Letters-of-Recommendation

LettersofRecommendationIntroductionUsually,lettersofrecommendationevaluateindividuals.Recommendationsmaybewrittentonominatepeopleforawardsandformembershipinorganization,andtheymayalsobewrittenbyemployerstoappraisetheperformanceofemployees.Theymaybesolicited(requested)bypotentialemployersororganizations,andtheymaybewrittenattherequestoftheapplicantsforjobs.Thecentralconcerninrecommendationishonesty.Thus,youmustavoidpuffingordistortingacandidate’squalificationstocoverupweaknessesortodestroytheperson’schances.Ethicallyandlegally,youhaveadutytothecandidateaswellastootheremployersororganizationstodescribethatpersontruthfullyandobjectively.Goodlettersofrecommendationprovideconfidentialtruthandspecificjob-relatedinformation.Herearesixguidelinesthatacarefulwritercanfollowinwritingrecommendations:Provideonlyjob-relatedinformation.Avoidcommentingonbehaviororactivitiesawayfromthejob.Avoidvagueorambiguousstatements.Keepinmindthatimpreciseandpoorlyexplainedremarksmaybemadeinnocentlybutcouldbeinterpretedquitedifferently.Supplyspecificevidenceforanynegative.Supportanydamaginginformationwithverifiablefacts.Stressfacts.Factsspeaklouderthanwords.Letthereadermaketheirownjudgment.Ifyouwanttoexpressopinion,backupyouropinionwithfacts.Statethatyourremarksareconfidential.Thiswordimpliesthattheresponsewillbeseenonlybythepersonorpersonswhohaveresponsibilityforthehiringdecision.Recommendationsoftenhavethreeparts:opening,bodyandconclusion.Intheopening,youshouldgivethenameofthecandidateandthepositionsought.Statethatyourremarksareconfidential,andsuggestthatyouarewritingattherequestoftheapplicantorsaythatyouarecomplyingwith（照做）therequest.Describeyourrelationshipwiththecandidate.Thebodyofarecommendationshoulddescribetheapplicant’sacademicorjobperformanceandpotential.Youcanfocusonsuchtraitsascommunicationskills,organizationalskills,interpersonalskills,abilitytoworkwithateam,dependability,loyaltyandinitiative.Indescribingthesetraits,besuretobackthemupwithevidence.Inthefinalparagraphofarecommendation,youshouldofferanoverallevaluation.Indicatehowyouwouldrankthispersoninrelationtoothersintheorganization.Ifyouarestronglysupportive,youmaysummarizethecandidate’sbestquality.Sample:AsolicitedrecommendationforanemployeeDearMs.Rosales:AttherequestinyourJuly10letter,IsubmitthisconfidentialinformationinsupportofMs.MarryL.Lamme’sapplicationforthepositionofcustomerservicemanagerinyourorganization.Ms.LammeservedundermysupervisionasAssistantManageratNicolvinHospitalforthepastthreeyears.Ms.Lammewasinchargeofmanycustomers’serviceprogramsforour850-bedhospital.Alargepartofherjobinvolvedmonitoringandimprovingpatientsatisfaction.Becauseofherpersonalnatureandsuperiorinterpersonalskills,shegotalongwellwithfellowemployees,patients,andphysicians.Herpersonnelrecordincludesanumberofhonorsgiventoherforherexemplaryperformance.Ms.Lammeworkswellwithateam,asevidencedbyherparticipationonsteeringcommitteetodevelopour“ServiceFirstEveryDay”program.Hermostsignificantcontributiontoourhospitalcameasaresultofherowncreativityandinitiative.Shedevelopedandimplementedapatienthotlinetohearcomplaintsandresolveproblemsimmediately.Thisenormouslysuccessfultelephoneservicehelpedusimprovepatientsatisfactionratingfrom6.8lastyearto8.4thisyear.We’resorrytoloseMs.Lamme,butwerecognizeherdesiretoadvancehercareer.Iamconfidentthatherresourcefulness,intelligenceandenthusiasmwillmakehersuccessfulinyourorganization.Irecommendherwithoutreservation.Sincerely,AnunsolicitedrecommendationforastudentTowhomitmayconcern:IamwritingthisletterattherequestofMissChangHuawhoisapplyingtostudyinyouruniversity.ShewasinmyAdvancedSpeakingandListeningandTopicsofInternationalBusinessclassesin1998and1999.Asthedeanoftheschool,Ialsosupervisedherextracurricularactivities.MissChangHuawasanoutstandingstudent,amongthetoptenintheclassof65.HerconscientiouseffortanddiligentworkresultedingoodmasteryoftheEnglishlanguageandknowledgeofinternationalbusiness.Shewasactivelyinvolvedinclassactivitiesandcontributedtogroupwork.Shewasanalyticalandoftenpresentedsomeinnovativeideasinclasswork.ShewasproficientatspeakingandwritinginEnglish.Everyteacherwhohasevertaughtherthinkshighlyofher.Besides,ChangHuademonstratedtalentinleadership.ServingasthechairpersonofUniversityForeignLanguageClubintheyear1998,sheledandorganizedmanysuccessfulactivitiessuchasForeignLanguageMonth,SpeechContest,andDemonstrationsofEnglishInterview.Eachtimeshemadecarefulplanning,consultedwiththeteachers,askedopinionsofothermembers,organizedstudentsandconductedtheactivitiessystematically.IntheForeignLanguageMonth,aseriesoffiveactivitieswereorganizedandmorethan1500studentsparticipated.TheForeignLanguageClubwasveryinfluentialandverypopularamongstudents.MissChangHuaisamiableandeasytogetalongwith.Thatiswhyshecouldhavewonthetrustandsupportofstudentsonthecampus.Moreover,sheisanefficientworker;otherwise,shecouldnothavemanagedtoachieveexcellentinbothheracademicandsocialworkatthesametime.Sheisabletocompletewhatevershewantstopursueandheradaptabilityenableshertofitintoanynewenvir