- A letter of recommendation is a vote of confidence in an individual's capabilities and competence. The person receiving the letter will evaluate your recommendation based on who you are and how you know the individual you're writing the letter about. If you're a coworker, your words carry a certain weight; if you're the individual's supervisor or are accomplished in a certain field, your words carry more weight. Identify yourself and what you do so that the person receiving the letter takes your recommendation seriously.
- Good letters of recommendation recommend an individual for a specific position, such as a spot in a graduate program or job. As with any type of writing, simply saying that someone is well-suited for a particular position is often unconvincing. Use the body of the letter to tell the recipient about the specific traits, qualities, or skills that the individual you're recommending possesses that makes him especially qualified for the position.
- Follow up by pointing out specific examples to illustrate the candidate's qualifications. Instead of saying that someone you are recommending to a graduate program possesses excellent research skills, discuss a research project the person participated in. Rather than pointing out that the person is a hard worker, include an example of a time-consuming project the person completed. Examples such as these can help the individual stand out and provide material for questions if the individual is called for an interview.
- Conclude your letter of recommendation with a phone number or email address so that the recipient of the recommendation can contact you to discuss the individual or to confirm that the letter of recommendation is accurate. Offer to answer additional questions about the person you're recommending; this is an additional vote of confidence for the individual you're recommending.
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