20 Sample Recommendation Letters From Manager

The recommendation letter illustrates the habits that you, as an employer, have observed in your employee. Formally,

A recommendation letter is an official document describing someone’s skills, work experience, or academic performance.

This might be someone applying for a job in a company where one will need a recommendation letter, a cover letter, and a résumé. Examples are teachers and physician assistants. People looking for an internship might also require a recommendation letter, looking for a leadership position, or a student applying for a school, university, or college.

It is important to remember, the information you are giving must be relevant or related to the field of work your employee is applying for.

Download Free Templates

#01

#02

#03

#04

#05

#06

#07

#08

#09

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

Writing A Recommendation Letter

Recommendation letters should follow the standard business format, and there are key items that must be included when crafting it, including:

Header

A recommendation letter, just like any other letter, has to start with a header. The header will be formatted like any other formal letter. It should have your address at the top, your contact information, or the name of your company. It is then followed by the date. Lastly, you should include the recipient’s address, his/her title, the company name, and any other contact information you might know.

An example,

Michael Jinn, Pharmacist
Hollowed Pharmacy,
45 South street,
Cincinnati, 5644
@michael89@gmail.com

6^th April 2021

Harry Potter, Hiring Manager
FAROUQ HOSPITAL,
45 Backstreet,
Cincinnati, 6845

Salutation

Salutation is an important part of the letter, and it should be formal. The choice of the right salutation depends if you know the recipient. It is advisable to use ‘dear’ followed by the recipient’s name.

For example,

Dear Harry Potter,

Alternatively, you can use the statement, “To whom it may concern,” if you are not familiar with the recipient’s name.

Introductory paragraph

Your objective of writing this letter should be stated clearly in the introductory paragraph. In a recommendation letter, start by mentioning your intentions for writing this letter, briefly explaining your current position in your company and the nature of your relationship with the applicant. The goal is to make the recipient understand that this is a recommendation letter. 

An example would be,

“I am writing you this letter to recommend Gilbert Holmes for employment in your hospital as the hospital pharmacist. I am the manager at Feel Good Pharmaceuticals, and Gilbert has been my loyal employee for two years.”

Body

The body of the letter is where the main idea is presented. This is where you write about the applicant’s strengths supporting him/ her being a productive employee. The information you give should relate to the recipient’s expectations. You can also add a detailed example where the applicant impacted your company.

For example, if the applicant is in the field of medicine,

“I have worked with Gilbert for two years, and he is quite an impressive young lad. He is smart and does his research thoroughly in that not only does he dispense medicine, but he also prescribes. I remember an instance where Gilbert was able to diagnose tonsillitis in one of my many customers and was able to give a prescription consisting of an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and a pain reliever. This took me by surprise because most doctors opt to give antibiotics only.”

You can also include a brief explanation of the reason behind the applicant’s departure. This is optional and should only be included in the applicant’s reasons for leaving the current job are positive. This can be due to reasons like family relocation, outgrowth, etc.

In the next paragraph, you can write about 2–3 positive personality traits and characteristics, particularly those that would be beneficial to the target company.

For example, if the applicant wants an opportunity in a company where there is frequent contact with people, you can say, “David is a selfless and understanding person who listens before he acts.”

Closing

Lastly, when you recommend someone, you want to make sure that the recipient can reach out for any information or further clarification. Please mention that you are more than willing to answer any of their questions. Then end formally and politely like, “Regards” or “Sincerely” For example,

” For further clarification or queries you might have, feel free to email me or write back.”
Sincerely,
(Your name)

Sample Recommendation Letters

Here are a few samples for better understanding:

Considerable Things for Writing

A manager is a busy person. You might find yourself in a situation where all you know about your employees is their name and their occupation in your institution or company.  Before rushing to recommend an applicant, hold a small meeting with him/her and get to know the person.

Consult the employee before writing

Ask the applicant when he/she needs the letter because they might be having a deadline. It would be deplorable for them to miss a job opportunity because of a delay. You also need to conduct some research on the company or institution where your employee is going; this includes the nature of the job and their future employer. You should also ask the applicant whether he/she knows the name of the employer or if they would prefer a more generic letter. Be sure to know about the most important skills in their upcoming job and don’t forget to ask about their strongest skill to include it in the letter. Still on skills, make sure you know of the instances if there were any, where they used that skill working in your company. Ask about the applicant’s achievements with your company. You should also find out what interests the applicant more about his/her new job and, in addition to that, ask why they think they would be a good fit for the job. Finally, it would be a good idea to ask the applicant if there are any other traits they would wish you to highlight.

Analyze their job record

Write a brief analysis of the applicant’s job record while he/she was working for you. This is where you write about his/her good habits and the successes, however small, the applicant achieved. If you were not the direct supervisor, you could ask a co-worker to tell you about the applicant’s habits and successes.

Be honest

A manager writing a recommendation letter should be honest. There are situations whereby the applicant was not so kind or was a threat to the company; it’s advisable to refrain from writing the recommendation letter. This is because writing negative comments in the letter can land you in court with a defamation lawsuit.

Be professional

Managers are professionals, even by nature; you want to reflect this in the letter, this brings you to the task of bringing close attention to detail. Focus on using a formal tone and be positive and professional by using the tips given to write the letter. Remember, this letter will go to the applicant’s records, so you need to write a decent document so that future hiring managers can see the aspect of professionalism.

Use examples

While writing, it is advisable to mention instances when employees benefited your company. Avoid being overly descriptive because the recipient might find it exaggerated. Instead, use examples to show how the employee handled themselves on the job; this would be the best way to show.

Final Thoughts

Writing a recommendation letter makes the applicant way ahead of his/her competition. It also means the applicant trusts you to draft one because the most convincing letters are those that are written by a supervisor. You should make it count. Using the steps given in this article, you will get a simplified approach towards writing the letter. 

About This Article

Authored by:

William Lehr

Human Resources Specialist, MS Office Expert

William Lehr combines a profound understanding of human resources with a certified expertise in Microsoft Office, making him a dual asset in any professional setting. With a keen insight into the intricacies of HR, William adeptly manages talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development. His Microsoft Office proficiency further amplifies his effectiveness, allowing him to design and implement seamless workflows, reports, and analytical tools. Whether it's optimizing HR processes or crafting efficient MS Office solutions, William's comprehensive skill set ensures that organizational objectives are met with precision and excellence.