recommendation letter thesis supervisor

I was the supervisor for her dissertation; Recommendation letter for graduate studies

Shilo 1 / -   Dec 22, 2012   #1 I am very pleased to recommend xxx to your University. I taught her for one year, when she was in her second year. In xxx's fourth year of academic studies I became her supervisor, as she was writing a term paper together with another student from her group. She worked hard and coped with the task excellently. Xxx also showed the ability to work in a team. When she was doing her master's degree, I was appointed as her contradictor of the dissertation. She defended it excellently. On the whole I know xxx for three years. I gladly confirm that xxx was one the most brilliant students in her group. Xxx has very good verbal and writing skills. That is why she was one the best translators in the group. Besides, she constantly tried to find a logical explanation to everything rather than learn by heart. She always analyzed grammatical rules and linguistic issues before applying them. Her willingness and determination had a result in the highest marks she obtained. Xxx is an enthusiastic person willing to discuss various subjects in class and express her own point of view. She also participated in a University organised work and showed her great sense of responsibility once more. During her studies xxx showed ability to work both in a team and organize the process of the work, and individually. She proved that she van work under the pressure. Xxx helped other students as much as she could. I should mention that she tried to explain unclear parts to them as easy as possible. Xxx's peers loved and regarded her for her honesty and friendly and kind character. The abilities and behavior she demonstrated served her well during the studies. I firmly believe that xxx's intellectual abilities, willingness to develop as a person and individual characteristics will help her in her further education. She is not afraid of making mistakes and accepts them if there are such. However xxx has a very reasonable approach to all problems both academic and in life. I wholeheartedly recommend xxx to your University. If you have any questions concerning xxx, please contact me. Sincerely, XYZ, Lecturer

vananhdhdl - / 2   Mar 1, 2013   #3 Letter to seek a professor who will be a supervisor! hi, I am planning to go abroad to study PhD in Human resource management. So could you help me to write a letter for a professor to he will accept to become my supervisor. Thank you so much for your caring!

farbodsalahi 5 / 7   Mar 2, 2013   #4 first of all, you should study some of his paper so as to be familiar with his investigation. in second place, you should talk with him and tell about your goals and interesting. if you have a question about it contact with me

vananhdhdl - / 2   Mar 3, 2013   #5 thank you for your suggesting!

Letter Templates

Recommendation Letter Thesis Supervisor

If you’re a graduate student, chances are you’ll have to request a recommendation letter from your thesis supervisor at some point. As your thesis supervisor has worked closely with you during your studies, they are in an excellent position to write a letter that highlights your academic and research abilities. However, writing a letter can be overwhelming for them. Here’s what you need to know about recommendation letters from a thesis supervisor.

What is a Recommendation Letter Thesis Supervisor?

A recommendation letter thesis supervisor is a letter written by a thesis supervisor on behalf of their student. It’s a document that provides a comprehensive assessment of an applicant’s academic and research abilities, as well as their potential for future success. This letter is typically used by students when applying for graduate school, research positions, or academic jobs.

There are several things to keep in mind when requesting a recommendation letter from your thesis supervisor. First, give them plenty of time to write the letter. Second, provide them with all the necessary information, such as your academic transcripts, a copy of your resume, and a list of the schools or programs you’re applying to. Finally, make sure to thank them for taking the time to write the letter.

Below are seven examples of recommendation letters from a thesis supervisor that you can use as a guide when requesting a letter.

Example 1: Letter for Graduate School

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to recommend Jane Smith for admission to your graduate program in psychology. As Jane’s thesis supervisor for the past two years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her on several research projects.

Jane is an exceptional student who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for research. She consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to her work, which is evidenced by her numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Jane would be an excellent addition to your program and would thrive in a challenging academic environment. I highly recommend her for admission and am confident that she will make a significant contribution to your program.

Professor John Doe

Example 2: Letter for Research Position

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to recommend John Smith for the research position at ABC Company. As John’s thesis supervisor for the past three years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with him on several research projects.

