For individuals who are job searching, a helpful tool (particularly once in the interview process) is a letter of recommendation. At the same token, it is a great skill to know how to write a letter of recommendation so you can be that difference maker for someone else who is job searching. This by no means has to be a long essay. A concise and well-worded letter can be just as effective. Below are some tips to help you create a compelling recommendation that can make a big impact for job seekers!
When writing the letter, try to always clearly explain the capacity in which you worked with the job seeker and how the skillsets or qualities you saw the individual exhibit can help the organization that the job seeker is applying with. For example, if the job seeker is applying for a job within a fast-paced environment and you’ve witnessed them multitasking well or handling multiple projects in the past, find a way to shed light on that!
As best as you can, cite a specific instance where the individual displayed a strength or quality that you believe another employer would be impressed by. You want to touch on these qualities right after introducing yourself, the organization you and the job seeker worked for, and how that was connected to what the job seeker was doing. For example, if one of the job seeker’s strengths is being helpful, try to think of an instance where the individual perhaps took on additional tasks or helped a colleague who was a bit underwater and trying to catch up. Those instances can also be a great way to highlight the job seeker having a good attitude, which is huge!
While the letter of recommendation does not have to be lengthy, it is important that you keep it well-rounded so that multiple skills or strengths that the job seeker possesses can be highlighted. You typically would want to spend about two or three paragraphs within the body of the letter to do that. When writing the last paragraph of the letter, reiterate how you believe the job seeker can ultimately make a difference for the organization they are interviewing with. In doing this, it should ideally not be more than two to three sentences. The individual reading your letter most likely has a very busy day on their hands, so the more concise the letter is, the more helpful you are going to be for the job seeker.
Writing a well-crafted, concise, and strong letter of recommendation is a great skill to have. The individual who requested a letter of recommendation from you has a set of skills and strengths that can help the organization they are interviewing with. If you highlight those skill sets and how the strengths you saw the individual display relate to the job being applied for, you will provide a powerful tool that can be a true difference-maker for the job seeker.
Want to develop more skills? Subscribe to The JOHNLEONARD Blog below and receive essential tips straight to your inbox!