Recommendation Letter Sample

What is a recommendation letter?

A recommendation letter is written by a person and it specifies and highlights qualities and strengths of the respective person. Recommendation letters are written only when someone requests for it and therefore, it is addressed to a specific person. The term recommendation letter is also interchangeably used with reference letter. Recommendation letters are written for various purposes like letter of recommendation for employment or a letter of recommendation for academic scholarship.

A recommendation letter needs to be detailed, giving all information about the characteristics as well as the capabilities of the person. The most important thing is that recommendation letter should not be ambiguous. There is a standard format of a recommendation letter. If you are thinking how to write a recommendation letter, the following is the format or the layout of a sample recommendation letter that will be helpful.

Template of Recommendation Letter

• Address of Sender
• Date
• Name of Recipient
• Address of Recipient (if it is a generalized letter, the sender does not write the name of the recipient, rather it is written as 'to whomsoever it may concern'.)
• Dear Mr/Ms
• First paragraph - This is the beginning of the letter and here the sender needs to mention the relation between him and the person.
• 2-3 Paragraphs - Here the sender needs to mention in detail, the qualities and strengths or weaknesses of the person in concern. Here, he will also mention why the person is suitable for the job.
• Closing Paragraph - This is the concluding part of the letter and here, the sender also mentions his contact number or e-mail address, in case, the recipient needs more information.
• Yours faithfully / sincerely,
• Name of Sender

You will notice that these essential things are always mentioned in sample recommendations. Let us have a look at some recommendation letter samples. The following is a sample letter of recommendation from an employer.

Recommendation Letter Sample # 1

Address of Sender
Date
Name of Recipient
Address of Recipient
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing this letter as a recommendation for Mr. ABC.
(1st paragraph) Mr. ABC worked with me at (name of firm) for ___ years. He is a hard-working employee and knows how to get the work done effectively. He has also worked with other teams closely and was an inspiration for his team members.

Mr. ABC has excellent communication skills, both verbal as well as written. He was highly respected here by his colleagues and customers. (The sender needs to mention all the qualities along with some examples or experiences). When Mr. ABC handed his resignation, we were saddened to see him leave and his presence is still missed here.

On the basis of my experience of knowing and working with Mr. ABC, I strongly recommend him to a position of ______. If you wish to have further information about Mr. ABC, please feel free to give me a call at (contact number).
Yours faithfully,
Name of Sender

See more on employment recommendation letter and sample letter of recommendation from employer.

Recommendation Letter Sample # 2

You can also get a personal recommendation letter from a relative or an acquaintance. The important thing to be considered in a personal recommendation letter is, that the person must have a professional relation with the sender. Here is a sample of personal letter of recommendation.

Address of Sender
Date
To whom it may concern:
This is my personal recommendation letter for Mr. XYZ.
(1st paragraph) Mr. XYZ has worked under my supervision at (name of firm) for __ years and I have found him to be reliable and dedicated. He is also a conscientious and honest employee.

Mr. XYZ is creative and resourceful and we have benefited from his innovative ideas. He has also worked well as a team leader as well as an efficient team member. He has handled a full range of responsibilities including ______.

Mr. XYZ's contributions for the company have been impressive and valuable. He has demonstrated enthusiasm and creativity towards a variety of projects. He is a very competent employee and has an excellent rapport with other employees as well.

I, without any reservation recommend Mr. XYZ for the position of _______. I am sure he will be a great asset for the company. I will be happy to provide further information about Mr. XYZ, if required. Do not hesitate to call me at (contact number).
Sincerely,
Name of Sender

See more on sample personal letters of recommendation and examples of recommendation letters.

One must remember that a recommendation letter needs to be precise as well as professional. I hope these recommendation letter samples will be helpful for anyone who has been requested to write one, for their former employee.