On College Applications?

    A good college application should showcase strong grades, high test scores, volunteer or relevant work experience, compelling letters of recommendation and an honest and thoughtful personal essay.

  27. 5 Sample letter of recommendation for students

    State your support. Express your willingness to write the recommendation and state your overall support for the student's application, scholarship, or opportunity they are pursuing. 3. Provide specific details. Offer specific examples of the student's achievements, skills, and qualities that make them a strong candidate.

  28. Pre-Health

    The letters of recommendation portion of the pre-health application typically raises the most questions and takes the most time. It is the only part of the application that depends on the efforts of multiple busy professors and healthcare providers, not to mention the emailing and letter sending that must take place to get the package finalized.