What is a letter of recommendation and what does it consist of?
This letter is a written assessment of the job applicant's business and personal abilities that are important to a future employer.
The document contains the following information:
- Details of the applicant showing full name. and the period of employment with the employer who signed the document.
- List of specific achievements during work at the enterprise.
- Individual abilities of the applicant.
- The correspondence between the noted skills and the professionalism of the sought vacancy is noted.
- The sufficiency of professionalism and characteristic qualities of the applicant for a job, project, research, etc. is displayed.
- The contacts of the recommender are displayed, with confirmation of the readiness of confirmation of the written document.
The approach to choosing the person providing the recommendation is an important point. The guarantor must work in a higher position than the recommended one (in some cases it may be a colleague).
In essence, a letter of recommendation refers to an ordinary business document. Therefore, its design must comply with the rules of business official letters.
Note. The applicant can only ask to write a letter of recommendation for himself, and not demand it.
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How to write a letter of recommendation
Since a letter of recommendation is an element of business correspondence, it must be drawn up in accordance with the standards and include the following details:
- Document title and title
- Text
- Signature
- Print (optional)
- date
Tips on the structure of a letter of recommendation:
- In the first paragraph of the text of the letter of recommendation, it is worth noting how long you have known the person to whom you are giving a recommendation, how you relate to him. If this is your employee, then you need to indicate the duration of his work in your organization, the responsibilities he performs, list the projects in which he took part, the effectiveness of his activities and the results achieved. At the end of the paragraph, you can summarize everything that has been said and express your opinion regarding the recommended specialist.
- In the second paragraph, give a more detailed description of the person in terms of his professional skills: the ability to perform certain tasks, his role in team work, the manifestation of both positive and negative qualities.
- In the next paragraph, you should dwell on personal skills and behavioral characteristics: the impression that a person makes when communicating and interacting with other team members, responsibility, loyalty, goodwill, and the like. In conclusion, let us know if you have any comments regarding the suitability of the person you are recommending for the position for which he is applying: you definitely recommend, with some reservations, you do not recommend. This is worth doing because by writing a letter of recommendation, you express your willingness to bear some responsibility for the person you recommend.
- At the end of the letter of recommendation, your contact information is usually indicated: telephone number, email address.
Please note that a recommendation does not have to be an ode to praise. If you sincerely want to support a person, then it would be wiser to tactfully point out his shortcomings and thereby prevent possible misunderstandings. In such a letter, you can also give advice on which position the employee’s best qualities may be in and where certain shortcomings will not matter.
There is another type of recommendations - the so-called closed ones. They contain negative information about the applicant. If you think that a person does not meet the requirements for applicants for a position, then you need to say so. This type of letter of recommendation may contain advice on how to improve the situation, especially if it concerns professional qualities.
Benefits of a letter of recommendation for an employee
The presence of recommendations significantly increases the chances of an applicant for an opening vacancy when a person is hired for a new job.
Such letters (of course, if they are positive) should not be thrown around. The document characterizes the applicant, noting his experience, knowledge, skills, and in the business world, a person’s image plays a big role, which ultimately affects his salary. To summarize, it can be noted that a positive recommendation gives the applicant the following advantages:
- Significantly increases the chances of getting a profitable vacancy.
- Helps increase the company manager's confidence in the applicant.
- Convinces the manager of business qualifications, integrity, responsibility, and the need for a future employee.
- Increases your ability to do your desired job.
- Confirms that the candidate for the vacancy is respected at the previous enterprise.
Example of a letter of recommendation
Letter of recommendation for employment
Letter of recommendation
Dear Alexandra,
Having partnered with Yuri Klimin at the Solnyshko Agency for the past five years, I have been impressed by his creative problem-solving skills and willingness to go the extra mile to create a product that makes the client's vision a reality.
Yuri is directly responsible for increasing client retention and I know for a fact that his reputation and involvement have helped the company attract several major new clients.
As a colleague, Yuri is a savvy and experienced professional who includes everything from 10 years of management experience to expert knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop. In addition, I must say that his humor and positive attitude towards life make working with him much easier, even during difficult periods for the team.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about his specific skills and experience.
Thank you and all the best,
Grigory Polishchuk
Head of HR Department, Solnyshko LLC
17.07.2019
Basic rules for writing a letter of recommendation
When leaving work, some employees turn to their manager with a request to write a letter of recommendation.
