If you are a student applying to college, graduate school, or a job, you may be asked to provide a recommendation letter. Writing a persuasive recommendation letter is an important step in helping students get accepted into the college or university of their choice. A well-written letter can make all the difference in getting a student accepted into their dream school, so it is important to know how to write one.
A recommendation letter is an endorsement written by someone who can vouch for your skills, qualifications, and character. It is essential to know how to write an effective and persuasive recommendation letter that will help you stand out from the other applicants.
You can also check out Motivational Letter: How to Write a Perfect Letter + examples
How to Request a Recommendation Letter
Step 1: Ask the Right Person
The most important part of writing a successful recommendation letter is finding the right person. Ideally, this should be someone who knows you well and can speak about your qualifications and character in an informed way. Make sure that this person has enough time in their schedule to dedicate to writing the letter so that it sounds genuine and thoughtful.
Step 2: Provide Information About Yourself
Once you have chosen your recommender, provide them with information about yourself such as your current job responsibilities, academic accomplishments, awards or honors received, extracurricular activities or volunteer work completed, etc. This will help them craft an accurate and detailed presentation of your abilities without having to spend too much time researching on their own.
Additionally, give your recommender any relevant documents that could help them prepare the recommendation letter such as resumes or transcripts.
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Step 3: Keep Your Recommender Informed
Keep your recommender updated with any relevant information throughout the process so they can include it in the letter if necessary. For example, if you have recently taken part in any extracurricular activities or volunteered somewhere then make sure they know about it before they submit their final draft of the letter.
You should also ensure that they have all the necessary details regarding deadlines and other requirements so they can prepare accordingly.
Step 4: Express Your Gratitude
Finally—but certainly not least—don’t forget to thank your recommender for taking time out of their busy schedule to write the letter for you! A simple thank-you note could go a long way towards making sure that future students are able to benefit from their expertise as well!
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How to Write a Powerful Recommendation Letter: Step-by-Step Guide
Writing a recommendation letter for someone can seem like an intimidating task. It is an important document, after all, and needs to be written in such a way that it effectively conveys your thoughts and opinions about the person.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a persuasive recommendation letter and examples of persuasive recommendation letters to get you started.
Step 1: Research the company/institution/program
Before writing your letter, make sure you understand to who or to what it is being addressed. Are they looking for specific information? What kind of qualifications do they expect from applicants? Doing research on the organization will give you valuable insight into the type of content that should go in your letter.
Knowing what kind of person or program they seek will help you make your letter more effective.
Step 2: Gather Information about the Applicant
It’s important that you have a clear understanding of the applicant’s experiences, skills, qualifications, and character before writing your letter. Take some time to talk with them and get to know them better.
Ask questions about their past experience, accomplishments, work ethic, values, etc.—anything that would provide additional insight into who they are and why they are applying for the position or program they’re seeking.
Step 3: Outline Your Letter
Make sure you create an outline before starting your letter—this will help keep your thoughts organized and ensure that everything flows smoothly when you begin writing. Your introduction should introduce yourself as well as explain why you are writing the letter (e.g., recommending this particular individual).
Next, highlight some of their strengths or unique qualities followed by specific examples that illustrate those qualities if possible (e.g., achievements or awards). Finally, wrap up with a strong closing statement emphasizing why they would be an asset to the organization/program/position they are applying for.
Step 4: Write Your Letter
Now it’s time to actually write your letter! Start by introducing yourself and explaining why you are recommending this particular individual (i.e., “I am pleased to recommend Jane Smith for admission into ABC University…”). In the body, paragraphs include details about their qualifications; use specific examples where applicable (e.g., awards received or extracurricular activities participated in).
Make sure each sentence is clear and concise while still maintaining its impactful meaning—this will ensure easy readability for whoever reads it! Lastly, wrap up with a strong closing statement reinforcing why this individual would be an asset to whatever position/program/organization they are applying for (e.g., “I strongly believe Jane has all of the qualities necessary for success at ABC University…”).:
Your closing remarks should make an impact and leave a lasting impression on admissions officers. Be sure to thank them for taking the time to read your letter and reiterate why you believe this student would be an excellent fit for the school or program. Remind them once more why this student stands out from other applicants, emphasizing key points that demonstrate their qualifications for admission into the program or university.
