Advice on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Writing a letter of recommendation can help a person get a job by showing their best qualities. When a person is asked to write a letter of recommendation they may not know what information they should include. There are some tips to help a person write a letter of recommendation that employers will take notice to.

Justify the Recommendation
Be specific as to why this person is great for the job. Avoid general states including the applicant is high qualified. Be specific about why they are qualified and what awards or accomplishments they have made. Always refer to the applicant by their name to show this letter was personalized for them. The reader will get to know the skills of the applicant and why they are a good choice for the job.

Do Not Be Brief
When writing a letter of recommendation it is not recommended to write only one or two paragraphs. If the letter is too short it may seem like the writer does not know the applicant too well and does not have too much to say about their skills and ability. The letter should point out the skills of the applicant but get to the main point as well.

State Qualifications

The person that is writing the letter of recommendation will often focus solely on the qualifications of the candidate. While this is important the writer also should include their own qualifications. This can be done is a short paragraph. The person reading the letter will then know that the write is qualified to give advice about the candidate.

Be Specific
Do not use general terms to describe qualifications. Instead of saying the person is a quick leaner give specific examples of how the person is able to learn quickly. Once the specific qualification is mentioned be sure to give examples.

Do Not Be Fake
Everyone has some short comings and employers know that no one is perfect. If a person does have a shortcoming this can be included in the letter of recommendation. Instead of saying that the applicant is not able to do something write about the what they are doing to improve this and become better. This will show that a person wants to do well and is not making them out to be fake.

Proofread
While this many sound basic many people do not proofread their work. When writing a letter of recommendation be sure that spelling and grammar is correct. If there are errors like this it will make the writer look like they are not qualified and make the applicant look unprofessional.

These are just some tips to use when writing a letter of recommendation. Every letter should be personalized to fit the skills of the candidate and get the attention of prospective employers.