In the Russian Federation, such a document is not mandatory, however, recently the presence of recommendations has become increasingly widespread. Some institutions select those applicants who have recommendations from a previous job. A recommendation is made in a free style. At the same time, it is advisable to follow the rules for drawing up business papers. To give the document legal status, it is advisable to fill it out on the institution’s letterhead.
If the company does not have such a form, the full name of the institution must be displayed at the top of the page, indicating all registration data. The letter can be filled out manually or using printing devices on A4 sheet. The document must be signed by the guarantor.
The text of the letter should be businesslike, without writing phrases that have no meaning. The length of the letter must be within one page. When displaying the personal characteristics of an employee, it is recommended to provide specific examples of his achievements.
When filling out a document on company letterhead, the structure of the letter of recommendation should include the following points:
- Document title or title
- At the top of the sheet, under the details of the enterprise, in the center of the line with a capital character, you need to display the phrase “Letter of Recommendation”.
- Employee information
- In this section, the employee’s full name is filled in, displaying the date of his employment and the date of dismissal from the company.
- Professional responsibilities are listed, displaying completed projects and other achievements during his career at the company.
- Personal strengths
- Here the characteristic features of the employee related to the professional field are displayed. The description should be short and to the point.
- Reasons for dismissal
- At the request of the employee, this section can be skipped. However, if a person quit due to unforeseen circumstances, then this can be reflected in the letter.
- Recommendations for a future employer
- At this point, it is recommended to voice the position that the employee is capable of holding and will cope well with.
- Information about the guarantor
- The recommender's full name, position, contact information and personal signature are displayed here.
- Finally, the date of the letter and the seal of the institution are placed.
Note. To receive a letter of recommendation upon dismissal, you must submit a petition addressed to the manager. A recommendation is issued within 3 days. If the references are more than 2 years old, then it is better not to show them when applying for a job.
Letter of recommendation to employee
A recommendation to an employee has the structure of a business letterhead.
- Filling begins with the title of the document.
- Then fill out an application to the employer (if necessary).
- The text outlines the period of work of the applicant, displaying the position held at the previous job. For example, “Serikova Galina Fedorovna worked at LLC SUCCESS under my management from August 1, 2015 to December 30, 2021,” or “I worked with Serikova Galina Fedorovna from August 1, 2015 to December 30, 2021.” etc.
- Then the functional responsibilities of the applicant for the position held are displayed, skills, professional achievements, and strengths are listed. You can also note the reason for leaving the company.
- The description ends with a recommendation from the guarantor. For example, “The professionalism of Galina Fedorovna Serikova gives me the right to recommend her for a similar vacancy at another company, with wishes for her creative achievements.”
- In conclusion, the letter is signed by the recommender, indicating his position, full name, contact information, the date of the completed form is indicated and the signature is sealed.
Sample
Letter of recommendation from an organization for an organization
A letter of recommendation from another company is drawn up on company letterhead and in the style of a business document.
The structure of the letter is no different from the general rules for composing a letter for other purposes and its content is drawn up in a free business style.
In this option, one company displays an assessment of the level of qualifications and professionalism of employees, makes recommendations on the use of the company in providing services to another company, etc.
The final stage of the company's recommendation document is the signature of the director of the company - the author of the document, indicating his position, full name. and sealing the signature.
The date of the completed form is displayed either at the top or below the text of the letter.
Sample
Letter of recommendation to the driver
A recommendation to a driver can help him find a new job. Drivers with many years of experience and trouble-free operation are especially valued in business circles. This circumstance must be reflected in the recommendations.
The structure of such a document is drawn up in a business style, with the heading “Letter of Recommendation” written.
The letter displays the name of the company where the driver worked, the period of his work at the company and who he was: a colleague or subordinate.
Then job responsibilities, professional skills and abilities, and personal qualities are displayed. You can also note the reason for dismissal.
At the end of the form, the recommender’s signature is placed, indicating the position, full name, contact information and the date of the letter. The document is certified by a seal.
Sample
Sample letter of recommendation for chief accountant
The structure of the recommendation issued to the chief accountant is no different from the structure of similar letters for other applicants and is filled out in a business style.
- As always, the design of the document begins with displaying its name, “Letter of Recommendation”.
