At some point in your life, you may need to write a letter of recommendation to an aspiring employee, colleague, student, or someone you know very well. Fulfilling a request of this nature for another person imposes a very serious responsibility and should be taken as seriously as possible.
This is a letter that gives positive feedback, recommendations to the person about whom it is written, and also advises the person to someone else. If you write a letter of recommendation to someone, then in a way you vouch, trust, give a guarantee for the person about whom you are writing it.
A letter of recommendation is usually requested for a student applying for programs of study from their most recent place of study or work, and a letter of recommendation may also be required for people applying for jobs. For example, those applying to business and management schools need two or three letters of recommendation explaining why the person is the best candidate for the position. A letter of recommendation for admission may explain why a student has leadership potential or what previous academic or business success they have had. Such letters are often requested from deans.
Some study or research fellowship programs require applicants to verify a letter of recommendation to a student in order to have their application accepted.
Job seekers also sometimes need recommendations that answer the question of why the applicant is the best candidate for a certain job or company. These letters mainly focus on professional qualities and candidate skills. Very often, a letter of recommendation may be asked for several days or weeks later, after the candidate’s application and resume have been confirmed.
Before you start writing
Before agreeing to this, clarify the purpose of the letter: who will receive it and who will read it. By defining your audience, it will be easier for you to write. Also determine the type of information required from you. For example, someone needs a letter highlighting leadership qualities this person, and you do not have any information about the person's leadership capabilities, you may face serious difficulties in writing. Or if you need a letter about work ethic qualities, but you write a letter about the candidate's teamwork skills, then the letter will not make sense.
If you don't have time or enough information to write a letter, you can ask the candidate to sign a letter he has prepared in advance. This practice is used very often and is beneficial for both parties. But before you sign anything written by someone else, make sure the letter honestly expresses your opinions and the candidate's skills. And be sure to keep a copy of the letter for your records.
A paragraph or sentence describing how you know the person and how long you have known the person.
Assessment of a person and his qualities. If possible, offer specific examples specific to this person that can reflect positive sides. Examples should be short but precise. A summary of why you recommend this person, and to what extent.
What can be included
- potential (for example, leadership);
- qualities/skills;
- endurance;
- motivation;
- character;
- contribution (to an institution or society);
- achievements.
Copy
Never copy text from another letter of recommendation, the letter you write must be new and original. A template letter of recommendation example can help you understand and focus on the topic and determine the type of letter of recommendation you need, and nothing more.
Why write a letter of recommendation if you are not the one getting the job or scholarship?
If you need to write a letter of recommendation from the company to an employee, then by fulfilling the request, you will thank him for all his contributions to the company and reward him for his efforts. This is a very good professional skill and a nice feeling that you helped someone get a job, as very often it depends on a recommendation.
Start with the address and greeting. Use your company letterhead to make the letter appear more formal. Write the date you wrote the letter on the first line, then write the recipient's name, position, and work address.
Name Patronymic name
Head of HR Department, Company Name LLC
Since this is a formal letter, it should begin with the address “Dear” and continue with the name and patronymic. In some areas, recruiters are very strict in relation to professional etiquette, so avoid informal greetings like “Hello.”
Write the correct introduction. Writing the first paragraph is very simple as you highlight the main details of your working relationship with the person you are recommending.
Include:
- your position in the company;
- the name of the person you recommend;
- his position;
- your relationship: boss or colleague;
- duration of cooperation.
“As a Project Coordinator for Company Name, I was a supervisor for (Recommended Name) from 2015 to 2018. We worked closely together on several startups, and I enjoyed working on a team with such an outstanding business analyst.”
Write quality text. The body of the text includes details of the skills, knowledge and achievements of the person you are recommending.
To keep the body of the letter concise, start with an area in which the person recommended is an expert, describing situations that demonstrate the qualities demonstrated in solving problems on the job. You can then select two or three traits that will make the candidate valuable as a potential employee.
Write your opinion about the candidate's qualities in the last paragraph of the letter. Employers hire candidates based not only on their technical skills, but also on qualities such as independence, initiative, honesty, etc. If you think these descriptions do not apply to your situation, try choosing from the following list:
- Good quality communication.
- Leadership.
- Creativity.
- Analytical thinking.
- Teamwork.
“Knowledge (name) about baby food and child psychology give her an advantage over other candidates for the position of nanny. She not only monitors children, but also works with them, performing various psychological tests with children, and applies an individual approach to each child. She is also an honest and trusted person who you can safely leave alone with children and not worry about their safety."
- attentive;
- responsible;
- punctual;
- honest.
“(Name) has excellent knowledge not only in the field of accounting, but also in the legal field, which helps reduce time in resolving controversial issues during the project, which is an excellent quality. (Name) is also a very loyal person, resolves all issues within his competence without reservations.”
