Job Recommendation Letter – What are They for and How to Write Them?

Maybe it’s the first time you’ve been asked this question, or you’ve already faced it at some point in your life, but you still don’t know why companies ask for it.

The biggest challenge is when someone you’ve worked with comes to you for support, and you write a document like this. How do you do it? We tell you everything you need to know.

What is a Job Recommendation Letter?

This document is generally one page long and is written by a manager, coordinator, boss, supervisor, or area manager at a company where the person seeking employment has worked.

It usually describes the working relationship, the qualities the candidate demonstrated at that time, and his or her achievements and skills, among other details.

Its objective is to provide the hiring company with an additional tool to evaluate whether the candidate is suitable for the position and to work in the organization.

Once the company has requested the letter, it is time for you to ask one of your former supervisors for it.

To do this, think about the ideal person to write it. It can be superior, but one suggestion is to ensure you have maintained a good relationship so that the document is honest and works in your favor.

Still, the person writing the letter must be extremely objective.

How Do You Write a Job Recommendation Letter?

There are currently several templates for writing a document like this; however, you should mainly consider two models: addressed letters and open letters.

Basically, the difference between each one is that the targeted ones are written for a specific person, for example, the person in charge of the area to which the applicant is applying.

Open-ended IDs usually include the phrase “to whom it may concern ” because they are intended to work for any company that requests them.

The structure we recommend below is based on the Doctorate in Management of Organizations at the Autonomous University of Nayarit.

Date and place of writing the letter

Recipient (to whom it is addressed)

The first paragraph mentions the recommended person, the dates they worked with the company, the position they held, and the company’s name.

In the second and/or third paragraph, you should describe the functions performed, as well as your qualities, skills, and achievements, among other details.

Final paragraph with a conclusion and farewell that confirms the recommendation.

Personal data of the issuer, such as current position, organization, address, telephone number, and email.

Name and signature of the grantor.

Very briefly, it should look like this:

CDMX as of June 1, 2024

To whom it may concern, 

Through this letter, I am pleased to recommend (full name of the person recommended), with whom I had the honor of working from (month and year) to (month and year) at (name of company).

Among his functions were… (mention them)

In addition, he was able to… (mention achievements and skills)

Thus, I confirm that (name of the recommended person) is suitable for assuming the position of interest.

Sincerely,

Current position:

Organization:

Address, telephone, email:

Name and signature of the issuer

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Why Do Companies Ask for Letters of Recommendation?

It should be noted that these documents are only some of the important parts of the hiring process, as a job interview or your CV undoubtedly carries more weight. Even so, it would be best if you strived to give your best because, as they say, everything counts.

With this tool, human resources departments can analyze candidates in depth and choose only those who might fit in or pose a potential problem for the organization.

Having a job recommendation letter is, of course, helpful, even before starting the process. For example, platforms such as LinkedIn allow you to add attachments or comments, which can give you extra value in the eyes of recruiters.