Recommendation Letter

As the name suggests, a recommendation letter refers to a letter in which the writer evaluates the basic qualities, characteristics and capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of the ability of an individual to perform a specific task or function. Writing a recommendation letter often infuses a sense of importance and is considered to be a kind of honor for the person writing it. More often than not, it is written on request and is addressed to a particular requestor. If you wish to secure a prestigious position in the work place or get an admission to a reputed school of higher learning, it will be wise to arrange for one or more letters of recommendation. It is often observed that people tend to get influenced by other’s opinion so a letter of recommendation can work as a catalyst in transforming your desire into a deal. Both employers as well as the admission board wish to know all possible information about the applicant before considering their case. Letters of recommendation helps them provide with a written assessment of the individual by people belonging to a well-established position. It not only strengthens chances of success for an applicant but also highlights his or her skills and talents.

An effective recommendation letter verifies the experience, confirms efficiency, builds credibility and enhances confidence of the applicant. The content of this letter varies with the purpose of the letter and its intended audience. For example, information included in a recommendation letter for employment will be different from that required for an academic admissions board. A recommendation letter can make or mar the entire career of an individual, so it is essential to be sure enough about how to write an effective recommendation letter before attempting to write it. You may ask the person for a list of projects accomplished by him/her, as it is not necessary that you would be aware of every work they’ve done in your organization.

Always begin the letter by introducing yourself as a recommender along with your professional designation. The first paragraph should specify the way and the length of your acquaintance with the person whom you are recommending. If the person happens to be an employee or a colleague, then you need to mention the term of employment, responsibilities given during the tenure and other significant projects that were undertaken by the individual. You can mention an overview of your opinion about the behavior and rapport of the recommended person in the organization. Though not essential, you may include a sentence regarding the nature of your company and its various activities. The following paragraph can provide a more detailed assessment of the person as an employee. It will include his or her performance and efficiency on specific assignments and other accomplishments. It can include the strengths or areas of improvements of the individual in the workplace or how it was to interact with the person. The third and the last paragraph can make a more elaborate characterization of the individual including his or her demeanor. Besides the personal traits, a recommendation letter should include the professional proficiency of an individual and the degree to which you would recommend the individual for the position he or she is seeking.

In case you are writing for an academic admission board of higher learning, make sure you include relevant information that are generally not found in the application. It helps provide the admission committee with the eligibility of the candidate for the applied course. Besides, it also offers an opportunity to the student to be seen as an individual and helps him or her to shine out from several thousands of other applicants. The main points that needs to mentioned in a recommendation letter for an academic admission board includes academic performance of the candidate, honor and awards, team spirit, ability to work independently in all possible circumstances as well as strong determination to work hard with dedication, integrity and reliability.

Following tips will help you write an effective recommendation letter:

• As far as possible, mention complimentary, but factual, observations and try to avoid derogatory remarks. Make sure you are capable of doing it otherwise do not accept to write a letter of recommendation.
• Avoid negative implications and make sure you state specifically leaving no rooms for misunderstandings, as employers are adept at “reading between the lines.” Do not spoil the chance of the former employee at getting a new job.
• Never include comments about race, religion, color, handicap, sex, national origin or marital status. It suggests that you should not include ant comments that can possibly be interpreted as biased or can provoke any kind of bias against the applicant.

Determine your company’s policy regarding the recommendation letter because there are several companies that have been established as protection against several lawsuits.