Letter of Recommendation Template

If you have been approached to write a letter on behalf of someone but don't know how to proceed, a letter of recommendation template can help you to come up with something appropriate.

A recommendation letter can help someone get their next job.

If a person has performed well in a position and is leaving on good terms, then they may ask for a letter of recommendation. The individual may be a student who is returning to school or finishing an internship. In that situation, having a letter of recommendation may help them get hired for a permanent job by an employer.

Another situation where someone may want a letter of recommendation is when they are leaving because they are relocating to a different part of the country. They would be able to use the letter as a kind of calling card when applying for a job in the new city.

If you don't feel comfortable writing a letter of recommendation, then you shouldn't write one. If you weren't the person's supervisor, you may not feel that you know enough about their work habits to be able to comment on them in a written form.

A letter of recommendation should include some specific information about the person it is being written about. If it lacks details, it will not be a good indication of his or her character, skills, and abilities.

Instead of agreeing to write a letter you wouldn't feel good about signing, suggest that the person approach someone who knows them better and who would be able to provide them with a wholehearted recommendation.

If you are using a letter of recommendation template, you can either print off the letter using your company letterhead or by filling in the name and date information at the top of the letter as follows:

• [Writer's Name]
• [Street Address]
• [City, State, and Zip Code]

• [Date]

• [Recipient's Name]
• [Recipient's Street Address]
• [City, State and Zip Code]

[Salutation or if you don't know the name of the person who will be reading the letter you can use "To Whom it May Concern:]

[Re: Name of Person Receiving the Recommendation]

In the first paragraph, indicate the position you hold at your company and explain your relationship to the person who is the subject of the letter. Are you the hiring manager or the person's immediate supervisor? How long did you work with the person? You can also explain how long you have been with the company and how many employees you have hired or supervised during your time there. These details will help the reader to get a clearer idea of why you have the knowledge necessary to comment on the person's conduct and performance to a future employer.

In the second paragraph, you can go on to discuss the person's performance in the workplace. Make a point of mentioning his or her specific accomplishments while on the job. You can also discuss the person's character, focusing on his or her honesty, courtesy, integrity, etc. Use strong adjectives when describing the person's job performance; now is not the time to use words like nice, pleasant, or good. Instead, use terms like superior, strong, exemplary, confident, enthusiastic, etc.

The final paragraph is where you tell the reader that you would recommend that he or she hire this person. Offer to provide additional information, if necessary, and indicate how the reader can contact you to find out more by including your phone number and e-mail address.

Sincerely,

[Your Name and Title]

This letter of recommendation template can be used as a guide if you are asked to write one for an employee or a colleague. The important thing to keep in mind is to keep it simple and sincere for maximum impact.

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