John is an exceptional researcher who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for problem-solving. He consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to his work, which is evidenced by his numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that John would be an excellent addition to your research team and would thrive in a challenging work environment. I highly recommend him for the position and am confident that he will make a significant contribution to your organization.

Professor Jane Doe

Example 3: Letter for Academic Job

I am writing to recommend Sarah Johnson for the tenure-track position in the Department of Biology at XYZ University. As Sarah’s thesis supervisor for the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her on several research projects.

Sarah is an exceptional researcher who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for teaching. She consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to her work, which is evidenced by her numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Sarah would be an excellent addition to your faculty and would thrive in a challenging academic environment. I highly recommend her for the position and am confident that she will make a significant contribution to your department.

Professor Jack Smith

Example 4: Letter for Scholarship

Dear Scholarship Committee,

I am writing to recommend Tom Brown for the XYZ Scholarship. As Tom’s thesis supervisor for the past two years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with him on several research projects.

Tom is an exceptional student who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for research. He consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to his work, which is evidenced by his numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Tom would be an excellent recipient of the XYZ Scholarship and would use the funds to further his academic and research goals. I highly recommend him for the scholarship and am confident that he will make a significant contribution to your organization.

Professor Mary Doe

Example 5: Letter for Internship

Dear Internship Coordinator,

I am writing to recommend Mike Jones for the ABC Internship Program. As Mike’s thesis supervisor for the past three years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with him on several research projects.

Mike is an exceptional student who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for research. He consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to his work, which is evidenced by his numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Mike would be an excellent addition to your internship program and would thrive in a challenging work environment. I highly recommend him for the program and am confident that he will make a significant contribution to your organization.

Professor David Smith

Example 6: Letter for Fellowship

Dear Fellowship Committee,

I am writing to recommend Emily Brown for the ABC Fellowship Program. As Emily’s thesis supervisor for the past four years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with her on several research projects.

Emily is an exceptional student who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for research. She consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to her work, which is evidenced by her numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Emily would be an excellent recipient of the ABC Fellowship and would use the funds to further her academic and research goals. I highly recommend her for the fellowship and am confident that she will make a significant contribution to your organization.

Professor Sarah Doe

Example 7: Letter for Job Promotion

I am writing to recommend Mark Johnson for the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at XYZ University. As Mark’s thesis supervisor for the past five years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with him on several research projects.

Mark is an exceptional researcher who possesses a strong work ethic and a natural ability for teaching. He consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication to his work, which is evidenced by his numerous academic achievements.

I am confident that Mark would be an excellent addition to your faculty and would thrive in a challenging academic environment. I highly recommend him for the position and am confident that he will make a significant contribution to your department.

Professor Robert Smith

Q: How can I ask my thesis supervisor for a recommendation letter?

A: You can ask your thesis supervisor for a recommendation letter by sending them an email or scheduling an appointment to discuss your request in person. When requesting a letter, be sure to provide them with all the necessary information and give them plenty of time to write the letter.

Q: How long should a recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor be?

A: A recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor should be one to two pages long. It should provide a comprehensive assessment of the applicant’s academic and research abilities, as well as their potential for future success.

Q: What should a recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor include?

A: A recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor should include an assessment of the applicant’s academic and research abilities, as well as their potential for future success. It should also include specific examples of the applicant’s achievements and contributions to their field.

Q: How can I ensure that my recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor is strong?

A: To ensure that your recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor is strong, provide them with all the necessary information and give them plenty of time to write the letter. Additionally, remind them of specific examples of your achievements and contributions to your field.

Q: Can I edit my recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor?

A: Yes, you can edit your recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor, but be sure to do so carefully. Make sure that any changes you make do not alter the tone or meaning of the letter.

Q: Can I use the same recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor for multiple applications?

A: Yes, you can use the same recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor for multiple applications, but be sure to check the application requirements for each program or position to ensure that the letter meets their specific criteria.

