5 Tips For Writing A Strong Reference Letter
When a colleague or peer asks you to write them a reference letter, it can feel like both an honor and a challenge. You want to help them succeed, but crafting a strong reference letter requires more than just generic praise. Oftentimes, it can make all the difference in helping someone secure a job, internship, scholarship, or graduate school admission.
A well-written reference letter should highlight the candidate’s qualifications, work ethic, and character in a way that sets them apart. The key is to provide specific examples, showcasing their strengths while tailoring your recommendation to the opportunity they’re pursuing.
Her Agenda gathered five tips to help you write a reference letter that leaves a lasting impression.
Understand The Role
Understanding the role the candidate is applying for is crucial when writing a reference letter. It allows you to tailor your recommendation to highlight the specific skills and qualities that align with the job or program, setting the foundation for the whole letter. So, make sure to ask the candidate specific questions.
“You want to understand the job description, industry, and any skills in particular this candidate is going to bring to that role,” saidVal Esway, a human resources and recruiting consultant.
Be Less Careful In Your Writing Approach
Karla Erickson, Ph.D., and professor of sociology at Grinnell College advises being less careful when writing a reference letter. Early in her career, she kept a formal, quantified approach to writing reference letters, avoiding personal anecdotes.
“In my letters now, I do less comparisons to peer groups or the like, not sure of the value of such assessments,” she told Inside Higher Ed. “Instead, I use the letter to tell illustrative stories — such as what I remember from when I first saw the mentee break out of a routine, learn something new, take a chance, or even become a leader.”
Include Your Personal Connection, Strengths, And Examples
The University of Cincinnati shared three key components to include when writing a reference letter. First, provide your personal connection to the candidate, providing context for how you know them and in what capacity. Next, use specific examples to highlight their strengths and accomplishments, ensuring the letter is tailored to the role or opportunity. Third, maintain a balance between professional or academic and personal qualities, focusing on traits that are relevant to the program or job.
The tone should be positive, honest, and genuine. Ensure the letter is professional in both tone and format, proofreading before you submit it.
Focus On A Couple Of Qualities Or Examples
Including one or two key qualities in your reference letter, along with specific examples backing those up, helps paint a clear picture of the candidate’s strengths. Instead of listing numerous traits, choose those that are most relevant to the opportunity they are pursuing.
It’s important to focus on the impact the candidate has because past behavior predicts future behavior, saysKirsten Moss, former Assistant Dean and Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Stanford University.
Keep Details More Professional
When writing a reference letter, keep the details professional rather than getting too personal. Focusing on the candidate’s skills, accomplishments, and examples of good work reigns superior to sharing personal traits or circumstances.
“Talking about someone’s personality is not necessarily going to be as powerful as giving examples of their work,” saidMary Frances Kuper, associate director of career education at the University of Arizona. “The key is really focusing on the skills they bring to the table and how you see those skills applying. We tend to want to use a lot of superlatives and complimentary adjectives about a person, but those can only really be powerful if they’re paired with an example.
