How to Write a Letter of Recommendation - Resumonk Blog

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation - Resumonk BlogHow to Write a Letter of Recommendation Employers sometimes ask for letters of recommendation from people who know the applicants. Recommendation letters can be requested as part of the initial application package or as the last step in vetting a job candidate.Organizations that ask for letters of recommendation usually ask for two or three such letters, in order to get a better feel for the candidate and make sure theyre a good fit for the company.Gather Information to Write the LetterIf youre approached by someone to write a letter of recommendation, the first step is to gather information about the position she is looking for. Ask for a copy of the job posting. If she wants a more general letter of recommendation, ask for the type of job they are looking for. You need to have the specific job posting or knowledge of the type of job the partie is looking for because the most successful recommendation letters will make a clear l ink between the capabilities, skills and qualities the job-seeker has demonstrated previously and those required in the open position. Good recommendation letters are not vague and general. They specifically pinpoint what the person has done well with an eye toward what they can continue to do well.You should also request a copy of the job-seekers resume. If you werent the immediate past supervisor, you need to know how her career has developed. She may be highlighting areas that are quite different from what she performed for you. You may have supervised the job-seeker as an associate in social media, for example. herbei duties were monitoring analytics, reviewing competitor sites and developing content. If she has since been promoted in analytics, she may be focusing on that area. You would want, ideally, to have a specific example or examples of how she performed in analytics, in addition to comments about her qualities and skills. If you have access to relevant performance appra isals, they can be helpful in developing the letter, as they will have reference to the top achievements, skills and qualities of the job-seeker.What to CoverRecommendation letters should cover the following informationHow you know the person Open by briefly mentioning in what capacity you know the person. State your specific title, the job-seekers specific title at the time and the inclusive years she worked for you.The job-seekers skills and capabilities State the skills demonstrated and the capabilities you saw. Were they adept at crunching data? Did they demonstrate multitasking ability? Specific examples Once youve covered the skills and capabilities, give at least one specific example of an achievement they accomplished. This needs to related explicitly or implicitly to the job they are seeking.The job-seekers qualities Mention specific qualities the job-seeker demonstrated. This can range from engagement to being a good team player.Reference to whether youd hire the person ag ain If you would hire the person again, mention it. Its valuable information for prospective employers.Your contact information The interviewing organization may want to get in quntchen with you to discuss the letter more fully. Provide complete current contact information.Format SpecificsA recommendation letter should be roughly three to four paragraphs long. The standard is roughly one page. Any shorter, and it could be perceived as a sign that you didnt know the job-seeker that well or didnt have sufficient positive information. It is a formal business document. It should be printed on the letterhead of your current company and dated, and you should sign it.Use a standard business font, such as Arial or Times New Roman. The margins should be 1 inch at the sides and the bottom.If you were asked to send it electronically, PDF the copy on your letterhead and submit it per the instructions specified, either by the job-seeker or by information on the job posting.What to Do if You Cant Give a Positive RecommendationAt times, you may be asked for a recommendation letter and you feel that you cant write a positive recommendation. The reasons may range from you didnt work closely with the person or issues with their performance. Its best to tell the person tactfully that you arent the best person to write a recommendation letter for them. Suggest that they contact someone who can speak more fully about their work performance.Sample Recommendation LetterLets see the recommendation letter advice in action. Here is a sample, utilizing all the information aboveJuly 6, 2017Jon DonaldsonVice President, Social MediaYour Company456 New Media CirclePalo Alto, CA 94301Dear Mr. Donaldson, I am writing to recommend Ashley Jones for the position of Social Media Manager at Your Company. Ashley and I worked together at The Former Company. I was the Social Media Manager at The Former Company from 2012 to 2016. Ashley, as Social Media Associate, reported directly to me within a team of four people. I enjoyed working with Ashley and feel she would be a valuable asset to your team. She is creative, thorough and dependable. She is a proactive problem-solver fully aware of the changing social media landscape. Even then, Ashley was able to think strategically about how our social media campaigns could remain ahead of competitors. As the Social Media Associate, Ashley developed a Pinterest campaign for The Former Company. We had no presence on Pinterest at the time. Ashley developed and presented an impressive campaign idea to senior management and executed upon it. Our sales leads generated from Pinterest hit 12 percent in the first year of Ashleys campaign. Her ideas were a major part of its success. Along with her creative and execution talent, Ashley is an excellent collaborator and team player. Her colleagues enjoy working with her. I would hire her again without hesitation.I warmly recommend Ashley for your team at Your Company. She would be an asset to any so cial media department.Please contact me at 223-678-9101 if you would like more information or to discuss Ashleys experience further. Sincerely,Former SupervisorRecommendation letters mention capabilities, skills and qualities the job-seeker demonstrated in the past, both generally and with specific examples. Use the sample above as a general template for the type of responses recommendation letters give.Hopefully, the person you are writing the letter for will land the job of their dreams. You can be proud knowing you played a part in their successful job hunt.p.s. Resumonk helps you create a beautiful rsum cover letter in minutes. Stand out from the crowd and multiply yourchances of landing your dream job.