Q: How can I show my appreciation for a recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor?

A: To show your appreciation for a recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor, send them a thank-you note or email. Be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their time and effort.

A recommendation letter from a thesis supervisor is an important document that can help you achieve your academic and professional goals. By following the tips outlined in this article and using the examples provided, you can ensure that your recommendation letter is strong and effective.

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Sample Graduate School Recommendation by a Professor

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The success of your graduate school application relies on the quality of the recommendation letters professors write on your behalf. What goes into a helpful recommendation letter? Check out the sample letter of recommendation written by a professor. What makes it work?

An Effective Recommendation Letter for Graduate School 

• Explains how the professor knows the student. The professor speaks to the student’s abilities in several contexts rather than just in class.
• Is detailed.
• Supports statements with specific examples.
• Compares a student to her peers and the letter explains exactly what makes the student stand out.
• Describes a student's capacities in specific ways rather than simply noting that she is an excellent student prepared for grad school.

Below is the body of an effective recommendation letter, written by a professor.

To: Graduate Admissions Committee

It is my pleasure to write on behalf of Jane Student, who is applying to the Ph.D. program in Research Psychology at Major University. I have interacted with Jane in several contexts: as a student, as a teaching assistant, and as a thesis mentee.

I first met Jane in 2008, when she enrolled in my introductory Psychology class. Jane immediately stood out from the crowd, even as a first-semester freshman. Just a few months out of high school, Jane demonstrated characteristics commonly held by the best college students. She was attentive in class, prepared, submitted well-written and thoughtful assignments, and participated in meaningful ways, such as by debating other students. Throughout, Jane modeled critical thinking skills. Needless to say, Jane earned one of five A’s awarded in that class of 75 students. Since her first semester in college Jane has enrolled in six of my classes. She demonstrated similar competencies, and her skills grew with each semester. Most striking is her ability to tackle challenging material with enthusiasm and endurance. I teach a required course in Statistics that, as rumor has it, most students dread. Students’ fears of statistics are legendary across institutions, but Jane wasn’t fazed. As usual, she was prepared for class, completed all assignments, and attended help sessions conducted by my teaching assistant . My teaching assistant reported that Jane seemed to learn concepts quickly, learning how to solve problems well before the other students. When placed in group work sessions, Jane easily adopted a leadership role, helping her peers learn how to solve problems on their own. It was these competencies that led me to offer Jane a position as a teaching assistant for my statistics class.

As a teaching assistant, Jane strengthened many of the skills I have articulated. In this position, Jane held review sessions and offered out-of-class assistance to students. She also lectured in class several times during the semester. Her first lecture was a bit shaky. She clearly knew the concepts but had difficulty keeping pace with PowerPoint slides. When she abandoned the slides and worked off the blackboard, she improved. She was able to answer students questions and the two that she couldn’t answer, she admitted to and said she’d get back to them. As a first lecture, she was very good. Most important to a career in academics, is that she improved in subsequent lectures. Leadership, humility, the ability to see areas in need of improvement, and the willingness to do the work needed to improve – these are all characteristics we value in academia.

Most important to a career in academics is research competence. As I have explained, Jane has an excellent grasp of statistics and other skills critical to a successful career in research, such as tenacity and excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. As mentor of her senior thesis, I witnessed Jane in her first independent research efforts. Similar to other students, Jane struggled with finding an appropriate topic. Unlike other students, she conducted mini literature reviews on potential topics and discussed her ideas with a sophistication that is unusual for undergraduates. After methodical study, she chose a topic that fits her academic goals. Jane’s project examined [X]. Her project earned a department award, university award, and was presented as a paper at a regional psychology association.

In closing, I believe that Jane student has the capacity to excel at X and in a career as a research psychologist. She is one of a small handful of student that I have encountered in my 16 years teaching undergraduates that has this ability. Please do not hesitate to contact me with further questions.

