Best Letter of Recommendation Templates and Formats

A well-crafted letter of recommendation impacts job selection, admission, or scholarship approval. It is a letter suggesting you to another firm on behalf of your boss, hiring manager, coach, or teacher. It serves as evidence of the applicant’s character, skills, and achievements. Since it is a reliable testimonial of one’s abilities, it impacts decision-making. 

According to a survey report by the National Association for College Admission Counselling (NACAC), teacher’s recommendation letters impact 26% of admission decisions. Hence, it would be best to have a strong letter of recommendation template when applying for a job or a degree course. Additionaly, an impactful letter of recommendation helps with scholarships, proving the applicant’s merit.

Structure, tone, language, and accuracy are the criteria that outline a strong LOR. Since the purpose and audience for each LOR vary, you need to follow a tailored format for each. This article will guide you in writing a great recommendation letter. Let’s explore LORs for different purposes, including a sample LOR format.

How to Write a Strong Letter of Recommendation

Let’s delve into the process and tips behind writing a strong LOR.

Understanding the purpose and audience of the LOR

To create an effective and relevant LOR, one must understand the purpose and audience. Familiarity with the purpose helps you tailor it. Knowledge of purpose and audience helps set the right tone. Besides, the recipient would be able to test the recommended candidate’s skills. A clear purpose helps with the analysis of the applicant’s abilities.

Gathering relevant information and achievements

The accuracy and credibility of the information one puts in LOR determine its impact. For the same, you need to gather information about the person you are writing LOR for. Next, you need to verify the information to maintain its accuracy. Gathering relevant and accurate data helps highlight the most relevant skills or accomplishments. It helps you avoid general or vague statements. It strengthens the LOR by providing concrete examples.

Writing tips: clarity, specificity, and sincerity

The following tips will help you create an impactful letter of recommendation:

1. Clarity: Prefer using clear language with simplified terms. Follow the most preferred structure, like the header, intro, body paragraphs, conclusion, and signature. State the purpose and relationship with the candidate in the introduction.
2. Specificity: Add concrete examples to prove candidates’ abilities, not general statements. You can use statistics to highlight the accomplishment. Every achievement mentioned in the LOR should be relevant to the position.
3. Sincerity: Maintain sincerity by providing honest information in an authentic and enthusiastic tone. But don’t exaggerate any information. Ensure to use a readable format with appropriate spacing, fonts, and alignment. Make sure you proofread and keep the information relevant.

Common mistakes to avoid

• LOR must not include generic or vague statements, like “The candidate is a good person.”
• It must not be too lengthy or too short, lacking vital information. The ideal length for a letter of recommendation is one page, consisting of 3-5 paragraphs.
• Do not emphasise the candidate’s weakness. Remember, no one recommends an unsuitable professional or student.
• Avoid exaggerating skills or abilities.
• Avoid experimenting with the structure; rather, follow the preferred order.
• Don’t forget to add your contact information for the recipient’s convenience.
• To make sure it is accurate and pertinent, proofread it well.

Letter of Recommendation Templates

Here are the structure, tips, and recommendation letter sample for student;

LOR Template for Students

The letter of recommendation for student should have the following key components:

Structure and key components

1. Header: Includes your name, title, institution name, contact information, and date.
2. Salutation: Address the recipient, like “Dear [Recipient’s Name or ‘Admissions Committee’]
3. Introduction: It includes your relationship with the student, duration, and purpose.
4. Body: Discuss the student’s academic merits, excellence in a specific subject, and strength. This section also highlights students’ characters along with examples.
5. Conclusion: This summarises your recommendation, assuring how deserving the student is. It ends with a sign-off and signature section.

Tips for highlighting academic achievements and character

1. Mention the achievements of the student. It could be exception scores, leadership projects, or accolades in extracurricular activities.
2. Highlight the projects where students demonstrated the skills to provide a reliable example.
3. Mention the personal attributes of the student with an example or anecdote.

Example template for students

[Your Name] [Your Title/Position]  [Your Institution] [Your Contact Information] [Date]  Dear [Recipient’s Name], I’m writing to suggest [name of student] for [name of program or scholarship]. As [your position], I have had the pleasure of getting to know [student’s name] for [period]. During this time, he or she has shown remarkable performance.  Over [his/her] time in my class, [student’s name] has exhibited exceptional qualities. As an illustration, [provide a particular occurrence that demonstrates the student’s accomplishments].  Besides this, [student] has participated in [extracurricular], in which [student] describes specific achievements. As indicated by [give examples], [student’s name] demonstrates certain skills or abilities.   In conclusion, I endorse [student’s name] for [goal]. If further information is required, please contact me at [ contact information].   With regards, [Your Name]  [Your signature]

LOR Template for Employees

The LOR format for employees includes the following structure and components:

Structure and key components

1. Header: Your name, position, company name, contact information, and date.
2. Salutation: a formal greeting
3. Introduction: Discuss the relationship with the candidate and the LOR certificate purpose.
4. Body: It discusses the candidate’s professional achievements, providing examples to support their statements.
5. Conclusion: Summarise why you are recommending the candidate. End it with a sign-off and signature.

