For example, if you are applying for a position at a non-profit organization, you may list skills and attributes like, “a good multi-tasker, able to be client facing, a confident public speaker, a good communicator, and a strong writer. ” If you are applying for school, you may list skills and attributes like, “able to meet deadlines, an active member of the community, a strong writer and reader, and a good student with a high GPA. ”

For example, if you are writing the letter on behalf of your professor, you may list an A+ paper you wrote in their class or a project that you completed in their course. If you are writing the letter on behalf of your employer, you may list a sales target you hit as their employee or a key client that you landed for the recommender’s company.

The scenario should be short and to the point. You should be able to summarize it in one to two sentences. For example, you may focus on a scenario where you went above and beyond expectations for an assignment, resulting in a high grade. Or you may choose a situation where you won over a client by doing detailed research for a contract.

Most letters of recommendation are no longer than one page, with one paragraph for an opening, two body paragraphs, and a short ending paragraph. [5] X Expert Source Shannon O’Brien, MA, EdMLife & Career Coach Expert Interview. 24 September 2021. The paragraphs in the letter should be flush left and written with 11 point or 12 point font.

For example, you may begin with, “It is my pleasure to recommend [Your Name] for admission to your graduate program. I have known [Your Name] for nearly three years, during which time she was my undergraduate student as well as my teaching assistant for a leading social change course. ” Or, if you are writing the letter for a job application, you may start with, “It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Your Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Your Name] and I worked together at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed working with [Your Name] and viewed [him/her] as a valuable employee in my team. ”

For example, you may write, “[His/her] knowledge of social justice issues and expertise in leading social change was a huge advantage during the class. [Your Name] put this skillset to work in order to assist students with their questions and guide class discussion. [He/she] was an invaluable resource for students during the class. ”

For example, you may include an accomplishment like assisting a student when you were a teaching assistant for the recommender’s class. Or you may include an accomplishment like working with a team of coworkers to get a project done that was overseen by the recommender. You may write, “[His/her] ability to assist a student who needed guidance and direction in the class was a joy to witness. [He/she] impressed me with their tact, professionalism, and ability to communicate with students on a peer to peer level. ”

For example, you may write, “I confidently recommend [Your Name] to join your team at [Company]” or “Without a doubt, I confidently recommend [Your Name] as a student in your graduate program. ”

For example, you may write, “Please feel free to contact me at [contact information] in the event you would like to discuss [Your Name]’s qualifications and skills in more detail. I would be happy to provide more information on my recommendation. ”

You may also find it helpful to read the letter out loud to someone else, such as a peer or a coworker. Ask them for feedback on the letter to make sure it comes across as professional and effective.

When in doubt, keep the sentences simple, polished, and to the point. [8] X Expert Source Shannon O’Brien, MA, EdMLife & Career Coach Expert Interview. 24 September 2021. Trying to include too many obscure references or words will only make the letter more confusing and difficult to read.

Run the letter through spell check on your computer and read it backwards to check that each word is correct.

Make sure you submit the letter to the recommender a few days or weeks before the deadline for your application so they have enough time to read the letter over and sign it.