A letter of recommendation can make the difference between an interview or not; getting into college, getting wait listed, or getting rejected. It is therefore important to do a thorough – and honest – job.
Letter Outline
Prospective colleges or employers will occasionally provided detailed information about what they are looking for in a recommendation. If so, it is best to follow the guidelines exactly. In general, however the body of a good letter of recommendation should contain the following elements in one or two pages of text:
- The name of the applicant
- The name and title of the person making the recommendation
- An explanation of how long the two parties have known each other, and under what circumstances (“I have had the pleasure of knowing ABC for four years, as a student, club officer, and babysitter.” Or “XYZ was one of the 321 students in my Intro class last semester.”
- An explicit statement of recommendation (“It is my pleasure to recommend…” or “I recommend NAME without reservation.” Or “I strongly recommend…”
- Examples of collaboration, if any exist
- The person’s achievements (which could be taken in part from a resume)
- Positive attributes of the person, with supporting details
- A comparison of the person’s abilities with others at their same level (“NAME is easily one of the top five students I have ever taught in the past 15 years” or “NAME is in the top 10% of his/her class” or “NAME is not only one of the best interns I have, but produces work in par with employees who have been working here much longer.”)
- A conclusion where the recommendation is restated
- Contact information in case follow-up information is desired
Denying Requests for Recommendations
Sometimes it is necessary to turn down a request for a letter of recommendation. This should be done immediately, with an explanation. The explanation will help the person in future situations, and may also help him/her choose better recommenders this time.
- “I’m sorry, but the deadline is two days from now. That is simply an unrealistic request.”
- “You were one of 50 students in my class. Yes, you got an A, but I do not feel like I could give a personalized recommendation.”
- “This letter is for architecture school, and I am your Latin teacher. Wouldn’t it be better for you to get a recommendation from your art, math, or physics teacher?”
- “Honestly, you were not one of the best students in my class, and I do not feel like I could give you the letter you would want.”
- “I am just the teaching assistant. Who writes the letter of recommendation is as important as what it says. Do any of your professors know you well enough to write a personalized recommendation?”
Having to write a letter of recommendation can be stressful for the uninitiated. But it can truly be a simple task, especially when the writer has many positive things to say. Reading sample letters can help a teacher or other recommender get started.
Estela Kennen - Estela is a doctoral student in Public Administration and a freelance writer and editor.
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