“(Name) is very knowledgeable about banking transactions and accounting, and we have entrusted him with our bank's cash desk. Not a single inconsistency was found in the final reports. Thanks to his sociability, he spoke confidently and was polite to regular customers, and they made investments in the bank’s projects.”
In your summary paragraph, you can write why you would hire this person again, but only if you actually did it. If not, you can simply write the closing paragraph on a positive note, noting how valuable the employee's contribution was to the company. Invite the recipient to contact you for additional guidance or questions.
For example:
“Based on all the reasons described above, I give (name) the highest recommendation for the position of department head information technologies. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions."
“(Name) is one of those employees that I would rehire without hesitation. I am confident that she is an excellent graphic designer and will be a great member of your team. Please contact me if you have any questions.”
End with your own signature.
Don't just write "Yours Sincerely" preceding your name. Add your position, office mailing address, a work phone number to provide the recipient with options to contact you.
We hope that the article was able to answer all your questions and clarified the topic completely. Use the examples for a letter of recommendation from the article, adding your own words.
A letter of recommendation is a document that is perceived in two ways. In some companies it is treated as a relic from the past, in others (mostly in the West) it is a “start in life”, for example, for a student. One way or another, this application to your resume will not be superfluous.
Characteristic
A document written on behalf of the teacher might look something like this:
I, associate professor Alexey Petrovich Petrov, am a teacher of Alexander Dmitrievich Alekseev in the period 2009-2013. in the disciplines "International Tourism", "Ethics", "New Directions of Russian Tourism". During the training, I noted the high level of knowledge of Alexander Dmitrievich: written and oral exams passed with “excellent” marks; participation in city student conferences with reports: “Prospects for the development of tourism in Murmansk”, “Regional tourism reaching the international level”, “Development extreme tourism in the field"; successful completion of educational and practical training in travel agencies"Russia Tour", "Around the World" as a manager.
Alexander Dmitrievich is my graduate student, his project " Rural tourism in the Murmansk region: development prospects" was awarded a unanimous rating of "5". The student conducted his research on the basis of personally collected data and surveys, which gives his work great value.
I am confident that Alexander Dmitrievich Petrov will prove himself in his future workplace as an proactive, responsible, creative employee.
- The high status of the referent, as well as mention of his personal acquaintance with the bearer.
- Inclusion of opinions “from the outside”: the student’s classmates, teachers, dean’s office.
- Specific examples of a student's achievements are a minimum of unfounded laudatory characteristics.
- The mentioned successes should resonate with the specifics of the position being sought.
- Description of both professional, business and personal qualities.
A letter of recommendation is a document that can help an applicant, especially abroad. Its substantive, stylistically correct, well-founded content often serves as the main factor for the employer’s decision-making.
Is your student planning to continue studying abroad and has asked for a Letter of Recommendation? This task should be approached with all possible attention, because your reputation as a teacher is at stake!
Before you agree, decide: can you write a letter of recommendation in a positive way? If you don’t have a high opinion of a person or simply don’t know him well, it’s better to refuse immediately - it’s in your common interests.
To begin, have the student provide (preferably in writing):
- a story about what he is interested in, what he does outside of school hours and what he has achieved in this (for example, he is the captain of a football team);
- a text about why he wants to enter a given university, why he thinks he is ready for this;
- some universities develop their own form, which indicates which points must be included in a letter of recommendation;
- a stamped envelope with the recipient's address (if you have to send the text yourself).
It would be good to talk with the student, discuss his goals in study and career, choice of university, and any extracurricular activities that can be mentioned in the text. Find out why he turned to you.
The letterhead of your educational institution will give the text credibility. In general, follow the standard rules of business correspondence (some of the features of written business language we discussed earlier). It is necessary to accurately name the addressee. As a last resort, “To Whom It May Concern” (“To All Interested Persons”) will do.
Part 1. Introduction
| I am pleased to recommend___ | I am happy to recommend___ |
| I am writing in enthusiastic support of ___ | I am writing to enthusiastically support___ |
| It is with great pleasure that I am writing this letter of recommendation for___ | It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for___ |
| Based on my experience with ___, I can say... | Based on my experience with ___, I can say... |
| He has been my student during the past five years. | He has studied with me for the last five years. |
| I got to know him very well during this time. | I got to know him well during this time. |
| I’ve learned a lot about him and his abilities. | I learned a lot about him and his abilities. |
| The candidate and the opportunity are a perfect fit. | The candidate and the position for which he is applying are simply made for each other. |
| He is well prepared to move onto the collegiate level. | He is well prepared for the transition to the collegiate level. |
Depending on which university the letter of recommendation will be sent to, it is written in American or British English. We discussed some differences in one of the previous articles, and you can check the nuances with your teacher at regular or distance English courses.
