1. Meaning of recommendation letter
  2. Letter of recommendation template
  3. Recommendation letter samples
  4. How To Write a Recommendation for an Employee?

So you are trying to write a recommendation letter for an employee?

Let's make your task easy!

In this article, we bring to you sample recommendation letters with downloadable files and take a look at how to write this letter in 5 easy steps.

Let's start by understanding,

Meaning of recommendation letter

A recommendation letter, also known as a reference letter, is a document written by a person (usually a former employer, colleague, mentor, or teacher) who can attest to an individual's qualifications, skills, experiences, and character.

The purpose of a recommendation letter is to endorse the individual and provide insights into their abilities and suitability for a specific job, academic program, or other opportunities. \

Recommendation letters are often requested by employers, academic institutions, or organizations as part of the application process to gain additional perspective on an applicant's qualifications and potential.

Letter of recommendation template

Here's a template you can follow while drafting a recommendation letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Title/Occupation]
[Your Organization/Institution]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]

[Date]

[Recipient's Name]
[Recipient's Title/Occupation]
[Company/Organization/Institution Name]
[Company/Organization/Institution Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I am writing to recommend [Applicant's Name] for [Position/Opportunity] at [Company/Organization/Institution Name]. As [Your Relationship to Applicant], I have had the opportunity to closely observe [Applicant's Name]'s performance and capabilities, and I am confident in their ability to excel in [Position/Opportunity].

[Paragraph 1: Introduction]
Begin by introducing yourself and your relationship to the applicant. Briefly explain why you are qualified to provide a recommendation for them.

[Paragraph 2: Strengths and Accomplishments]
Highlight the applicant's key skills, strengths, and accomplishments. Provide specific examples or anecdotes that demonstrate their abilities and contributions. If applicable, mention any relevant projects, achievements, or awards.

[Paragraph 3: Comparison and Context]
Provide context by comparing the applicant's performance to industry standards or their peers. Highlight any unique qualities or skills that set them apart. If applicable, mention any areas where the applicant has demonstrated growth or improvement over time.

[Paragraph 4: Conclusion and Endorsement]
Reiterate your recommendation and express your confidence in the applicant's ability to succeed in the desired role or opportunity. Offer to provide further information or support if needed.

[Closing]
Thank you for considering [Applicant's Name] for [Position/Opportunity]. Please feel free to contact me at [Your Email Address] or [Your Phone Number] if you have any questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Recommendation letter samples

Here are a few samples for recommendation letters

Sample 1

Sub: Recommendation letter for {candidate’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},
I am {name} and I have been working in {Company’s name} since two months as a {Title}. The purpose behind writing this letter is to support Mr/Ms {Candidate’s name} and his desire to join your company. {Candidate’s first name} has worked in this company for {total number of months} and s/he has been under my supervision all this time. I feel privileged to write this letter of recommendation because it will help one of our most sincere employees to move forward in his/her career.

Mr/Ms {candidate’s name} has been assisting me in various projects and presentations, hence I am aware of his/her attributes. S/he has always worked well under pressure and has kept a calm head even when our supervisors became pessimistic.

The positivity surrounding {Candidate’s first name} is infectious and all his/her colleagues would agree to this. S/he has been an integral part in conducting our Annual Meet {name any other important project the candidate has been a part of} and has managed to make every show a success.

S/he is analytical, communicative, and humble at the same time and all of his/her attributes have helped our company to grow.

With his/her decision to join your organization, I am sure that you will also feel the same way as we do because {Candidate’s first name} is everything that an ideal employee is supposed to be. I am confident of his/her abilities and would like to assure you of the same. If you have any questions, you can contact me at the above-mentioned email address or phone number.

Yours Sincerely,
{Your name}

Click here to download this recommendation letter sample

Sample 2

Sub: Recommendation letter for {candidate’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},

My name is Kritika Bhasin and I am the Assistant Manager at {Company’s Name} where Mr. Anil Purbey has worked as a consultant. I am writing this letter to support Mr. Purbey and his desire to join your company.

I have worked closely with him in his job span of two months and I am delighted to tell you that he has been one of the best consultants in our company. I am very well aware of all of his qualities and attributes.

Mr. Purbey’s scintillating ability to be analytical in all situations to provide an easy solution to our problems is truly commendable and he has always proven himself to be a valuable asset to our company.

Not only has he been an excellent employee, but he has always presented an ideal example of team spirit as well. His communication and analytical skills helped us to come up with a great presentation for our Annual Company Meet held in Dubai.

The best part about this was that he inspired everyone with his words and helped us in making the presentation a success in just 48 hours. He is known to bring out the best in himself and everyone else around him.

With his exceptional qualities, I am certain that Mr. Purbey would be an ideal addition to your company. His knowledge and quick would help him soar higher in all his endeavors, and he’ll surely live up to your demands and expectations. If you have any other doubts or queries regarding Mr. Anil, feel free to contact me at the address and phone number mentioned above.