- Then the time spent at the company in this position is displayed, with a display of the assigned obligations and an assessment of his business qualities, professionalism, skills, level of responsibility, so this position in any institution is of no small importance.
- You will also most likely need to display the reason for leaving your job.
- At the end of the description, the recommendations and wishes of the guarantor to the applicant are stated.
- Like any document, the letter is signed by the head of the company, indicating the position, full name, contact information, the date of the form, and is stamped.
Sample
Letter of recommendation for sales manager
A recommendation to a sales manager is drawn up in the same way as other similar letters, with the final block containing a direct recommendation from the guarantor to hire the applicant.
The text section of such a document displays the business qualities of a manager who knows how to organize sales, attract clients and has a solid client base. Attaching such a recommendation to your resume will help attract the employer's attention to your person.
Sample
Letter of recommendation to teacher
Managers who consider letters of recommendation a relic of the past are wrong. A well-written recommendation is an important addition to the applicant’s resume.
The dry facts displayed in the resume do not sufficiently illuminate the applicant, and the attached recommendation complements the resume, revealing the characteristic features, skills, and abilities of the applicant for the vacancy, described by his former boss.
The document is not mandatory and does not have approved templates. When compiling it, you just need to follow the business style of presenting facts about a person.
A letter of guarantee to a teacher is drawn up according to the same rules as any similar letter of recommendation, which sets out:
- Full name of the teacher.
- Period of work at the same place.
- Responsibilities performed by the teacher.
- Work experience, skills, attitude towards children and other professional qualities and personal advantages.
The letter must be signed by the former manager and dated. The document is sealed with the seal of the previous institution.
Also, the recommendation can be written by parents for whom the teacher worked.
Sample
Letter of recommendation for an engineer
Today, the engineering profession has lost its former prestige and finding a good engineer is not so easy.
Therefore, when an engineer vacancy opens, the manager always tries to review the applicant’s resume, and if there is a recommendation from a previous job, this immediately increases the candidate’s chances.
A letter of recommendation to an engineer evaluates his professional knowledge, skills and ability to understand modern technology. All this must be reflected in a letter to the guarantor, stating the full name. engineer, time worked at the enterprise, position held, assigned responsibilities and results achieved.
The text, in terms of volume, should fit on one page. When describing, it is required not to use general and “standard” phrases, such as efficient, reliable, etc.
Information should be displayed as objectively as possible. At the end of the letter, it is advisable to write the phrase, “I recommend your full name. for...”, which will be of no small importance in choosing a candidate for an engineer vacancy.
At the end, you need to sign a document showing your full name. guarantor, position, contact information and certify the letter with a seal.
Sample
Letter of recommendation to a lawyer
The legal profession is in demand everywhere today. However, finding a high-paying job is not so easy. To do this, you need to have solid experience, a name and many examples of won cases.
To get hired for a high-paying vacancy, an applicant must not only write a competent resume, but also have good recommendations from a previous employer, which should reflect his professional skills, knowledge of the legislative norms of the Russian Federation, the ability to work with partners and clients, and preferably speak a foreign language.
The presence of such letters of recommendation will help the applicant get the desired one from many vacancies.
The form of the letter of recommendation is no different from other similar recommendations and must be written on company letterhead, and also signed by the previous employer with a seal.
A recommendation can also be provided by a private individual, especially if this person is a lawyer with a name and authority in business circles.
Sample
What is a letter of recommendation
A letter of recommendation (or recommendation) is a document designed to add extra weight to a job or college application. They are usually written by a supervisor, co-worker, teacher or HR person.
Who needs letters of recommendation?
- Students
Students need guidance because admissions officers want to better understand who they are as a person and gain information that isn't learned from grades and test scores.
- For vacancies where a letter of recommendation is required
For most job applications, a written resume and cover letter are more than sufficient. However, some companies will only consider candidates who provide a letter of recommendation in addition to these basic elements.
- To increase your chances
If your resume and cover letter aren't strong enough, a letter of recommendation can help you land a job. A good recommendation from a previous employer can turn the tide and help you stand out among candidates.
A recommendation is not always given at the place of work . You can get a recommendation from a person who knows the recommended person well, his professional and personal qualities, range of interests, scientific achievements, etc. The one who makes the recommendation must have fairly high authority and recognition in his field of activity, and a reputation as a moral person. These are necessary conditions, since we are talking about the objectivity of the assessment. And any organization is interested in qualified and loyal employees.
