A great
first step to write a letter of recommendation is to jot down a list of
keywords and key phrases -- accomplishments and qualities -- you want to
address within the letter. Such a list will help you avoid the most common
mistake made in these letters: vague, metaphoric writing. Anchor your writing
to specific images and anecdotes; provide concrete, convincing evidence.
Classify
your keywords into
• Transferable
skills /professional/academic qualities
• Is
this person a leader?
Is this person a strong team player?
Is this person a keen analytical thinker?
Is this person capable of conducting sophisticated research?
• Strong
communication skills?
Fluency in certain languages?
• personal
qualities
Does this person get along with
peers?
Does this person have a good sense of humor?
• past
accomplishments
What are the principal two or three
accomplishments this person has achieved under my guidance?
• weaknesses
What are some points this person
must address to advance his/her career?
How well does this person learn from past mistakes?
• future
potential
• What
do I believe this person is capable of achieving?
A letter of
recommendation is normally composed of the following paragraphs:
First Paragraph: Introduce Yourself
Begin the letter by clearly stating your position, where you work, your
relationship to the applicant, and how long you have known and/or worked with
the applicant.
Second Paragraph: Give Your General Impression of the Applicant
Third Paragraph: Applicant Quality 1
State the applicant's most noteworthy quality, and support that claim with a
specific anecdote. For instance, you might say that Samantha is, first and
foremost, a born leader; then, support that statement by telling about the time
Samantha took the initiative to form a task force to deal with a glitch in the
company's computer accounting system.
Fourth Paragraph: Applicant Quality 2
Again, state your claim with specific anecdotes and concrete examples.
Fifth Paragraph: State why you think the applicant's plans suit him/her.
Sixth Paragraph: State how you think the applicant will contribute to the program or company.
Last Paragraph: Strongly reaffirm your confidence in the applicant's abilities and conclude by telling the readers they should feel free to contact you in case they need more information. Don't forget to include your contact information beneath your signature and name.
SOME TIPS
FOR THE CANDIDATE REJECTION LETTER
· Always
end on a positive note wishing the person success. Make sure you thank your
candidate for the time they invested in the application and interview process.
· Personalize the letter with the candidate’s name, the
position, possibly a remark about the interview time. You don’t want your
candidate to feel as if s/he received a form rejection letter – even if
it basically is.
· Get straight to the point in your rejection letter. But, especially if you have called, the
candidate really already knows what to expect in the letter.

