Find out how to Write a Letter of Suggestion [+ Free Template]

I’ve been serving to individuals create letters of advice for jobs they need, internships, promotions, and extra, for over ten years. I’ve discovered throughout this time that in case you’re not promoting your self successfully, you received’t make an enduring impression.

A advice letter differs from a resume or a canopy letter as a result of it comes from somebody who is aware of you nicely, so it ought to really feel extra private.

Learn additional to find how you can write a letter of advice that may enable you to land the job or alternative you’ve been dreaming of.

Desk of Contents

Take a look at this free letter of advice template to get began.

Letter of Suggestion Format

1. Date

Together with a date is essential for establishing the validity of a letter of advice.

Use the precise date that corresponds with the candidate’s final day at a company and even a while after they labored with the author of the letter of advice.

When you’re asking for a letter of advice from a coworker or boss whereas nonetheless employed, you’ll want to tread flippantly as most employers received’t be thrilled to suggest you to a job if you’re leaving.

When you do belief that they’re okay recommending you, regardless of leaving the corporate, go forward and put that day’s date.

2. Recipient’s Data

Write out the identify, place, and firm of the individual the letter of advice goes to. Or, in case you’re unsure what firms you can be making use of your letter of advice to, be happy to maintain this part generic so you possibly can fill it out later as alternatives come up.

3. Introductions

Introduce the author of the letter of advice. Bear in mind, use the primary individual (whether or not you’re the individual writing the letter of advice, or the receiver making a draft).

Go forward and listing their areas of experience, schooling, present title, and the rest relevant. If the author is a earlier supervisor you’ll wish to listing their place, how lengthy they’ve been on the firm and their schooling. You must also say how lengthy they’ve labored with or identified you.

4. Efficiency and {Qualifications}

Use this part to speak concerning the dedication of the letter’s requester in your group. You

may also point out their most notable traits, abilities, and skills by means of adjectives.

This part is the majority of your letter and crucial half. Bear in mind, your boss/coworker/good friend can put their very own spin on what you say within the letter, you’re simply giving them an concept of what you’d like included.

Ask your self these questions when scripting this part:

1. How can I inform the story of my accomplishments?
2. What private particulars have to be included?
3. What motivates me?
4. What challenges have I overcome?
5. What are my most related abilities?
6. Why do I wish to work at this firm or apply to this faculty?
7. What makes me match for this function?

Right here’s an instance of what answering these questions may appear to be:

“Jane Doe turned my worker in 2016 after transferring from the Gross sales division. She is extraordinarily motivated by sales-centric objectives, worker satisfaction, and selecting ways that ship a excessive return on funding.

In my time working with Jane Doe, I’ve watched her sort out difficult tasks, corresponding to when our startup was purchased out by an even bigger model.

She made positive every member of her crew transitioned seamlessly whereas additionally nonetheless assembly her quarterly objectives, an accomplishment that just one different crew on the firm achieved throughout this time.

Her background in gross sales has made her a pleasant crew participant, a sensible monetary decision-maker, and an influential chief. She can be a wonderful match for any function that wants somebody who’s going to fulfill hard-to-reach targets, lead a crew to excellence, and preserve group.

In my time working with Jane Doe, I’ve usually used her as my go-to-person as a result of I do know she is each dependable and hard-working.”

Don’t neglect to put in writing this part within the first individual, and don’t be afraid to essentially promote your self and your achievements!

When you’re not comfy with being this particular, right here’s an instance that leaves house for the author to place in their very own ideas.

“[NAME] turned my worker in [YEAR] after transferring from [DEPARTMENT]. She is extraordinarily motivated [ENTER PERSONAL QUALITIES].

In my time working with [NAME], I’ve watched her sort out difficult tasks, corresponding to [PAST PROJECT(S)]. [SENTENCE ABOUT WAS DONE WELL].

Their background in [ENTER BACKGROUND] has made them [FAVORABLE PERSONAL QUALITIES]. They’d be a wonderful match for any function that wants [DESCRIPTION OF ROLE THEY’RE APPLYING FOR].

In my time working with [NAME], [DESCRIPTION OF HOW WE’VE WORKED TOGETHER IN PAST].”

5. Contact Data

Lastly, you possibly can shut this letter wishing the applicant luck of their new skilled stage. Most significantly, present detailed contact info, as interviewers might want to verify the knowledge offered on this doc.

How lengthy ought to a letter of advice be?

Like a canopy letter or a resume, a letter of advice must be about one web page lengthy. I’ve usually erred on the aspect of shorter than longer since you actually can say all the things it’s essential to in a single web page.

When you’re having a tough time whittling your letter of advice down to 1 web page, contemplate asking a good friend with writing expertise to edit it right down to crucial particulars, and even utilizing AI instruments that will help you.

Writing your letters of advice from scratch could be time-consuming and tough. Obtain your free advice template (pictured under) right here as a Google Docs or Microsoft Phrase file.

The free HubSpot letter of advice template offers you:

• Compatibility with Phrase or Google Docs
• Simply identifiable house to explain the talents, attitudes, and abilities of the individual you might be recommending by following the template construction
• The potential to edit the letter to align together with your firm’s company picture
• Choices to print or ship the letter of advice in your required format

Attempt filling out every clean a part of the template with the relevant info. It is going to then start to look one thing like this instance:

Generic Worker Letter of Suggestion Pattern

[New York City, April 15, 2024]

[Mr. James Big]

[Chief of Business Operations]

[VIC or Very Important Company]

To whom it might concern:

Please settle for my heat greetings. Because the CEO at Enterprise Worldwide, it’s a nice pleasure for me to offer this employment reference letter for Jane Doe, who has served as Head of Gross sales.