Why This Letter Is Effective

• It is written by a professor who has extensive experience with the applicant .
• The professor describes several aspects of the student's competence.
• It describes how the student has grown and developed her skills.

What does this mean for you as a potential applicant to grad school ? Work to foster close, multidimensional relationships with faculty. Develop good relationships with several faculty because one professor often cannot comment on all of your strengths. Good graduate school letters of recommendation are built over time. Take that time to get to know professors and for them to get to know you.

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Sample emails to your thesis supervisor

A good thesis requires good communication between you and your thesis supervisor. This includes emails! Yet, even a simple email can lead to stress and overthinking. If you struggle to communicate with your thesis supervisor via email, have a look at six sample emails for inspiration.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the links below at  no additional cost to you.  I only recommend products or services that I truly believe can benefit my audience. As always, my opinions are my own.

General tips for emailing your thesis supervisor

Sample email to thesis supervisor inquiring about potential supervision, sample email to thesis supervisor setting up a meeting, sample email to thesis supervisor sharing post-meeting action points, sample email to thesis supervisor asking for feedback, sample email to thesis supervisor asking for support, sample email to thesis supervisor when not meeting a deadline.

Every relationship between student and thesis supervisor is unique. And everyone has a unique (email) writing style.

Nonetheless, there are a few general tips for emailing your thesis supervisor:

• Properly address your supervisor. In some contexts, it is acceptable that students address their supervisors on a first-name basis. In others, it would be completely unthinkable! So make sure to follow context-specific standards, and learn how to address your supervisor depending on their position and rank in the university hierarchy . When in doubt, always go for the more formal option (Dr. x, Professor x, Prof. Dr. x, Mr. x, Ms. x).
• Keep your emails short. No one wants to read an email of the length of a novel. Too much text can bury your main request. Always state clearly what you want. Don’t expect your thesis supervisor to read between the lines.
• Create accompanying calendar invites to your emails. Once you and your thesis supervisor/s agree on a meeting date via email, make sure that you send everyone involved a calendar invite via email. It will be greatly appreciated.
• Don’t overthink your emails too much. You may obsess about formulating a certain sentence or making sure no word is missing and no grammatical mistake is made. While emails to your supervisor should not read like a jotted-down text message, overthinking your emails is also a waste of time. Your supervisor will not judge you if your email includes one whacky sentence or a single spelling mistake.

The first email to a potential thesis supervisor tends to be very formal. If you have never met the potential thesis supervisor in person before, make sure to check out tips on how to cold-email professors. In the following sample email, however, we assume that the student and the potential thesis supervisor met before.

Successful (postgraduate) students are proactive and take matters into their own hands. Reaching out to their thesis supervisors to set up a meeting is one part of it. The following sample email contains a simple request from a student to meet with her thesis supervisor.

To get the most out of thesis supervision meetings , it is highly recommended that the student takes notes during the meeting. Based on these notes, the student then summarises the key takeaways from the meeting, or action points, so to speak. These action points will guide the student’s work until the next meeting, and provide a written record of agreements.

Sometimes, it does not make sense to wait for feedback until the next supervision meeting. Of course, students should not bombard their supervisors with constant questions via email. However, a kind request once in a while is usually accepted and appreciated. The following sample email showcases a student asking for feedback.

As a student, it can also happen that you get stuck. Often, it is better to reach out and ask your thesis supervisor for support, both in terms of content or any other challenges you experience. Don’t suffer in silence. The following sample email shows an example of a student asking for support.

And lastly, there are the unfortunate occasions where you made agreements with your thesis supervisor, which you cannot meet. Pulling an all-nighter is generally a bad idea, as sleep is crucial for efficient thesis writing . It might be smarter, to be honest, and open about it and to inform your thesis advisor in advance. In the following sample email, the student informs the supervisor that he cannot meet the agreed deadline.

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How to Write a Letter of Recommendation [With Tips & Template]

Every now and then, applying for a position will require that you also submit a letter of recommendation. 

