LETTER OF RECOMMMENDATION

AND REFERENCE LETTER

ENGLISH 6

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

• A letter of recommendation is one in which the writer assesses the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that individual's ability to perform a particular task or function.

• Recommendation letters are almost always specifically requested to be written about someone, and are therefore addressed to a particular requester.

• Letters of recommendation are typically related to employment, admissions to institutions of higher education or scholarship eligibility.

Reference letter• A reference letter is a letter of recommendation from a

previous or current supervisor, professor, coworker, peer or personal contact who can describe the knowledge, skills or aptitudes that you possess.

• Reference letters can be used when looking for work or applying to graduate school. Reference letters may be required when applying for monetary awards, such as a fellowship or grant. When presented selectively in a portfolio, reference letters provide compelling evidence to an employer or committee about your abilities.

• While your referees can provide a verbal reference, letters can be used if your reference has moved away, is no longer with the organization, or is out of reach for some reason, such as on holiday, when you need to supply your references.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF RECOMMENDATION AND REFERENCE LETTER?• A "letter of recommendation" is one that is specifically

requested by someone for a determined/defined employment position, academic program or award application. Generally, these letters are sent directly to the requester and not seen by the student. They can be categorized as:

• Employment Related, Academic Admission, Commendation or Recognition , Performance Evaluation

• A "letter of reference" is normally more general in nature and not addressed to a specific requestor. Often you will see these letters addressed as "To Whom it may Concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam". These letters are most often given directly to the student and kept for  future use. Situations where they are used tend to be:

• Character Assessment, Academic Related, Employment Related, General Purpose

Letter of Recommendation• Who to ask: Consider faculty members, administrators, internship/co-

operative education supervisors, and employers. The persons you ask to write your letters should

• know you well

• know you long enough to write with authority

• know your work

• describe your work positively

• have a high opinion of you

• know where you are applying

• know your educational and career goals

• be able to favorably compare you with your peers

• be well known

• be able to write a good letter

• Keep in mind that no one person will satisfy all of these criteria. Aim for a set of letters that cover the range of your skills. Ideally, letters should cover your academic and scholastic skills, research abilities and experiences, and applied experiences (e.g., co-operative education, internships, related work experience).

Structure of the letterDateline

Your NameYour TitleCompany or School NameAddressState, Zip Code

Recipient ‘s name

His title

company address

State, Zip Code

SalutationIf you are writing a personal letter of reference, include a salutation (Dear Mr. Johnson, Dear Dr. Jameson, etc.). If you are writing a general letter, say "To Whom it May Concern" or don't include a salutation. If you don't include a salutation start your letter with the first paragraph. (AMERICAN MODIFIED STYLE)

• Body of the Letter

• First ParagraphThe first paragraph of a recommendation letter explains your connection to the person you are recommending, including how you know them, and why you are qualified to recommend the person for employment or school.

• Second ParagraphThe second paragraph of a recommendation letter contains information about the individual you are writing about, including why they are qualified, what they can contribute, and why you are recommending them. If necessary, use more than one paragraph to provide details.

• Third ParagraphWhen writing a letter recommending a candidate for a specific job opening, the recommendation letter should include information on how the person's skills match the position they are applying for. Ask for a copy of the job posting and a copy of the person's resume so you can target your letter accordingly.

• SummaryThis section of the recommendation later contains a brief summary of why are you are recommending the person. State that you "strongly recommend" the person or you "recommend without reservation" or "has my highest recommendation" or something similar.

• ConclusionThe concluding paragraph of your recommendation letter contains an offer to provide more information. Include a phone number within the paragraph, include the phone number and email address in the return address section of your letter, or in your signature.

Sincerely,

Recommender Name

Title

Example of a recommendation letter

February 12, 2010

Lyle MacPherson

Manager, Sales and Marketing

XYZ Company Inc.

890 Iswaretoyou Street

City, (State / Province) (Zip / Postal Code)

Mr. Bill Johnson

Manager, Marketing Services

ABC Company Inc.

123 Somewhere Street

City, (State / Province) (Zip / Postal Code)

Dear Mr. Johnson:

It is a genuine pleasure and honor for me to recommend Mary Smith for the Senior Marketing position at ABC Company Inc. Mary has worked under my direct supervision at XYZ Company for the past eight years. During that time, I have witnessed her steady growth from a Junior Marketing Trainee into a Senior Marketing Coordinator, the position she has held for the past three years with XYZ Company.

Mary is a hard-working, self-motivated employee. She intuitively understands the scope and magnitude of projects from the beginning, and how to get them completed quickly, efficiently and effectively. During her three years as Senior Marketing Coordinator, there was not a single time that she missed a major deadline. On several occasions Mary brought projects in below budget, and I can recall at least two major projects that she completed ahead of the scheduled deadline.

Ms. Smith is. She frequently comes up with new and innovative approaches to the projects that have been assigned to her. She performs well in the role of project leader, as well as a team member on projects that are under the direction of other project leaders. If your company is seeking creative, resourceful, and solution-oriented Senior Marketing Agent Mary is an excellent choice. She has consistently demonstrated an ability as an excellent leader.

In closing, based on my experience working with Mary, I very strongly recommend that you consider Mary Smith for the position of Senior Marketing Agent. I am sure that you will be every bit as impressed with her as I have been.

If you would like discuss Mary‟s qualifications further, please feel free to call me at (123) 456-7890.

Sincerely,

Lyle MacPherson

Manager, Sales and Marketing

XYZ Company Inc.

Reference Letter:March 20, 2005

John SmithManager, Sales and Marketing Yeah CompanyAddressState, Zip Code

To Whom it May Concern:

I highly recommend Jane Doe as a candidate for employment. Jane was employed by Yeah Company as an Administrative Assistant from 2002 – 2005. Jane was responsible for office support including word processing, scheduling appointments and creating brochures, newsletters, and other office literature.

Jane has excellent communication skills. In addition, she is extremely organized, reliable and computer literate. Jane can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. She is flexible and willing to work on any project that is assigned to her. Jane was quick to volunteer to assist in other areas of company operations, as well.

Jane would be a tremendous asset for your company and has my highest recommendation. If you have any further questions with regard to her background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely,

John Smith Manager, Sales and Marketing

The end!