Defining a recommendation letter

A recommendation letter is a formal document that evaluates an individual, as well as his or her personal and professional qualities and skills. The students who apply for a college or university and candidates who seek jobs need a letter of recommendation.

The main purpose of such a paper is to inform an admission committee or an HR manager about a candidate. Also, it has to provide a detailed explanation of who he or she is, what he or she has managed to achieve at the current position, and what potential he or she has.

Such papers help the third parties to get some basic idea of what person they see in front of them.

The contemporary distant system of education and the availability of online jobs have increased the number of people applying for one position. At the same time, a large number of people with similar qualifications have changed the algorithm of application.

The admission committee and HR managers pay much attention to motivation and recommendation letters. If you need to increase your chances during the application, you may buy a letter of recommendation.

Who to Ask about a Letter of Recommendation

If you have to provide a letter of recommendation but you do not know whom to ask about such a favor, you may face a huge problem. A letter of recommendation is a serious and important paper. If you fail to find an appropriate person who knows you well, you may fail your application.

You cannot ask your relatives to write a paper for you because it will not be objective. It is not a good idea to ask for a recommendation from the dean if you did not have close relationships with him or her, who does not know you as a person, and who has just seen your name on a list of students.

When you have to choose a person for writing a letter of recommendation, you need to start by analyzing why you need it. If you want to apply to a college to become an IT professional, you have to contact your teacher in computer science.

Choose a drama teacher if you apply for an actor’s profession. If you wish to get a new job with similar skills, you may ask your HR manager or a colleague to write a letter.

Yet, if you seek a position that has different responsibilities you have to ask for a letter of recommendation from your boss because he or she knows you and your abilities.

He or she will be able to present you as a person who can take new responsibilities and carry them out effectively.

What to do when you have to write a letter of recommendation

If you have appeared in a position where a person asks you to write a letter you ought to understand that you take serious responsibility. You cannot simply refuse because you do not want to be responsible for a student’s success or failure.

You cannot accept an offer if you do not know him or her enough.

You have to critically assess your relationships with an individual and fairly answer whether you know a person to the extent that you can contribute to his or her application.

Yes, it means to take responsibility. Still, if you can help a person you have to do it because someone has also written a recommendation for you one day. As a result, you have become the professional you are at the moment. Critically assess your skills and time left.

Do not accept an offer if you have to send a ready paper in several hours. It may be tricky and result in failure.

Request Information

If you have agreed to write a recommendation letter, you need to ask for some information from a person. First, you need to learn where you have to deliver a letter. Second, you need to ask about the purpose of the application.

This data will help you understand what to write about in your paper. Each person has many skills and abilities, while specific professions require a set of particular skills. You may complete a good letter when you understand the purpose and the focus.

If a person applies for a job, ask about the responsibilities he or she is going to have and the expected skills needed. When you have to write a letter for a college student, you need to learn about the program he or she wishes to accomplish. This data will help you define the focus of your recommendation.

Focus on one or two qualities

Do not try to discuss each skill and a strong feature of a person. Focus on one or two skills considered the most important ones. It will help you write a strong paper and discuss the major potential of a candidate.

Focus on the obstacles a person has overcome to achieve his or her goal, and it will also count as a positive experience.

Be specific

Consider that each recommendation is personal. If you have to write two or more letters, do not try to focus on the same skills. As each paper is personal, you have to make it as specific as you can. List some events or situations you can remember regarding peculiar skills.

It will help create a tie between your vision of an individual and his or her abilities. It creates trust.

Use active voice in your sentences

Use the active voice and avoid the passive one. The latter makes your writing weaker. It becomes unclear who you write about if you use passive constructions. For example, “Good results were achieved in a college”.

This is a passive construction that does not give a clear understanding of who achieved good skills. Mr. C. achieved good results in a college” is a smarter version of the same idea.

Use Samples but Do not Copy Them

Each letter should be your writing. Do not copy sentences and even parts of sentences from other papers because it will make a recommendation general, not specific, and not unique. Check some samples to understand the idea, but do not try to cheat.

General recommendations for writing recommendation letters

  • Stick to a 1-page format, do not write more. Take into account that you have only 300 words to tell why this person is unique and requires acceptance.
  • Do not exaggerate facts. The members of the admission committee read hundreds of letters regularly and have a clear understanding of what a person can do and what aspects are attempts to lie.
  • Do not copy anything even if it is a part of a student’s application or resume. The paper has to be unique and does not repeat anything.
  • If a student who turns to you deserves exceptional attention, do it. Write a personal note to the program director. It does not oblige the one to accept your candidate but it may give him or her one additional point.
  • Avoid standard words such as “punctual”, “reliable”, or “responsible”. Basically, each person who applies for a college or a new position possesses these skills. Try to find more personal and specific qualities to talk about.

Conclusion

Thus, we hope the ideas presented in this article are helpful. We have gathered the experience of our writers and presented some basic tips for you to see that a letter of recommendation is not a nightmare and it is possible to complete one fast.

You have to be responsible for what you do and start working immediately when you get the assignment.

Do not delay such an important paper.