She has labored at this firm for 5 years. Throughout that point, I’ve confirmed that Jane has the required expertise to hold out her job to the best requirements of the corporate and with the values that I contemplate important.

At Enterprise Worldwide, Jane has proven curiosity and effectivity within the duties of Head of Gross sales. Given our working relationship, I’ve noticed that she is extraordinarily motivated by sales-centric objectives, worker satisfaction, and selecting ways that ship a excessive return on funding.

She made positive every member of her crew transitioned seamlessly whereas additionally nonetheless assembly her quarterly objectives, an accomplishment that just one different crew on the firm achieved throughout this time. Her background in gross sales has made her a pleasant crew participant, a sensible monetary decision-maker, and an influential chief.

She can be a wonderful match for any function that wants somebody who’s going to fulfill hard-to-reach targets, lead a crew to excellence, and preserve group. In my time working with Jane Doe, I’ve usually used her as my go-to lady as a result of I do know she is each dependable and hard-working.

It is because of this that I extremely suggest her to your organization, as I’ve witnessed how the response to her assignments has added worth and progress to our firm, simply as I’m positive she is going to be capable to contribute to the brand new group the place she is going to work.

This letter is prolonged on the request of Jane Doe for the needs that finest go well with her.

Thanks,

[Rebecca Johnson]

[CEO]

[Business International]

[businessinternational.org / rebeccaj@businessinternational.com / 123-456-7891]

This can be a good place to begin however nonetheless fairly generic, as a result of if you learn this letter of advice, you’re not tremendous positive that the author really is aware of who it’s being despatched to.

It feels extra like a normal advice of Jane, as a substitute of somebody who is aware of her very nicely recommending her for a selected job. It feels generic as a result of it lacks essential particulars about Jane’s efficiency and her work persona.

Let’s spice it up a bit. Right here’s one other pattern that’s been adjusted to higher describe Jane and what she does for the corporate:

Higher Worker Letter of Suggestion Pattern

[New York City, April 15, 2024]

[Mr. James Big]

[Chief of Business Operations]

[VIC or Very Important Company]

Mr. James Large,

Because the CEO of Enterprise Worldwide, it’s a nice pleasure to offer this employment reference letter for Jane Doe, who has labored for 5 years as Head of Gross sales at Enterprise Worldwide.

I’m thrilled to suggest Ms. Jane Doe to your group. As you learn additional, you will discover she will likely be an incredible asset to any group on the lookout for a excessive performing Head of Gross sales.

Throughout our previous 5 years, I’ve watched Jane flourish as she’s moved from a buyer success supervisor into her function as Head of Gross sales, managing a crew of twenty gross sales associates. About three years in the past, our startup firm was purchased by Enterprise Worldwide, and Jane took the transition in stride.

She led the best way for her crew in the course of the transition by guaranteeing every crew member onboarded their new function and duties, labored with workers we gained in the course of the transition, and even nonetheless met her quarterly gross sales objectives. In actual fact, she was one in every of solely two departments that also met their objectives in the course of the transition section.

Jane’s background in gross sales has made her a pleasant crew participant, a sensible monetary decision-maker, and an influential chief. I’ve usually used Jane as my go-to lady as a result of I do know once I give her a job, she received’t simply meet my expectations however will slightly wow me together with her ingenuity and artistic problem-solving.

I’ve heard firsthand from Jane’s prospects simply how beloved and appreciated she is. One buyer even raved about her persistence in fixing an issue he had with billing.

Jane went above and past to make sure the client’s downside was solved whereas additionally forging a powerful relationship that has led to buyer retention and referrals. Jane maintains a 95% buyer retention fee, one of many highest at our firm.

Because of this, I extremely suggest her to your organization. I’m positive Jane will be capable to contribute significantly to VIC, and I’m excited to look at her profession trajectory.

Thanks,

[Rebecca Johnson]

[CEO]

[Business International]

[businessinternational.org / rebeccaj@businessinternational.com / 123-456-7891]

Did you discover that this letter of advice felt much more private?

It nonetheless makes use of the essential components that each letter of advice ought to have, however there’s much more consideration to element, together with storytelling and essential statistics. Once you write a letter of advice for your self or another person, embody plenty of particulars to keep away from sounding generic.

Take a look at HubSpot’s information on storytelling to get a greater concept of what story your letter of advice ought to inform.

4. Get private.

Take into consideration the one that will write and log out in your advice letter.

What are a few of your finest recollections with this individual? Have been there lengthy lunches the place you talked about shared pursuits, or conferences the place they made you’re feeling valued? Take into consideration what their favourite recollections with you might need been.

That is one part the place you’ll positively wish to jog their reminiscence to get a private story or high quality of yours that they recognize. Be happy to listing a few of your favourite moments for them to reference in the event that they so select.

Use this free template each time it’s important to begin over on a letter of advice. When you want a number of letters, contemplate having every handle a novel facet of your work or faculty expertise.