Tips on How to Write High Impact Letters of Recommendation

Congratulations. You've been asked to write a letter of recommendation for an employee or colleague. This person values your opinion of him or her, and you'd be glad to help them advance. The problem is you're unsure of what to say or how to say it! Here are four tips to keep in mind when preparing your recommendation.

1. Ask the employee about the new position they are applying for. What types of job duties are involved? What sort of characteristics are they looking for in a good employee? In your letter, describe certain instances where this employee or colleague really shined ? such as staying late to complete a mission-critical project, working diligently to help a customer make a product decision, providing thorough technical support or service, and so on. These specific situations have more effect on the person doing the hiring than general run-of-the-mill phrases like "terrific manager", "enthusiastic worker" and so on.

2. Use powerful statements that really show your depth of knowledge about the person. A description like "X is a keen observer who knows how to make customers act and is there with them every step of the way if they are hesitant or have questions" gives a true, in-depth knowledge of the person in a way that a casual letter may not.

3. Print off five letters of reference on company stationery and give them to the recipient. This gives your colleague or coworker additional letters for any other positions that he or she may be applying for in the future, and saves you from having to write them if the request comes around again! If you know it, put the address of the company to whom the letter is being sent, as well as the name of the person in Human Resources who will be collecting and organizing these reference letters. A personalized greeting is far better than a general "To Whom It May Concern" salutation. For the other four copies, leave the address area blank so that the employee can use them for other job opportunities that arise.

4. If you're really stuck on what to write, or simply don't have time, ask the person requesting the reference to write a letter about themselves in their own words and you'll sign it for them. This is a great time-saver and a perfect idea if you're struggling to put the right words on paper.

If you keep these four tips in mind, writing a letter of recommendation will not only come easier to you, but it will let the person receiving the letter know how much you value them as an employee or colleague, and will help them feel more confident when they move on to the next step ? the interview. Good luck!

Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes and Career Information Resources who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and ifestyle topics.

---

Love What You Do!

"To love what you do and feel that it matters,... Read More

To Get Hired or Get Promoted, Attitude Is The Key

When you're looking to get hired or get promoted, what... Read More

One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss

Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high... Read More

Is Your Career Your Calling or Just a 9 to 5?

Do you remember your parents asking you what you want... Read More

Career Discovery - Pinpoint Your Ideal Career

Determine your ideal career--one that's in alignment with your values,... Read More

How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews

Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts... Read More

Job Interviews: Succeeding with Panel Interviews

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More

How To Survive A Job Loss

Has this ever happened to you: You have been working... Read More

Simple Tips to Move Forward on the Job, Part II

After establishing a trusting relationship with the safety officer, it... Read More

Networking Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Them

'Fear of rejection' is the major reason why individuals looking... Read More

Job Search Tip for College Students

Today everyone is looking for that special job that will... Read More

How People Really Explore New Careers: What Does A Real Career Search Look Like?

The traditional model of career choice suggests a linear pattern.... Read More

Answering The What Are Your Weaknesses? Interview Question

One of the trickier questions an interviewer might put to... Read More

Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid

By avoiding these 8 simple mistakes, you can improve your... Read More

Ebook Review: Winning a Job is Easier with Job Secrets Revealed

IntroductionThere are literally thousands, if not tens of thousands of... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II

In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More

Recovering From a Career Crisis

If you have ever experienced any of the following, you... Read More

Ten Tips to a Job Winning Interview

These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The... Read More

Top Ten Networking Strategies To Get A Job, A Promotion, Or Make A Sale

Whether you are networking to find a new job opportunity,... Read More

Offer Letter Limbo

Recently we concluded the placement of a Senior Sales Representative... Read More

Bringing Our Family to Work

Let's face it, most of us consider professional success and... Read More

Tell Me About Yourself

The need to tell people about yourself may present itself... Read More

Working as a Knowledge Worker in the Information Age

The old adages: "It's not what you know, but who... Read More

Taking Job Loss Seriously

Anyone reading this article and hassuffered a job loss recently... Read More

Manage Your Boss - And Get Ahead!

It's clear there are a number of common issues faced... Read More

Are You a Nice Person? What Companies are Looking for in Recruiting and Retaining Great People

Hal Rosenbluth, author of The Customer Comes Second, states; "In... Read More

Networking is the Key to Star Performance in Everything You Do.

Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of... Read More

How to Receive Multiple Job Offers After You?re Fired

Ask survivors of the most popular reality television shows and... Read More

9 Secrets to Career Success

Are you miserable at your job (or what you are... Read More

It May Be Time to Walk in an Employers Shoes

If you are in a job search and aren't receiving... Read More

Get Your Dream Job!

Anyone who is a jobseeker knows that looking for a... Read More

5 Steps to a New Job

The economy is picking up, budgets are new, positions are... Read More

Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary

The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This... Read More