A recommendation letter is a letter which is writer to vouch a person and recommending that you believe in the skills and capabilities of the person. It is an essential type of letter which has a significant weight for the recipient and is thus necessary to know how to write one before endorsing the applicant.

The Reasons for Recommendation letters:

• Students who are applying for universities or colleges: They need recommendation letter explaining why this applicant is a good fit.
• Scholarships: Many scholarship programs need applicants to submit this letter as a supporting document.
• A job aspirant: It is a reference letter which vouches for the professional ability of the applicant.

Points to Remember when Writing a Letter of Recommendation

Writing a recommendation letter is a huge responsibility as the person whom you are referring is relied on you. Here are a few things to keep in mind while writing one:

• Gather data about the person: Before you start the job of writing, ensure that you know what the purpose is and who the audience is.
• Understand what is expected out of the letter: For example, a student might be looking for a letter which highlights his/her technical knowledge or someone might be looking for a write up which shows leadership qualities.
• Get the Draft: If you are unable to write effectively or busy you can ask the person who is requesting the reference to draft it and you can sign it.
• Read through: Ensure that you read the letter thoroughly and everything written is true. Keep a copy of the letter for records.

What to have in a Recommendation Letter?

The Body of the Letter: It should have the following:

• Skill, strengths, and abilities
• Knowledge in areas
• Character
• Contributions
• Accomplishments

The initial few lines should be dedicated to list the strengths and skills which you would like to recommend. Then, you should assert your claims with specific instances which you observed that highlights the skills that enabled the successful project completion and also make sure your claims are credible. List out the accomplishments of the person whom you are referring which adds value to the recommendation letter.

Closing: Write in your closing statement why you believe that the person who you are referring will be a valuable addition to the college or to the company.

Mention your contact information: You can also share your work address, email id, and telephone number so that anyone wishing to clarify things with you can get in touch with you.

Format the letter and send: The recommendation letter that you write should be well formatted which includes having a readable font, format, and size. The letter may have to be sent as an email or as a scanned document.

The recommendation letter that you send should not be copied from somewhere, it should be fresh and as per your perspective. That does not mean you should not check the sample letters, they help a great deal to gather some great writing tips. It also helps in creating the basic structure and the points to be recommended while writing for a college student for scholarships, fellowships or a job seeker.