Tips for emphasising professional skills and accomplishments

1. Mention the number of clients one has retained, acquired, or contributed to sales.
2. Highlight the types of projects one has worked on. Elaborate on the candidate’s skills with examples.
3. Mention the personal attributes of the candidate. Highlight leadership, problem-solving mindset, attitude, etc., with examples or anecdotes.

Example template for employees

[Your Name] [Your Title/Position] [Your Company] [Your Contact Information] [Date]  Dear [Hiring Manager/Recipient’s Name],  I’m writing to suggest [employee name] for the job at [business name]. I worked with [Employee’s Name] as [his/her] [your position] for [period].  Throughout [his/her] tenure at [your firm], [he/she] has contributed to the company’s growth. For example, [provide a specific occurrence that demonstrates the worker’s achievements].  Additionally, [the employee] has a great work ethic and a positive attitude [specific instances]. [Employee’s Name] excels at dealing with complex situations, which is [his/her] best skill. [Give examples of creative problem-solving or thinking].  Thus, I endorse [employee’s name] for [job]. For more information, please contact me at [contact information].   With Regards,  [Your Name] [Your Title/Position] [Your signature]

LOR Template for Masters Applications

Below are the key components and reference letter format for the master’s application:

Structure and key components

1. Header: Your name, position, company name, contact information, and date.
2. Salutation: Addresses the recipient, like “Dear [Recipient’s Name]
3. Introduction: Relationship with the candidate, duration of the relationship, and LOR purpose.
4. Body: The candidate’s achievements, skills, and qualities, along with examples in separate paragraphs.
5. Conclusion: Why you are recommending the candidate and a sign-off with signature.

Tips for showcasing suitability for advanced studies

1. Mention the applicant’s academic achievements and strengths relevant to the course.
2. Discuss specific projects or research where the applicant demonstrated research skills.
3. Emphasise the qualities of the applicant using particular instances.
4. Explain why the applicant is well-suited for the specific master’s program.

Example template for master’s applications

[Your Name] [Your Position] [Your Institution] [Your Contact Information] [Date] Dear [Admissions Committee/Recipient’s Name],  I’d like to propose [the applicant’s name] for a master’s program. As [your title], I’ve had the opportunity to coach [Applicant’s Name] for [period].  Throughout the [prior course], [the applicant] has demonstrated outstanding academic merit and achievements. As an example, [give a specific event that highlights the applicant’s achievements]. Apart from an outstanding academic record, [the applicant’s name] has remarkable research skills. [He/she] has shown analytical abilities in [describe particular research projects or publications].  Additionally, [Applicant’s Name] has admirable character traits. [He/she] is a very committed and driven person. For example, [provide a particular instance that exemplifies these attributes].  Hence, I recommend [the applicant’s name] for the [master’s program] at [the university or institution]. Please do not hesitate to contact me at [your contact information].    With Regards, [Your Name] [Your signature]

Additional tips and resources

Below are the tools useful to write a recommendation letter for an employee or student:

Online resources and tools for writing LORs

• Indeed Career Guide: It provides the most preferred letter of recommendation template. Besides, you will find the finest examples of different types of recommendation letters.
• Purdue Owl: Purdue Owl also offers well-researched and sought-after LOR samples for various recommendation letter formats.
• Harvard Law School: Harvard offers the best LOR guidelines for the overseas program. It provides effective recommendation letter samples for students.
• Grammar checking tool: The most trusted tool for grammatical checks is Grammarly.
• Hemingway: Improve the readability of your letter of recommendation template using Hemingway.

Besides these tools, you can hire writers who specialise in recommendation letters.

The importance of tailoring each LOR to the individual

To ensure LOR doesn’t look like yet another resume, you need to tailor it to your purpose and goals. Make it stand out by highlighting its unique skills and achievements. Customising LOR ensures that the individual’s merits align with the position. It increases credibility by demonstrating a genuine connection with the individual. Besides, it boosts the applicant’s confidence. A strong LOR impacts the decisions of the selection committee as well.

Final tips for ensuring a strong recommendation

1. Understand the specific purpose of the recommendation letter. Whether it’s for a job, an academic program, or a scholarship, tailor it.
2. Get detailed information about candidates’ performance, resume, and job description/admission eligibility.
3. Provide particular instances or tales to highlight the person’s abilities, successes, and attributes.
4. Use positive language, express genuine enthusiasm, and use professional formatting.
5. Verify accuracy and proofread the letter for any grammatical, spelling, or typographical errors.

Create a strong letter of recommendation for the best outcome.

A strong LOR can influence job selection, and student admission, or scholarship. Tailoring LOR to the purpose is crucial to ensure it aligns with the specific position. This increases credibility, boosts applicant confidence, and impacts the selection committee’s decision. To ensure a strong LOR, follow the given letter of recommendation template. This streamlines the process of writing the LOR. 

Additionally, it helps you avoid any such mistake that can cost a candidate’s dreams. Make sure you include concrete examples to support the candidate’s achievements and abilities. Maintain sincerity by providing credible information in an authentic and enthusiastic tone. A strong LOR can be a game-changer and a deciding factor when applying for a higher job position or course. Hence, create a compelling LOR to support your student or candidate’s future aspirations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read:

Letter of Recommendation for Masters Program: LOR Samples

What is Career Counselling – Why is it Important for You?