How to Write a Perfect Recommendation Letter?

An LOR is one of the most crucial documents required for admissions in international universities. However, students are often confused over how to write a perfect letter of recommendation. If you relate, do not worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we have listed all the tips & tricks on how to make an LOR perfect, what all should be included, and more.

How To Write A Letter Of Recommendation?

To write a letter of recommendation, follow these structured guidelines:

• Understand the Purpose: Clarify why you are writing the letter. Is it for a job application, academic admission, or a scholarship? Knowing this helps tailor your content appropriately.
• Gather Background Information: Request details from the candidate, including, The position or program they are applying for, Their current resume, Specific skills or achievements they wish to highlight, and The recipient's contact information
• Establish Your Relationship: Begin the letter by introducing yourself and explaining your relationship with the candidate. Mention how long you have known them and in what capacity (e.g., supervisor, colleague, teacher).
• Use a Professional Format: Follow standard business letter formatting, Start with your address and date at the top, Include the recipient's name and address if known, Use a formal salutation (e.g., "Dear [Recipient's Name]").
• Highlight Key Qualities: In the body of the letter, focus on specific strengths and skills that make the candidate a good fit for the opportunity. Use concrete examples and anecdotes to illustrate their abilities and achievements.
• Maintain a Positive Tone: Write in a positive, friendly yet professional tone. Avoid exaggeration but express genuine enthusiasm for the candidate.
• Conclude Effectively: End with a strong closing statement that reiterates your recommendation. Offer to provide additional information if needed.
• Include Contact Information: Sign off with your name, title, organization, and contact information to allow the recipient to reach out for further discussion.

By following these steps, you can create a well-rounded and impactful letter of recommendation that effectively supports the candidate's application.

Here is a list of things you should include in an LOR:

• Relationship with Applicant: In a LOR, it is compulsory to clarify your relation with applicant. This means the recommender must mention if he/she is the professor, supervisor, or project guide of the candidate. Also, the recommender must properly elucidate his/her relationship with applicant. It is not advised to choose your colleague as your recommender as the latter needs to have a higher authority over the applicant. However, in any case, it is extremely crucial to mention the candidate’s relationship with applicant (Read: How to Choose a Right Recommender.)
• Tenure of Association: In a LOR, the recommender needs to specify the tenure of knowing the candidate. For example, if the recommender is your professor, then he/she must mention the semester, or the academic year, from which he/she knew the applicant like the second year or fourth semester. The duration must be calculated from the first acquaintance till the date of writing the letter of recommendation. In case, the recommender is the applicant’s Head of the Department, then he/she can note the duration of the applicant’s course such as his/her undergraduate degree. The duration needs to be very particular but can be generic in terms of years. If the recommender knew the applicant from the first to the fourth semester, then he/she can say two years of acquaintance. This will change if the university provides any specific guidelines for the same.

• Nature of association: Here, we are implying the specificities of the recommender relationship with the applicant. Consider your recommender being your professor, then mention the duration he/she taught you, and the subject names as well. If the recommender is your manager in a professional LOR, then mention if you are reporting to him regarding your professional duties every day. It is advisable to choose a recommender who has a direct relation with applicant. In case your recommender is your Project Guide or Head of the Department, then it must be justified how this person is in a position to judge your capabilities and endorse you as a strong candidate for the university’s program.
• Accomplishments of the Applicant: A candidate’s achievements and skills need to be highlighted in a LOR, which is its main purpose. This recommendation letter acts as a ground, depending on which the candidate’s worthiness is proved. Also, it is important to remember that the achievements of the applicant need to align with the requirements of the course he/she is applying to. This varies for Academic and Professional LORs, but one thing that must stand out in a LOR is the reason that identifies the applicant as unique, as well as a good fit for the course. This could be done by highlighting the academic accomplishments/ scores of the applicant, or the projects the applicant has worked on. This again could be academic projects (in the case of an Academic LOR) or work-related projects (in a Professional LOR).
• Apart from the accomplishments, it is extremely essential to include the other qualities that are important to the applicant’s suitability for the course. This also highlights what should not be included. For instance - talking about the student’s work in the college fest might not be that big a consideration. Or, for that matter, the student’s performance in a subject that is not relevant to the course applied for. Keep the focus on what the student is planning to pursue, and accordingly, highlight the facets of the personality that are a right match for the course.
• Comparative Performance: This is something that most recommenders miss out on and one of the common errors in a recommendation letter. Recommending the applicant based on the fact that he/she was a topper in the batch cannot be validated until the batch size is mentioned distinctly. This comparison is essential to highlight the merit of the applicant. Often, form-based LORs, clearly ask the recommender to share the group/ team size, to determine the applicant’s performance more objectively.

In conclusion, the letter of recommendation is a document that illustrates the meritorious qualities of the applicant by the recommender with substantial examples to base the claims. Other than this, emphasizing the relationship with applicant is pivotal to making the LOR authentic. Some specific points must be included in an Academic LOR and a Professional LOR. Remember, writing a winning recommendation letter requires both, the right recommender, and more importantly, the right content. You must do this well because the future of the applicant rides on what you, as a recommender, say about the applicant. Read More: Common Mistakes to Avoid in a LOR