Part 2. Characteristics of activities
It's not just about studying. Perhaps the student worked as a laboratory assistant for you, gave lectures, or helped classmates in some subjects. The more details and specifics, the better, but outright exaggerations should be avoided - the admissions committee will not accept them at face value.
| Among his achievements... | Among his achievements... |
| Over the years, I have had the pleasure of watching... | Over the years, I have had the pleasure of observing... |
| His talents and motivations are not limited strictly to the lab. | His abilities and aspirations are not limited to just the laboratory. |
| was unrivaled in my course | had no equal in my subject |
| a challenge that he met with great success | a difficulty which he overcame with great success |
| balances his time | manages your time in a balanced manner |
| consistently gets excellent marks on his homework and tests | Consistently gets excellent grades on homework and tests |
| excellent oral communication skills/ written communication skills | excellent oral/written communication skills |
| computing technology skills | computer skills |
Part 3. Personal qualities
Although the conversation is about intangible things, specifics are still appreciated. Comparisons are in order.
It is not enough to say: “Mary is a patient mentor to her peers” (“Mary patiently taught her classmates”), one must give an example. You should also avoid ambiguous expressions.
Part 4. Summary
Emphasize the most significant characteristics and formulate a conclusion:
| His abilities and determination will continue to grow. | His abilities and motivation will only grow. |
| He will continue to grow as a leader / creative thinker. | He will continue to develop his leadership skills/ability to think creatively. |
| He will make a great student at ... | He would make a great student at... |
| Without hesitation, I recommend him for ... | I have no doubt recommending it for... |
| He is an exceptional candidate / would be an excellent candidate for ... | He is an excellent candidate / could be an excellent candidate for... |
| I warmly recommend him for... | I highly recommend it for... |
| I am sure you will find him equally impressive. | I'm sure it will make the same strong impression on you. |
| It is with the utmost confidence that I recommend him to your university. | I can recommend him for admission to your university with absolute confidence. |
| Please do contact me if you have any further questions. | Please contact me if you have any questions. |
All other things being equal, a correctly drafted letter of recommendation can tip the balance in favor of one candidate or another when applying to a foreign university or receiving a scholarship. Learn how to choose a recommender and write an effective letter of recommendation for a student.
The purpose of a letter of recommendation to a student is to give an idea of the candidate's abilities, achievements and personal qualities. It is written from the person under whose direct supervision the candidate studied, performed science project or work. Usually 2-3 recommendations from different people are required. Most often, these are teachers, scientific supervisors or bosses from work.
In Russia and other countries former USSR The culture of letters of recommendation is not developed and not everyone knows how to write them in the accepted international format. That's why better lyrics prepare them yourself and then agree on them with your recommenders.
The text of letters of recommendation must be “tailored” to the requirements of the training program or grant competition. For example, look at the differences. Therefore, before writing the text, carefully study the requirements for the candidate m.
Recommendations should contribute to achieving your goal, namely: entering a university or receiving a grant. Not every letter of recommendation can be useful. Therefore, the choice of recommenders should be approached consciously.
- competent in your field of interest or a related field;
- is able to evaluate your achievements in the area of interest to you;
- can give a comprehensive description of your personal qualities;
- can evaluate your professionalism (punctuality, efficiency, etc.);
- is able to characterize your academic abilities and intellectual potential;
- has a high opinion of you and your abilities;
- has status and some recognition in the field of interest to you.
Make a list of your potential recommenders and select those who meet most of the criteria.Start thinking about recommendations as soon as you decide to go study abroad. Try to gain the experience and competencies that you want to reflect in letters of recommendation, show yourself in a favorable light in front of the right recommenders: make sure that your zeal and successes do not go unnoticed by them.
A standard letter of recommendation should consist of 4 parts:
Context (introduction)
- In what capacity and for how long has the recommender known the candidate?
Candidate's achievements
- An overall assessment of the candidate's abilities that have played an important role in the learning process, assignments, projects, research or job responsibilities.
- Characteristics of the candidate’s activities and achievements during the mentioned period of study or work (here you can list awards, places of honor, certificates, etc.).
- Characteristic strengths candidate, especially in comparison with other students or work colleagues with a similar background.
Personal qualities of the candidate
- Assessing the candidate's motivation and maturity (especially if we're talking about about admission to master's or doctoral studies).
- Characteristics of leadership and communication skills, ability to work in a team or individually.
Conclusion
- Finally, the recommender must justify why he believes that the recommended candidate should be accepted into the specified program of study or awarded a grant.
- Next comes the phrase that additional information information about the candidate can be provided upon request.
- At the very end, the surname and initials of the recommender, his position and contacts are indicated ( email address, telephone).
The document must be signed by the recommender. If possible, the recommendation can be printed on the official letterhead of the institution where the recommender works. However, this is not always possible, so you can do without it.