Sincerely,
{Your Name}

Click here to download this recommendation letter template

Sample 3

Sub: Recommendation letter for {candidate’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},

I am {Your name}, the {Your title} at {Company name} and I am writing this letter to support the {Candidate’s title} of our company Mr/Ms {Candidate’s name} and his/her desire to join your company.

I have worked with {Candidate’s name} from {Year of starting} till {Present/ year of leaving} and I have always found him/her an excellent performer who is both analytical and communicative. S/he played a key role in {A project led by the candidate} and proved himself/herself to be a determined and hard working individual.

I am sure that {Candidate’s name} would be a great addition to your team and you can contact me at the above-mentioned address in case of any queries.

Yours Sincerely,
{Your signature}

Click here to download this recommendation letter sample

Sample 4

Sub: Recommendation letter for {candidate’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},

As the {Your title} at {Company’s name}, I am writing this letter to sincerely and wholeheartedly support Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s name} and his/her desire to join your prestigious company, {Name of the company}. I have known {Candidate’s first name} since {number of months,} months and I have never been more proud of any other employee working under me as a consultant {you can add the position accordingly in place of “consultant”.

To talk about the meritorious qualities of Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s name} is a tedious task because he/she cannot be judicially described in just a few words.

I still remember the first time we interviewed {Candidate’s first name} and found him/her to be an exceptionally intelligent person. Being a topper of his/her batch for three consecutive months, {Candidate’s first name} was used to keeping his/her mind actively involved in everything he/she did.

Be it preparing a complex presentation with me or helping out a new recruit by teaching him/her the ways of working, {Candidate’s first name} was always successful in all his/her endeavours.

The directors of our company took a special interest in {Candidate’s first name}’s perceptions and views because they were always sensible and valuable. Being an analytical and observing personality, he/she made sure that no mistake was repeated and spoke against the majority’s views regarding a major change in our company’s policies because he/she could see the loopholes in it.

What makes {Candidate’s first name} more special is the fact that he/she is humble, compassionate and generous towards his/her coworkers. There have been instances when I wasn’t present in the company and {Candidate’s first name} took the responsibilities on his/her shoulders to help in the smooth functioning of all the processes.

His/her knowledge is not limited to just one field and he/she is a quick learner since he/she could manage everything after spending just three months in the company. He/she was more than an employee, he/she was a part of our family and will always be.

It is not easy for us to say goodbye to such an excellent and inspiring employee but in order to respect his/her choices and decisions, we are glad to let him/her shift to your company. I believe that in {Employer’s Company’s name}, {Candidate’s first name} will be able to find the deserving position for himself/herself which will reward him/her accordingly.

I hope he/she will continue to shine in your company as well. For any doubts or queries, you can email me or call me at the above-mentioned digits and email address.

Yours Sincerely,
{Your signature}

Click here to download this recommendation letter sample

Sample 5

Sub: Recommendation letter for {friend’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},

I am writing this letter to support Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s full name} and his/her desire to join your firm/company, {Name of the Company}, as {applied position}. {Candidate’s first name} has been my friend since {Number of months} and that is a considerable time to understand someone. When I first met him/her, {Candidate’s first name} was working as a {Job position} at {Name of the company} and he/she was known to be the most excellent employee of that company for {number of months}. He/She even won the “Employee of the Month” title numerous times during the course of his/her services there.

{Candidate’s first name} is a diligent, hardworking, and optimistic individual who has always justified all the titles given to him/her. Even at his/her last job at {Company’s name}, he/she was proud of the company and its ideals. He/she has always been appreciated and rewarded for going an extra mile to better his/her performance at work. Not only this, {Candidate’s first name} is an active member of our community and believes in the virtues of harmony and patience.

Teamwork is one of the strongest personality attributes that he/she has and in his/her last job as a {position}, he/she even led a project/presentation which gave outstanding results to the company. Coming from a humble background, {Candidate’s first name} has made his/her mark on every company he/she has worked in and has proven to be a valuable asset to all.

I feel fortunate to have known Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s last name} for so long. I have been a witness to all his/her accomplishments and I strongly recommend him/her to you with a positive belief that he/she will be an ideal addition to your company. In the case of any query regarding {Candidate’s first name} you can contact me at {Your email ID}.

Regards,
{Your signature}

Click here to download this recommendation letter sample

Sample 6

Sub: Recommendation letter for {candidate’s name}

Dear Mr/Ms {Recipient’s Name},

As the {Your title} at {Company’s name}, I am writing this letter to sincerely and wholeheartedly support Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s name} and his/her desire to join your prestigious company, {Name of the company}. I have known {Candidate’s first name} since {number of months,} months and I have never been more proud of any other employee working under me as a consultant {you can add the position accordingly in place of “consultant”.

To talk about the meritorious qualities of Mr/Ms. {Candidate’s name} is a tedious task because he/she cannot be judicially described in just a few words. I still remember the first time we interviewed {Candidate’s first name} and found him/her to be an exceptionally intelligent person.