Letters of recommendation in business
Recommendations are also used in commercial correspondence. At the beginning of cooperation with any company, it is advisable to collect information about the stability of a possible partner, his solvency, the reputation of management, and the like. Many companies, when placing an order with a seller for the first time, send him the names and addresses of several companies with which they cooperate.
If there are any doubts about a potential buyer, the selling company makes a request for a recommendation. In such a letter you should indicate the name of the company about which you need to obtain information, the cost of the order made by the company. It should be noted that all information received will remain confidential.
What mistakes are made?
There are no special requirements when writing letters of recommendation. At the same time, certain rules have been adopted for the preparation of such documents.
Of course, the text must be written correctly, without spelling errors, with the correct turns of phrase.
The most common errors include:
- Filling out a document with pens of different colors.
- Insert images or diagrams.
- Drawing up a letter on a simple piece of paper, and not on the institution’s letterhead.
- Numerous artistic designs.
- Grammatical errors in words.
- Excessive praise of an employee.
Note. If the letter praises the employee too much, then this causes distrust in the future head of the company.
You can learn more about errors in recommendations by watching the video
(Video: “What mistakes are often made in letters of recommendation”)
Letter of recommendation to manager (samples)
Letter No. 1
In the period from March 10, 2012 to July 15, 3014, Vasily Viktorovich Kolosov worked at Innovation LLC as a senior IT programmer.
Vasily Viktorovich’s competence included the development and maintenance of computer software for our company. We would like to note that Vasily Viktorovich has established himself as a responsible and efficient employee, whose projects have always been particularly effective.
Sincerely,
Alexander Vasilievich
Letter No. 2
This letter confirms that in the period from March 10, 2014 to October 21, 2014, Vasily Viktorovich Kolosov assumed the responsibilities of the project manager for the “Security System Development” project for.
The project was quite complex, requiring a lot of physical and mental effort, drawing up short-term plans, supervising employees, establishing new business contacts, purchasing necessary products, etc. However, Vasily Viktorovich Kolosov coped with the tasks set by management perfectly. The results of his activities still bring undeniable benefits to our business.
I hasten to recommend Vasily Viktorovich Kolosov as a responsible and competent employee for whom the result of his work is important.
Sincerely,
Alexander Vasilievich
Letter No. 3
From March 10, 2014 to November 17, 2014, I, together with Anastasia Vladimirovna Kosheva, supervised the project for. I would like to note that cooperation with Anastasia Vladimirovna left me with only pleasant impressions.
Anastasia Vladimirovna’s responsibilities included developing the design of the company’s corporate website. The management set us quite difficult tasks, but Anastasia Vladimirovna successfully completed them without outside help.
In addition to high professionalism, this employee leaves the impression of a pleasant and wise person. Anastasia Vladimirovna skillfully avoids conflict situations and knows how to find the right approach to each subordinate.
Sincerely,
Alexander Vasilievich
Letter No. 4
Vasily Viktorovich Kolossov held the position of General Director of Innovation LLC from November 10, 2013 to April 20, 2014. Vasily Viktorovich’s responsibilities included monitoring the company, supervising departments, searching for new partners in Russian cities, developing and implementing new projects.
Despite all the difficulties of a leadership position, Vasily Viktorovich proved himself to be a responsible and wise director. Company employees noted his respectful attitude, balanced instructions and effective decisions.
I declare with full responsibility that I can give this employee only the best recommendations.
Sincerely,
Alexander Vasilievich
Letter No. 5
Koshevaya Anastasia Vladimirovna held the position of senior tourism manager from October 10, 2013 to July 17, 2014. In her activities, Anastasia Vladimirovna successfully combines two criteria: professionalism and the ability to creatively approach solving standard problems.
Thanks to her innate sociability and responsibility, management trusted Anastasia Vladimirovna with the most difficult tasks, which she successfully completed. In such a short period of time working in our company, Anastasia Vladimirovna managed to organize several interesting presentations, attract dozens of regular clients and establish cooperation with foreign colleagues.
I have no doubt that Anastasia Vladimirovna Koshevaya will cope with more serious tasks.
Sincerely,
Alexander Vasilievich
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