- The tone of the letter is extremely positive. Even a neutral tone of the letter can only do harm, as it will most likely be perceived negatively.
- Reflects the recommender’s subjective opinion about the candidate, and does not list what can be learned anyway from test results, diploma, etc.
- Sufficiently detailed and specific: statements regarding the candidate's qualities, achievements and skills are supported by real examples.
- Considers the specific requirements of a particular training program or grant program in evaluating a candidate.
- Fits on one, maximum – two pages.
- Too short to fit description specific examples and events.
- Written according to a template, without taking into account the purpose of the recommendation.
- Focused on context (e.g. detailed description circumstances of meeting the candidate), and not on the qualities and achievements of the candidate.
- Contains unsubstantiated praise of a candidate.
- Tells about events that happened many years ago.
Entering a university is an important and exciting event. Especially if this university is foreign and there is a language barrier and cultural differences between you and your dream.
In order not to get lost in the three pines of this process, it is necessary to find out in advance the requirements of universities, outline an action plan and arm yourself with the opinions and knowledge of experts on all cornerstone issues.
One of these issues is a mandatory requirement of most American universities - providing letters of recommendation. Usually this point causes a lot of difficulties for Russian-speaking applicants and does not lose its relevance from year to year, so today we decided to cover in detail the topic of writing letters of recommendation to a foreign university, as well as give some advice useful tips about how to get the “right” recommendation from the point of view of US admissions offices.
Letters of recommendation (reference letters) are letters from teachers and other persons that characterize the student's academic potential and also describe his personal qualities.
Who can write it?
Typically, universities request 2-3 recommendations. Most often this means providing recommendations from teachers. However, some universities also require a letter from employers, colleagues or people with whom you worked on a project (if any). The latter is especially true for applicants to MBA programs.
How well does this person know me as a student?
Does this person know me as a person?
How responsibly will he treat my request?
If you are still in school, it is better to choose those teachers who have taught for several years, for example, the class teacher or the head teacher of the school. If you are already a university student, then it is best to ask for a recommendation from the director of your coursework or thesis. By the way, the position of a recommender is not as important as a personal approach, and often, a recommendation from an ordinary teacher can be more useful than from a school director.
The main components of this characteristic:
general positivity
availability of a description of the student’s academic success, his strengths and merits
mentioning the student’s personal qualities that help him in his studies
It is noted that the best impression is made by recommendations written in non-standard and non-clichéd language, which contain not only facts (what is the relationship of the recommender to the student, how many years has he known him, etc.), but also a description of the student’s life principles and goals, his vision of the world, plans for the future. It would also be good to include a description of situations from the student’s life that illustrate his personal portrait, abilities or skills.
In any case, what universities are definitely not expecting is a unified unsubscribe form. The paperwork of admissions committees during the application period is enormous, and the bureaucracy of the system has reasonable limits. In other words, a letter of recommendation is not just another document that you will mail to the admissions committee, but a real chance to increase the likelihood of being accepted into your dream university.
Although there are no official length requirements for the letter, there is an unspoken rule that the recommendation should be kept within 300-1000 words.
There is also no unified plan (composition) for letters of recommendation, but the most acceptable and common structure is the following:
Main part
Consists of 2-3 small paragraphs (for better perception), which describe the academic and personal characteristics (!) of the student. Ideally, each highlighted quality of a student should be supported by a fact from life.
Final part
Traditionally, it is devoted to answering the question of why the author considers the applicant an excellent candidate for admission to a specific educational institution and for a specific specialty.
First, you submit to the university the necessary package of documents, which includes up to 3 letters of recommendation. Then, on the university website, you leave the contact information of those who recommend you, including their phone number and email address.
In America, it is common practice for university admissions officers to send additional requests to recommenders. So, the author of your letter of recommendation can receive e-mail the following questions: “How long have you known the student?”, “In what capacity do you know the student?”, “On a scale of 1 to 10, rate the student’s academic skills, leadership qualities, ability to work in a team,” etc.
However, not all universities have the practice of processing letters of recommendation online. Some require written recommendations on university/department letterhead, signed and stamped.
It should also be remembered that all documents, including letters of recommendation, written in Russian, are subject to official translation into English. In this case, the translation is attached to the original and sent to the admissions committee in the general package of documents.
1. Don't write letters of recommendation yourself. Firstly, the style of all submitted letters and essays will be the same, which may raise unnecessary questions from the admissions committee. Secondly, do not forget that at US universities it is common practice to contact the author of the recommendation by email.
2. Do not use strictly business style letters. Although the recommendation is an example business correspondence, it must be written with soul. Otherwise, it will be no different from hundreds of others and will go unnoticed by the university.
4. Do not send a letter if you are not sure of its structure, content or translation! It’s better to entrust this matter to professionals - EDucation Masters!
Need help with paperwork for US universities? Contact our consultants!
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