How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation

Learn how to write a letter of recommendation to help a student or friend get a job, placement in higher education programs or scholarships. Since what you say in the letter may determine whether or not a person gets employment or accepted into a program, only write a letter of recommendation for a person if you have good things to say about him. Keep the letter short and use formal language when writing a recommendation.

To write a letter of recommendation, you will need:

• Notepad
• Computer with word processing software

1. Type your address, the recipient's address and the date at the top of the letter. Don't put your name as part of your address. You can skip your address if you're using letterhead.
2. Add the salutation to the letter.  Use "Dear" and the person's title and last name, if you have it. If you do not have a name, write "Dear Sir or Madam" or "To Whom it May Concern."
3. Get details about the person you are writing about. Ask them what activities they're up to, what awards they've received and what any other achievements.
4. Write the body of the letter of recommendation. Introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the person you're writing the letter for. In the  next paragraph, write about the referee's grades, if you're writing an academic letter, or about his performance on the job if you are writing an employment letter.
5. Judge and critique the referee in the last paragraph of the letter of recommendation. Since you're recommending this person, your judgment should be positive.
6. Close the letter with "Sincerely" and your name. Leave four spaces between "Sincerely" and your typed  name so you can sign the letter.