Examples of Recommendation Letters

M.A., SPHR

Do you need to write a letter of recommendation for a former employee or a co-worker? A successful letter can help the person secure a job and can give the employer insight about the person's character and work ethic. Here are a few example documents that you can use as a starting point to create your own.

Five Example Recommendation Letters

One of the best ways to create a recommendation letter is to look at examples of ones previously written. You can tailor the letters for your own situation and needs.

1. Example Recommendation Letter - From Supervisor

Address Name:

Jane Doe was employed by ABC Company for a period of five years. I was her supervisor during the last four years of her employment.

During the time that Jane and I worked together, I found her to be very efficient and helpful. I could always count on Jane to pitch in where needed, often with very little notice.

While Jane was employed by ABC Company, she completely reorganized our filing system. Both management and fellow employees have commented on how the updated filing system has made it easier to find documents when needed.

Jane would be a valuable addition to any company she chooses to join, and I have no hesitation in recommending her highly.

Sincerely,

Edward Jones, Marketing Manager

2. Example Recommendation Letter - Sales Representative

Address Name:

I am very pleased to write this letter of recommendation on behalf of Roy Wallace. Roy was employed by our company as a sales representative from 2002-2007 and worked under my supervision during that time.

From the time that Roy started with the company, I was impressed with his drive, determination, and tenaciousness. He was hired to introduce our products to a new marketplace, and I am pleased to say that Roy met or exceeded his sales quota each year he was with us.

Roy is a very talented sales representative and I have no hesitation in recommending him highly.

Sincerely,

James Smith, Sales Manager

3. Example Recommendation Letter - Former Employer

Address Name:

I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Anthony Jones. Mr. Jones worked for me until two years ago. I was his direct supervisor at Marc Technologies from 2007-2009.

During his employment at the company, Mr. Jones went from a junior trainee to a program technician. He left our company to move on to another career elsewhere but always kept in touch.

Mr. Jones is a hard-working individual who knows how to get the job done quickly and effectively. He works well as a part of a team and can function as a leader when required. He has always exhibited superior communication skills and gets along well with staff and supervisors. He is highly respected by colleagues, customers and management.

When Mr. Jones left our company, we were all saddened to see him leave but wished him the greatest success with his new position. Based on my experience working with him, I can recommend him to you for your open position.

Sincerely,

Richard Francis, Senior Technician

4. Example Recommendation Letter - New Graduate/Former Intern

Address Name:

I have worked with Leticia Adams for more than a year during her internship in our marketing department. She has demonstrated wonderful initiative and a positive attitude. Both qualities have made her a valuable member of our team. It is with pride that I recommend her for your marketing associate position.

In addition to her general duties, Leticia revamped our dual database system to better facilitate advertising billing and measure effectiveness. She also identified a need for a stronger press release circulation system, researched the options and created a persuasive proposal that convinced the president of our organization to find the funds for the project. Leticia rarely had an idle moment - she always found some way to make things go more smoothly and did it all with a smile. We will sincerely miss her.

Leticia's attitude, application of effort and innovative spirit will be strong assets to your company. Please do not hesitate to call me if you'd like more information about this recommendation.

Most Sincerely,

Maxine Nichols, Marketing Project Coordinator

5. Example Recommendation Letter: Character Reference

Address Name:

I have been a close friend and business associate of Alonzo Garcia for more than four years. We've worked together and planned activities on such volunteer projects as our employer's United Way Campaign, the ALS Walk for Hope and the Everybody Wins reading mentorship program.

Alonzo has a generous spirit and is a loyal, positive individual. He's also the "go-to" guy in our office; people continually turn to him for extra help both personally and professionally. His strong work ethic has helped him achieve a number of successes in his career, but he still makes time to take his grandmother to dinner every Sunday, saying she's the reason he remembers "where he came from." That's a quality I've always admired. I trust him impeccably because frankly, he's never let me down. We also laugh together- a lot!

For all these reasons, I highly recommend Alonzo for the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Please call me if you need more information.

Sincerely,

Ryan Goldman

Tips for Writing a Letter of Recommendation

As these sample letters of recommendation demonstrate, key points to remember when drafting a letter of recommendation include:

Clarify the writer/applicant relationship.
Detail positive accomplishments, contributions and abilities.
Be complimentary, but not overly complimentary to where it seems inauthentic.

Be sure, of course, to customize any recommendation letter that you write to the particular person and situation. Use an appropriate business letter format and make sure that the finished document is professional looking and free from typographical errors, grammatical mistakes and inaccuracies.