Being a topper of his/her batch for three consecutive months, {Candidate’s first name} was used to keeping his/her mind actively involved in everything he/she did. Be it preparing a complex presentation with me or helping out a new recruit by teaching him/her the ways of working, {Candidate’s first name} was always successful in all his/her endeavours.

The directors of our company took a special interest in {Candidate’s first name}’s perceptions and views because they were always sensible and valuable.

Being an analytical and observing personality, he/she made sure that no mistake was repeated and spoke against the majority’s views regarding a major change in our company’s policies because he/she could see the loopholes in it.

What makes {Candidate’s first name} more special is the fact that he/she is humble, compassionate and generous towards his/her coworkers. There have been instances when I wasn’t present in the company and {Candidate’s first name} took the responsibilities on his/her shoulders to help in the smooth functioning of all the processes.

His/her knowledge is not limited to just one field and he/she is a quick learner since he/she could manage everything after spending just three months in the company. He/she was more than an employee, he/she was a part of our family and will always be.

It is not easy for us to say goodbye to such an excellent and inspiring employee but in order to respect his/her choices and decisions, we are glad to let him/her shift to your company.

I believe that in {Employer’s Company’s name}, {Candidate’s first name} will be able to find the deserving position for himself/herself which will reward him/her accordingly. Please accept this letter and consider it as my strong recommendation to one of our most precious employees and I hope he/she will continue to shine in your company as well.

For any doubts or queries, you can email me or call me at the above-mentioned digits and email address

Yours Sincerely,
{Your signature}

Click here to download this recommendation letter sample

How To Write a Recommendation for an Employee?

Now that we have seen the samples, let's take a look at how to write a recommendation letter for employees:

1. Start with a Strong Opening

Begin your recommendation with a clear and confident statement endorsing the employee. For example, "I am pleased to recommend [Employee's Name] for [Position/Opportunity]." This sets a positive tone from the outset.

Specify your relationship with the employee and your capacity to evaluate their performance. This could be as a direct supervisor, colleague, mentor, or client.

Include relevant details about the employee's tenure in the role or any notable projects they've been involved in to provide context for your recommendation.

2. Highlight Key Skills and Accomplishments:

Identify 2-3 core skills or qualities that the employee possesses which are particularly relevant to the role or opportunity they're seeking. These could include leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, etc.

Provide specific examples or anecdotes that illustrate these skills in action. Describe a situation where the employee demonstrated the skill, what actions they took, and the positive outcome achieved.

Quantify achievements whenever possible. If the employee increased sales by a certain percentage, completed a project ahead of schedule, or received recognition for their work, include these details to add credibility to your recommendation.

3. Address Areas of Improvement Diplomatically:

If there are areas where the employee could improve, approach this feedback with sensitivity and diplomacy. Focus on constructive criticism rather than dwelling on shortcomings.

Offer suggestions for improvement or growth opportunities that could help the employee further develop their skills. Frame these suggestions in a positive light, emphasizing the potential for growth and advancement.

If the employee has already shown progress in addressing previous areas of improvement, acknowledge their efforts and highlight their commitment to personal and professional development.

By following these elaborated points, you can craft a recommendation letter that highlights the employee's strengths and gives constructive feedback for their continued growth and success.

4. Compare to Peers or Industry Standards

Provide context by comparing the employee's performance to that of their peers or industry benchmarks. Highlight areas where the employee stands out or exceeds expectations.

If applicable, mention any awards, accolades, or recognition the employee has received that distinguish them from others in similar roles.

Use industry-specific terminology or metrics to underscore the employee's expertise and proficiency within their field.

5. Conclude with a Strong Endorsement

Reiterate your recommendation and express your confidence in the employee's ability to excel in the role or opportunity they're pursuing. Use strong, affirmative language to reinforce your endorsement.

Summarize the key points of your recommendation, emphasizing the employee's strengths, accomplishments, and potential contributions.

Offer to provide further information or support if needed, such as being available for follow-up questions or providing additional references.

End on a positive and encouraging note, expressing your belief that the employee will thrive in their future endeavors.

FAQs

How to write a good recommendation letter for an employee?
A good recommendation letter should start with a brief introduction of your relationship with the employee, followed by specific examples highlighting their skills, achievements, and character traits relevant to the position. It should be personalized, honest, and include specific instances that showcase their strengths.

What is an example of a good reference letter for an employee?
A good reference letter should include specific examples of the employee's contributions, skills, and accomplishments. It should be well-structured, concise, and highlight their unique strengths and qualifications for the position.

What is a good example of a letter of recommendation?
A good letter of recommendation should be detailed, providing specific examples of the individual's abilities, accomplishments, and character traits. It should be tailored to the recipient's needs and include concrete evidence of the individual's qualifications and suitability for the position or opportunity.

How to write a recommendation letter for a job?
When writing a recommendation letter for a job, focus on the candidate's relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments related to the position. Use specific examples and provide context to illustrate their qualifications. Tailor the letter to the job requirements and emphasize how the candidate's strengths align with the needs of the role. Be honest and positive in your assessment, and conclude with a strong endorsement of the candidate's suitability for the position.

Letter Format