A letter of recommendation can make or break someone’s job application. Using the right words and language to highlight a candidate’s strengths is key to writing an effective and compelling recommendation letter.
In this comprehensive guide. we will cover
- The importance of a recommendation letter
- Who needs recommendation letters
- How to write an impactful letter of recommendation
- Powerful vocabulary to use in a recommendation letter
- Letter of recommendation templates and examples
Whether you are an employer professor coach or colleague, your glowing letter of recommendation can tremendously boost a person’s chances of getting into college, winning a scholarship, landing a job or advancing their career.
Why Recommendation Letters Matter So Much
A strong letter of recommendation provides an in-depth evaluation of a candidate beyond just grades, test scores, titles or degrees It validates their skills, experiences and personality from someone who knows them personally in a professional, academic or volunteer setting
For admissions officers and hiring managers, recommendation letters:
- Provide insights into a candidate’s qualifications, strengths and weaknesses from a subjective perspective.
- Act as testimonials supporting a candidate’s accomplishments, work ethic and values.
- Help assess a candidate’s personality, character and soft skills not evident from scores and grades.
- Verify qualifications mentioned in a resume or interview.
- Differentiate top applicants who seem equal on paper.
In short, personalized recommendation letters add immense value in highlighting candidates worthy of admission or employment.
Who Needs Recommendation Letters and Why
Here are some common situations where recommendation letters are requested:
College Admissions
Admissions committees use letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, mentors and advisors to better evaluate an applicant’s academic achievements. These letters also discuss an applicant’s personality, motivation, intellectual curiosity, and potential for success.
Scholarship Applications
Scholarship committees want to understand an applicant’s financial need, work ethic, leadership skills, community involvement and career goals from someone familiar with the student. Glowing recommendation letters from educators and employers can help applicants stand out.
Internship Applications
For sought after internships in competitive fields like business, law, technology, media etc., relevant recommendation letters provide students an edge. They showcase the applicant’s work ethic, passion and attitude desired in an intern.
Job Applications
Hiring managers look for recommendation letters to learn more about an applicant’s qualifications, work style, ethics, teamwork ability and potential from managers of prior jobs. Letters from clients, vendors or co-workers also provide insights into an applicant’s professionalism.
Graduate School Applications
Professors and academic advisors write recommendation letters for graduate school applicants highlighting their scholastic achievements, subject expertise, research potential, communication skills and passion that make them an ideal candidate.
promotions and Transfers
Managers often submit recommendation letters for employees being considered for internal promotions or transfers. They focus on proven performance, work relationships, leadership capabilities and strengths that will lead to success.
How to Write an Impactful Recommendation Letter
Follow these key tips to craft persuasive and compelling recommendation letters that make the candidate stand out:
1. Accept Only If You Can Write a Positive Letter
Only agree to write the letter if you can sincerely praise the person and recommend them without reservations. It is better to politely decline than write a lackluster letter.
2. Follow Any Specified Format
If the request includes a specific format, header or questions to answer, follow them closely. This ensures your letter includes all required elements.
3. Highlight Achievements with Specific Examples
Avoid vague generic praise and offer solid examples of meaningful achievements that make the candidate exceptional. Quantify their accomplishments if possible.
4. Focus on Admirable Personal Qualities
Share personal anecdotes that highlight impressive character strengths like work ethic, teamwork, independence, creativity, ethics, leadership, compassion or growth mindset.
5. Keep It Brief Yet Detailed
Be succinct yet include sufficient detail in 2-3 paragraphs. Use only one page with a proper salutation, introduction, body paragraphs, and closing.
6. Use Superlatives and Action Words
Elevate your praise with powerful adjectives like “outstanding”, “exceptional”, “brilliant” or “superior” to describe the candidate’s qualifications. Use strong action verbs like “spearheaded”, “transformed” or “excelled”.
7. Edit Meticulously
Thoroughly proofread the letter and edit for grammar, spelling, typos, consistency and proper name spellings. Send the letter well ahead of deadline.