Recommendation letter examples for you
Example 1:
To Whom It May Concern,
I highly recommend Jane Doe for admission to XYZ University’s Master’s program in Computer Science. As Jane’s academic advisor for the past three years, I have enjoyed watching her grow into a competent and motivated student.
Throughout her undergraduate studies, Jane has consistently demonstrated a strong aptitude for computer science, earning top marks in all her courses. She has also been heavily involved in extracurricular activities, serving as the president of the computer science club and organizing several successful events and projects.
In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Jane has gained valuable experience through several internships in the tech industry. Through these opportunities, she has proven herself to be a dedicated and hardworking individual, consistently going above and beyond expectations.
It is clear to me that Jane has a genuine passion for computer science and a strong desire to continue learning and growing in the field. I do not doubt that she will be an asset to XYZ University’s Master’s program and that she has the potential to make a significant impact in the field.
I wholeheartedly endorse Jane for admission to the program and would be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Example 2:
To the Admissions Committee,
I am writing to wholeheartedly recommend John Smith for admission to the Bachelor of Business Administration program at XYZ University. As John’s teacher for the past three years, I have had the privilege of watching him develop into a highly motivated and ambitious student.
Throughout his high school career, John has consistently demonstrated an aptitude for business and a deep interest in the field. He has taken on several leadership roles in the school’s business club and has organized several successful events and projects.
John’s academic performance has also been outstanding. He has consistently maintained a high GPA and has excelled in all of his business-related courses. He was also awarded the school’s business award in his senior year.
In addition to his academic and extracurricular achievements, John has also gained valuable work experience through several internships. He has worked in various roles, including marketing and finance, and has consistently received positive feedback from his supervisors. His ability to work well under pressure and his strong problem-solving skills were specifically mentioned as strengths.
John’s unique qualities and characteristics also make him an excellent candidate for the Bachelor of Business Administration program at XYZ University. He is a natural leader and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of a project or team. He is also extremely dedicated and driven, and I have no doubt that he will put in the hard work required to succeed in the program.
I am confident that John has the potential to excel in the business field and will be a valuable asset to XYZ University. I wholeheartedly recommend him for admission to the Bachelor of Business Administration program and would be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Here are some tools that could help you write an effective recommendation letter fast;
- Grammarly: Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that offers real-time grammar and spelling suggestions. It helps students eliminate errors and improve the overall clarity and coherence of their recommendation letters – Try it for free
- ProWritingAid: ProWritingAid is an AI editing tool that analyzes writing to identify areas for improvement. It provides suggestions for enhancing sentence structure, vocabulary, and readability, making it valuable for crafting polished and impactful recommendation letters – Try it out
- Hemingway Editor: Hemingway Editor is an AI-driven tool that focuses on improving the readability of writing. It highlights complex sentences, excessive adverbs, and passive voice usage, enabling students to create more concise and engaging recommendation letters – Try it for out
- WriteLab: WriteLab is an AI writing platform that offers personalized feedback on writing style and grammar. It assists students in refining their recommendation letters by providing actionable suggestions to enhance overall clarity and persuasiveness – Try it out
- Copyscape: Copyscape is an AI-based plagiarism detection tool that ensures the authenticity of recommendation letters. It helps students identify any unintentional similarities to existing content, ensuring the letter is unique and genuine. Try it out: Try it out
Finally
Writing an effective recommendation letter isn’t as hard as one might think! If approached systematically following these steps can make it much easier than expected—researching both the company or institution as well as gathering information about the applicant will provide invaluable insight into what needs to be included in order to produce a persuasive recommendation letter.
Lastly don’t forget—you want every sentence in your letter to flow nicely so read through it multiple times prior to sending it out! Good luck!
