A letter of recommendation is a document you may be asked to prepare for someone who is applying for a job, internship, college application, leadership position, or volunteer opportunity. The purpose of a recommendation letter is to validate what the employer has learned about the applicant and provide additional positive details about their performance or habits.

Things to include

Your letter of recommendation should include five items:

1.A brief introduction that states who you are, your relationship to the applicant, and your personal experience or expertise.

2.An overview of the applicant’s strengths as you’ve experienced them and as they relate to the recipient.

3.A personal story that elaborates on one to two traits the applicant possesses.

4.A closing statement that summarizes why the individual you are recommending would be a good fit for the opportunity.

5.A signature that includes your name and contact information.

Template

To Whom It May Concern:

It is my pleasure to strongly recommend [Applicant Name] for [Position With Company or Acceptance to Institution].

I am [Your Name], a [Your Position] at [Your Institution or Company]. I have [Number] years of experience working in [Your Industry or Academic Focus] and have seen many young professionals come and go. [Applicant Name] is one individual I have worked with who uniquely stands out.

During our time together, [Applicant Name] displayed great talents in [Skill, Trait, Experience, Class, etc.]. When we first met, I was immediately impressed with [Applicant’s Name], but during the time worked together, her understanding of [Key Topic] grew far more than that of her peers.

[Insert Personal Story Elaborating on Key Skills, Trait, Experience].

It’s not just her technical skills that impress me, however. [Applicant Name] was a joy to work with because of her amazingly positive attitude and [Positive Trait]. Her [Positive Trait] and [Positive Trait] were also necessary and valued not just by myself, but by her peers, who often relied on her to get the job done.

I am absolutely confident that [Applicant Name] would be a great fit for your [Institution/Company]. Not only will she bring the kind of skills and experiences you’re looking for in an applicant, but she will also quickly become an asset and help your [Institution/Company] grow in any way she can.

If you need more information or specific examples, please do not hesitate to contact me at [Contact Information]. As a recommendation letter likely only provides a snapshot of her talents and achievements, I would be happy to further elaborate on my time working with her.

Sincerely,

[Your Name, Company, and Title]