Or, maybe, a coworker will ask you to write a recommendation letter for their new job application.

If you're not certain how to go about it, don't worry - nothing about recommendation letters needs to be complicated. Especially once you learn the nitty-gritty of the topic. 

This is exactly what this article is here to teach you!

What is a Recommendation Letter?

What should a letter of recommendation include.

• How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

• How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter
• Recommendation Letter Template

A letter of recommendation is a formal document confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential. 

Typically, a recommendation letter is required for: 

• University admissions
• Fellowships or internship positions
• Job applications
• Volunteering opportunities

You should ideally write a recommendation for someone whose abilities and work ethic you are familiar with - for example, a colleague, student you taught, your employee, or someone you supervised at work.

Similarly, if you’re the one asking for a recommendation letter, you should ask someone who can attest to your professional or academic abilities. 

The types of recommendation letters are:

• Academic recommendation letters.
• Employment recommendation letters.
• Character recommendation letters.

Here’s what each type of recommendation letter is about:

#1. Academic Recommendation Letters

Academic recommendation letters are typically required to be submitted by students during the admission processes of graduate and undergraduate schools. 

Generally, each prospective student is requested to submit up to three references, which can be written by any education professional familiar with the candidate’s academic background. 

Academic reference letters include:

• Recommendation letter for undergraduate/graduate school
• Recommendation letter for a scholarship
• Recommendation letter for a fellowship program

#2. Employment recommendation letters 

This type makes up the most popular type of recommendation letter.

Sometimes, employers can ask you to submit up to 3 recommendation letters as part of your job application.

More often, though, a recruiter might ask you for recommendation letters if they already like your resume and want to learn more about you. 

Employment recommendation letters are written by former - or current - coworkers, employers, or supervisors.

If you can choose, pick someone with more years of experience than you. After all, the more senior they are, the more weight their recommendation carries.

Employment recommendations include: 

• Recommendation letter for a coworker
• Recommendation letter for a (former) employee

#3. Character recommendation letters

Character recommendation letters, also known as personal references, are used to describe an individual’s personality by someone who knows them well, including close friends, coworkers, or employers. 

Personal references serve many purposes, the primary ones being court cases dealing with criminal issues such as drunk driving offenses, or legal situations such as child adoption procedures. 

It is not uncommon, however, to have a potential landlord or even immigration officials ask for a personal reference. 

Personal references include: 

• Recommendation letter for a friend
• Recommendation letter for a tenant
• Recommendation letter for a patient

Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout that make writing them significantly easier. 

In this section, we’ll cover how to do each the right way, starting with:

Letter of Recommendation Format

A letter of recommendation includes the following sections: 

• The salutation ; if you are addressing someone whose name you know or writing a personal recommendation letter, the salutation can be addressed to “Dear Mr./Mrs./Dr. Smith.” Otherwise, you may use the generic “to whom it may concern.”
• The introduction , which first and foremost includes your statement of recommendation (i.e. “ it is my pleasure to recommend… ”). It is common to also briefly state who you are and what your expertise is.
• The overview, or a description of the applicant’s top skills, attributes, and strengths.
• A personal story describing more of the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• The closing statement , or the final call for action, is where you encourage the recruiter to contact you if additional information is needed.
• The signature , where you repeat your name and include your full contact information.

Letter of Recommendation Layout 

When it comes to the layout of the recommendation letter, all you need to do is follow some basic formatting rules. Here are the most important ones: 

#1. One page length. This rule applies to resumes too, but it’s even more essential for the recommendation letter. Recruiters go through hundreds of them, so chances are they appreciate concise, to-the-point letters that don’t waste their time. And besides, a good recommendation letter doesn’t have to be an essay to get the recruiter ‘hooked’ - especially if you follow the above format. 

#2. Single-spaced lining, with space between paragraphs . This also keeps your reference letter within the limit by shortening the text. 

#3. Traditional font. Don’t go for something too creative - pick a classic that works. We recommend Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, Ubuntu, Roboto or Overpass.

#4. 1” margins on all sides . This creates enough white space around the margins and makes the letter easy to read. Additionally, the text should be aligned to the left - although this is a standard alignment for most documents.    

#5. 10-12pt font size . This is the font size range that makes the document easy to read. Adjusting the font size is another good way to keep your recommendation letter within the length limit.

Recommendation letters usually follow similar layout rules as resumes. Learn more about font size and style from our article on the best resume font, size, and format . 

Recommendation Letter Template 

Struggling to write a recommendation letter? 

Just follow our tried-and-tested template! 

To whom it may concern: 

[Recommend the referee for the position they are applying for.]

[Briefly introduce yourself and state your position/ job title , as well as your work experience .]

[Tell how you know the referee and describe their top skills, qualifications, and strengths.]

[Share a personal story with the referee where you highlight their strong points and key achievements .]

[Add a few more of the applicant’s skills and positive traits, preferably fitting the job description.]

[Show your availability to provide additional information for the referee if needed.]

Best Regards

[Your full signature and contact information]

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter 

Need to ask someone for a recommendation letter? Here’s what you need to know.

The go-to person for your recommendation letter will depend on the type of reference you’ll need. 

For example, if you need an employment recommendation letter , your top choices should involve people who are familiar with your work ethic and professional abilities, but with whom you’ve also had a positive professional relationship. For example:

• Your team lead
• Department head
• CEO of the company
• Direct manager
• A coworker you’ve worked with together on a project

If you are a recent graduate with little work experience, you can ask a mentor or college professor to write you a professional reference. 

In case you need an academic recommendation letter , consider asking a professor with whom you’ve worked closely and can positively attest to your academic potential and achievements.

Your thesis advisor, for example, would make a good choice to ask for an academic reference. If you never wrote a Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, any professor who knows you as more than just a face in a sea of students should do the trick. 

Finally, keep the following in mind when the time comes to ask for a recommendation letter: 

• Whoever you end up asking, talk to them about it in advance . Then, follow up with a formal email that should contain all reference-related information, such as the submission details and deadline. The email can also include a description of what you’re currently doing (professionally, academically, or independently), what qualifies you for the position, and some relevant skills, achievements, or noteworthy facts.
• If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, make sure to also include your resume and the job description in the follow-up email. This way, the person writing the letter will know more about you and your new position and will be able to write a more relevant recommendation by tailoring your skills to the job, or by mentioning some of your (relevant) achievements.
• Notify the contacts you’ll be asking - considering that in most cases recruiters ask for up to three recommendation letters - at least two weeks in advance. This will give them enough time to prepare and write a good recommendation letter. This is especially important for academic references because professors are usually writing several recommendation letters simultaneously.
• Consider attaching a recommendation letter template such as the one provided in this article to your email. The template will considerably ease or guide them through the process of writing the letter.
• Follow up by sending thank you notes to everyone who writes you a recommendation letter. Sending a letter of appreciation is a courtesy act that will let them know you are grateful for the time and effort they took to recommend you positively.

If you’re also looking to update your resume or create one, head over to our guide on how to write a resume in 2024 !

5 Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

There’s more to writing a recommendation letter than just following the layout instructions or sticking to the format.

We’re referring to content quality, which happens to be the trickiest part of the process. 

In this section, we’ll teach you how to write a recommendation letter that will impress the recruiter and help your referee!

Tip #1. Write an Attention-Grabbing Introduction  

First things first - the introduction.

This is where you need to grab the reader’s attention and get them interested in reading the recommendation letter. 

How to go about it? Before formally (and briefly) introducing yourself, aim to write an attention-grabbing recommendation statement, instead of a generic one the recruiter probably knows by heart already. 

Let’s explain this more practically: 

Dear Mr. Smith, 

I am pleased to recommend Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

Nothing wrong with this introduction at first glance, right? It’s a standard way of opening a recommendation letter after all. 

Well that’s exactly what’s wrong with it - it’s way too common. No, this probably won’t get your application disqualified, but it won’t impress the recruiter either.

Want yours to strike the right note? Try something like this instead:

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am sincerely glad to be the one recommending Sarah McKay for the Communications Assistant position.

This recommendation statement is not significantly different from the previous one, except for one thing: it gives the reference letter a head start by implying that recommending Sarah is an honor. And that’s more likely to get the recruiter’s attention - or, at least, curiosity. 

In case you’re struggling to come up with an attention-grabbing introduction, simply mention one of the following points, and you’re good to go: 

• A little-known fact about the candidate. 
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities.
• A remarkable achievement or award the candidate might have won.  

Tip #2. Establish a Meaningful Relationship With the Candidate 

All recommendation letters explain what the relationship with the referee is before listing their skills and qualifications. 

To make the recommendation more meaningful, you should show the recruiter you are just the right person to attest to the candidate’s abilities. And that’s not something you can convey by simply stating how you know them. Take the following example:   

I have taught Jake Political Science for four years. 

Does this example tell the recruiter how you know the applicant? Sure, it does. 

But it does so in a boring way and without establishing a convincing relationship with them. For all the recruiter knows, Jake is just one out of a thousand students you’ve taught over the years.

It has been a pleasure for me to teach Jake for four years and guide him through his remarkable Bachelor’s thesis in Conflict Resolution.

Notice the difference? This example specifies the writer is Jake’s thesis advisor, which makes the recommendation all the more meaningful. 

Tip #3. Tailor Your Recommendation to the Application 

Want to put in the extra effort and make sure your referee truly stands out?

Tailor the recommendation letter to the job / university program they’re applying for.

Tailoring your letter to the candidate’s application is easiest when you’re recommending someone for employment (you can just check the job requirements), but it works for any type of recommendation (incl. academic). All you need to do is match the referee’s skills and strengths to whatever they’re applying for. 

Let’s assume, for example, that you’re recommending a co-worker for a marketing manager position.

Some of the job requirements are: 

• +5 years of professional experience in marketing
• Experience developing marketing campaigns 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Project-management and multi-tasking skills 

To tailor your recommendation to the job requirements, all you need to do is mention them as your referee’s best qualities. For example: 

Even after seven years working together, Ema’s skillful way of effectively communicating with clients and co-workers alike doesn’t cease to amaze me. It only comes second to her multi-tasking abilities, which I’ve witnessed throughout the many marketing campaigns we have developed and managed. 

As you can see, there’s not much to it. 

All you need to do is check the job requirements, pick several skills and qualifications, and make them part of your referee’s top skills, strengths, or personality traits.  

Tip #4. List the Candidate’s Achievements 

Mentioning some of the candidate’s achievements is another great way to help your referee really stand out.

After all, skills, strengths, and character traits are awesome, but they can also come across as meaningless if you can’t back them up with facts. 

What do we mean by this?

Let us explain:

Here’s how a typical personal story in a recommendation letter looks like:

I came to truly appreciate Eric’s work ethic, passion, and attention to detail the first time I assigned him to do a report on child trafficking. Eric was respectful of journalistic ethics but also willing to chase the story relentlessly, believing in its value and importance. 

Sure, this is a perfectly acceptable personal story. 

However, it doesn’t do much more than just list the referee’s skills, traits, and work experience through a subjective lens. 

What we’re saying is, it doesn’t really sell the candidate.

Now, let’s compare it to the following:

Eric’s ability to chase after difficult stories first became apparent when I assigned him a report about child trafficking. Despite the challenging topic, Eric not only pulled through but achieved more than expected by a) identifying a trafficking ring that put more than 50 minors into forced begging, b) interviewing 10 of the older minors and managing to bring that trafficking network down once the reportage went public and c) increasing the TV Channel’s ratings by 40% in 3 weeks. 

By mentioning those achievements, your account of the candidate’s experiences is a lot more “factual,” as well as impressive for the recruiter.

Not sure which achievements to include? Check out these 101+ achievements to list on your resum e !

Tip #5. Polish Up Your Recommendation Letter

Finally, here’s 5 more simple tips to get your recommendation letter ready:

• Maintain positive rhetoric . At no point throughout your reference letter should the recruiter sense a hint of doubt regarding the applicant’s skills and qualifications.
• Don’t overdo the positivity. Extremes are never good - which means being overly positive might also come across as a bit suspicious or weird (even if everything you're saying is true). 
• Follow the submission instructions . A bunch of employers, but also educational institutions, will provide instructions on how to submit the recommendation letter. We recommend you ask the candidate to double-check them and give you a heads up, because if you submit the recommendation letter wrong, the candidate might lose their chance.
• Use a business tone . Even when you’re being creative, your writing tone should maintain a business tone - polite, and as formal as possible.
• Mind your grammar and spelling . This is another tip that goes for all things application-related. You won’t compromise the referee’s chances with a typo, but your recommendation won’t matter much either if it’s filled with simple grammar/spelling mistakes. Run your letter through a grammar and spell-check app once you’re finished with it, just to be on the safe side of things.

Recommendation Letter FAQ

Still have some questions on how to write a letter of recommendation?

Find your answers below!

1. What is a professional letter of recommendation?

A professional letter of recommendation - also called an employment recommendation letter - refers to an official document that is typically required when you apply for a job and which describes the applicant’s professional skills, experiences, and qualifications. 

Professional letters of recommendation are typically written by current or previous employers or supervisors. A coworker can also write you a professional letter of recommendation, but it’s not as optimal as a coworker is not really an authority figure (and might just be a friend doing you a favor instead of being honest).

2. What should be written in a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation generally follow the following format: 

• A formal salutation
• An introduction (which includes a recommendation statement and your professional title)
• An overview of some of the applicant’s skills, strengths, or qualifications, which you can tailor to the application
• A personal story where you can mention some of the applicant’s achievements
• A closing statement and call for action
• A signature , with your contact information

3. Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re asking for an academic letter of recommendation, you can ask:

• Current or former professors
• Academic mentors
• Thesis advisors

If you’re asking for a professional recommendation letter, though, you can ask:

• Current or former employers
• A supervisor or professional mentor
• Former professors
• Experienced coworkers

4. How do you start a recommendation paragraph?

To keep the recruiter reading your recommendation letter interested, you should start with an attention-grabbing introduction - specifically, an interesting recommendation statement. 

This statement is the opening sentence of the letter and it should optimally express your conviction to recommend the applicant in a non-generic way. 

If you’re struggling with coming up with something creative, just start with one of the following:

• A little-known or impressive fact about the candidate
• Your general consideration of the candidate’s qualities
• A remarkable achievement, or an award the candidate might have won

5. How do you end a letter of recommendation?

A letter of recommendation concludes with a call to action or a request towards the recruiter   showing your availability and willingness to provide additional information if needed. After mentioning that you remain available to discuss the candidate’s qualifications, you may finalize the letter with your signature - your name, title, and company.

Key Takeaways 

And that’s a wrap! We hope this article will make the process of writing a recommendation letter easier for you. 

Let’s go over some of the main points we covered: 

• A letter of recommendation is a formal letter confirming and recommending a person’s work, skills, or academic performance and potential.
• Recommendation letters follow a particular format and layout. The format typically consists of 1) the letterhead and full contact information, 2) a salutation, 3) an introduction, 4) an overview, 5) a personal story, 6) a closing sentence and 7) your signature.
• The three types of recommendation letters are employment, academic, and character recommendation letters.
• Who to ask for a recommendation letter depends on the type of reference you need. As a rule of thumb, pick someone who knows your skills and strengths well and whom you’ve had a positive experience (professional or academic) with.

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• How to List References on a Resume [w/ Examples]
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• Motivation Letter Writing Guide + Examples for 2023

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