Now let’s drill down into the most effective vocabulary to use in your recommendation letters:
Powerful Words for an Exceptional Recommendation Letter
Infuse your letter of recommendation with persuasive words that make a lasting impression. Here are some stellar options:
Skills and Abilities
- Exceptional written/verbal/analytical/research skills
- Quick learner, grasps complex concepts rapidly
- Diligent, invested, devoted to doing excellent work
- Outstanding presentation and communication abilities
- Articulate, eloquent, polished speaking style
- Superb organizational and leadership capabilities
- Excellent manager, motivates teams effectively
- Visionary, forward-thinking, innovative
- Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
Work Ethic and Dedication
- Tireless work ethic, unwavering dedication
- Passionate, deeply invested in responsibilities
- Dependable, reliable, consistent
- Results-driven, laser focused on outcomes
- Highly motivated self-starter, disciplined
- Tenacious, resolute in solving complex problems
- Diligent, meticulous, thorough
- Vigilant about quality control and improvement
Personality and Attitude
- Magnetic personality, clients/students adore working with them
- Warm, approachable, amiable manner
- Charismatic, outgoing, energetic
- Consummate team player, unites colleagues effectively
- Mature, poised, graceful under pressure
- Enthusiastic, upbeat outlook, sense of humor
- Empathetic, understands diverse perspectives
- Humble, open to feedback and self-improvement
Achievements and Accolades
- Tripled sales of XYZ product in 18 months
- Consistently exceeds quarterly targets by 25%
- Reduced project costs by 50% while delivering ahead of schedule
- Cut customer complaints by 85% in 6 months through streamlining
- Awarded “Employee of the Year” for outstanding performance
- Secured highest exam score among 250 students
- Published paper in prestigious XYZ journal
Close your letter with a final summary line reaffirming your highest recommendation for the candidate.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Now that you know the right vocabulary to use, let’s look at a couple examples.
Letter of Recommendation Template, Format and Samples
Job Recommendation Letter Sample
April 19, 2021
Mike Langley
HR Manager
TeleRep, Inc.
671 Fifth Ave
New York, NY 10022
Dear Mr. Langley:
I am delighted to strongly recommend Richard Chase for the position of Sales Manager with TeleRep, Inc. As his direct supervisor for over 3 years, I believe Richard will be a tremendous asset for your company.
Throughout his tenure at Supreme Software, Richard has leveraged his astute product knowledge, passion for sales, and engaging communication style to drive exceptional outcomes. He single-handedly exceeded yearly sales targets by over 30% in just two years. The incredibly positive feedback we consistently receive from Richard’s clients is a testament to his dedication to understanding customer needs and delivering winning solutions.
Beyond his sales prowess, Richard’s warm personality and teamwork makes him a delight to work with. He motivates his colleagues and consistently steps up to take on extra responsibilities outside his core job whenever required. Richard has been an invaluable contributor and leader in our organization.
In closing, I wholeheartedly recommend Richard Chase for the Sales Manager role at TeleRep. He will undoubtedly deliver tremendous value through his diligent work, sales expertise, people skills, and stellar track record. Please feel free to contact me should you need any other details.
Sincerely,
Mark Milson
Vice President, Supreme Software
College Recommendation Letter Sample
October 15, 2021
Admissions Committee
Stanford University
450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305
Dear Sir/Madam:
It is my honor to strongly recommend Margaret Jones for admission into the Management Science and Engineering program at Stanford University. As her high school math teacher for the past 3 years and mentor for the Science Club, I have seen Margaret blossom into an exemplary student with an outstanding talent for math and science.
Margaret has
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Productivity Tutorial – Writing a letter of recommendation
What words should be used in a letter of recommendation?
Some of these recommendation words work best either in the letter’s introduction, middle or conclusion. Here are 11 common, impactful words to use in a letter of recommendation: Honored is an impactful word that gives an impression of an individual who is dignified and respected. Use this word in the introduction of the reference letter.
What is an example of a good recommendation word?
Example: “I am Carl Jones, a high school math teacher, and I am pleased to write an endorsement for Thomas Henderson.” Delighted is a good recommendation word because it shows the writer is cheerful and enthusiastic about who they are writing the letter about. It conveys strong enthusiasm to the reader.
What is an example of a professional letter of recommendation?
Here is an excellent example of a professional letter of recommendation for scholarship written by the country head of a major corporation. The applicant was admitted to the renewable energy program at Stanford on scholarship. Sample Professional Letter of
What is the proper format for a recommendation letter?
The sample letters show the proper format for a recommendation letter. They have the employer’s name, position, company, and company’s address at the top. To give one example, here’s the header for recommendation letter sample #1:
