How to Write An Effective Recommendation Letter
With companies receiving a deluge of cover letters and resumes on a regular basis, how can someone’s job application stand out? Jobseekers can get recommendations from former employers to help them get an edge. Support your former colleague on the next phase of his career path by giving him a boost. Your strong and effective letter of recommendation can shine the spotlight on the candidate’s work experience and unique skills, matching them with the job description released by the hirer.
But how can your recommendation letter make potential employers feel they have scored a hit? Here are some writing rules that can bring your colleague one step closer to getting hired.
Rule #1: Consider your honest feedback on strengths and weaknesses.
Your words can help make or break someone’s job application—a huge responsibility that deserves careful consideration. If you feel that you are incapable of writing a recommendation because of a bad experience or insufficient knowledge on the candidate’s work ethic, feel free to decline the request. However, if you do believe in the candidate’s strengths and abilities, think back on some of the projects you’ve worked on together and write concretely how the candidate was able to help make these collaborations a success.
Also read: How to Request for a Recommendation Letter
Rule #2: Make an inventory of the hard and soft skills relevant to the job description.
Glowing testaments are well and good, but not if they are rambling and off-topic, failing to meet the requirements of the position your colleague is seeking to fill. To get a clear sense of your letter’s purpose, ask about the job description, and the specific skills and experiences that the candidate wants to emphasise. These practical bits of information can help you plot out your letter, letting you know the important points on which to focus.
Rule #3: Highlight work experience.
From your recommendation letter, hirers hope to get an overview of the jobseeker’s work experience. How do you do this in a succinct and honest manner? Though general compliments may look good on paper, backing it up with details will make your testimonial leave a lasting impression. For example, if you want to highlight your colleague’s strong sense of initiative, give concrete situations wherein he or she displayed this admirable trait. Briefly narrate the accomplishment’s components—how it was done and the results it got—by keeping to the facts and avoiding exaggeration.
Rule #4: Show your own credibility.
Underline your credibility as a resource person by not only stating your own work experience, but also carefully proofreading your recommendation letter. Ask your colleague how you should send the letter—do you give it to the candidate or directly to the hirer? Clarify if there are other requirements such as supporting documents needed from your end. These simple steps reflect, not only your own solid work standards, but also the candidate’s.
Recommendation Letter Sample
A recommendation letter is typically made of three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. Check out the sample below.
Here is a sample:
Dear Mr. Lee,As Head of Communications at the Children’s Art Foundation for almost a decade, I take great pleasure in recommending Ms. Michelle Chua for the position of Communications Officer in your company.Ms. Chua was under my direct supervision for three years, wherein she has proven her exemplary understanding of communication on both internal and external channels. In her second year of employment, she initiated an internal job tracker program that allowed us to consistently monitor, give feedback, and follow up on our many projects—a challenge made difficult with our work-from-home setting during the pandemic. With the program, it became much easier for me to check on the daily assigned tasks, making sure we hit our targets on schedule. During our video conferences, Ms. Chua often led as the host with her brief yet comprehensive visual aids, while giving all team members the opportunity to contribute and ask questions. Before she left our organisation, she had managed to increase our media partners from five to an impressive twelve, allowing us to better spread the news on our advocacies and activities.With Ms. Chua’s initiative, unfailing drive, and natural warmth toward her colleagues, clients and our project partners, I can confidently say that having her in your team will be a great asset to your company.Please feel free to reach me through email or mobile if you have further questions.Sincerely,Adela Tan
By giving your recommendation a personal touch, the employer gets a glimpse of your sincerity and the candidate’s capabilities beyond the cover letter and resume.
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