Recommendation Letter Format

Keep the tone professional and evidence-based. A consistent recommendation letter format ensures your endorsement is easy to read and highlights high-impact information first. Focus on concrete examples that align with the opportunity’s criteria, and provide a clear, confident endorsement at the end. Close by offering to answer questions to support the candidate’s application.

Standard Recommendation Letter Format

• Header: Referee’s contact information.
• Greeting: “Dear Committee/Employer,”
• Relationship: How you know the candidate and for how long.
• Strengths: 2–3 key qualities with examples.
• Results: Specific achievements and outcomes.
• Closing: Overall endorsement and contact for follow-up.

Formatting Tips

• Specific: Avoid vague praise; give examples.
• Honest: Balanced, credible tone builds trust.
• Relevant: Align points to the role or program.

Additional Tips

Keep paragraphs short and lead with high-value information. Use clear headings and concrete examples that match the opportunity’s criteria.

• Strong opening: Relationship, duration, and capacity.
• Relevant examples: Tie achievements to criteria.
• Clear close: Provide contact details for follow-up.

End with a brief line inviting further questions. Clear structure and specificity increase the letter’s credibility and usefulness to decision-makers.

Use consistent headings and short paragraphs to improve readability. Clear structure and specific examples make your recommendation more persuasive.

Keep it brief, specific, and professional.

When appropriate, add your relationship and the length of time you have known the person to provide helpful context.

Share your contact details if the recipient needs to verify information or ask for clarification.