How long are letters of recommendation

Furthermore, the person reading the letters is probably swamped with having to read other pages. Thus, keeping the letter succinct and impactful is imperative. Every letter of recommendation should include common elements such as the following:. Your reputation is at stake; endorsing an incompetent employee or colleague who delivers a mediocre job performance can tarnish your name.

Requests for letters of recommendation can take place for a whole slew of reasons. For example, if someone is applying for an MBA program, a one or two-page document should suffice. CEO, Cardswitcher. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to writing a letter of recommendation. The key to letters of recommendation is marrying your opinions about a person with their job description, and how their traits enabled them to excel in that particular role.

Focusing on the job description is also a good way to reduce the amount of work that you have to do — you can just copy and paste particular sections, editing them slightly to personalize them. Whilst this might seem a bit robotic, by their nature, letters of recommendation are read in a very analytical, robotic way, so you might actually be helping the person by using this method.

CEO, Crediful. A good letter of recommendation includes three things: an introduction, an assessment of abilities, and an example of great work the subject did.

The introduction explains who you are talking about, while the assessment is a strong sales pitch for the person you are writing about. The example is a nice way to get specific and adds weight to the rest of the letter.

You should not include anything more than these three parts because additional information will distract from your message. The Editors. Are there any best practices for writing a recommendation letter? How long should it be? Here are tips on how long your letter should be, as advised by experts.

Table of Contents A letter of recommendation can be as small as short paragraphs or up to 1 page Sample recommendation letter Take time to write a one-page customized letter What should a letter of recommendation include? A letter of recommendation is not a vital part of the hiring process The letter should not exceed two paragraphs There are no hard rules regarding the optimal length of a recommendation letter It can be as long or as short as you want.

You may include observations you made while working with them, like if you noticed they use excellent communication skills while working with customers.

Try to relate how their skills can relate to the job they're applying for. Including a personal story is a great way to demonstrate the applicant's skills and talents. Offer information about a positive encounter you had with the applicant, like if they answered a tough question or if they helped you handle a customer.

Try to keep the story brief, with one sentence providing context, another sentence explaining the applicant's actions and the final sentence explaining the outcome of the situation. Your closing statement should briefly restate a few reasons that make the candidate qualified for the position. You may restate their skills, emphasize their work experience or highlight their academic accomplishments.

At the end of your closing statement, include a sentence that lets the hiring manager know they may reach out to you with further questions about the applicant. Here are some tips to keep in mind while writing a letter of recommendation:. Before sending the recommendation letter, be sure to proofread it to check for spelling errors and formatting issues.

It may be useful to read the letter out loud to find spelling and grammar mistakes, or you can have a trusted colleague read through it to provide feedback on spelling and formatting. Be sure to fix any errors before submitting the recommendation letter. Reviewing the applicant's resume may help you identify experiences and skills that they have from different jobs. Your letter may seem more comprehensive if you have a deeper understanding of their professional and educational background.

You may also ask the applicant if there are any specific skills or experiences that they want you to include in the letter.

Reading the job description may give you a better idea of the details you can include in the letter. For example, if a job description states that a company is looking for a candidate with excellent communication skills, you may include specific details about when the applicant used communication skills in a previous position.

Try asking the applicant if they can provide you with a link to the job posting. Here is a letter of recommendation for a high school student applying to college:. I believe that Kyle Hall is an exceptional student and can be an excellent addition to Coastal Technical College.

While teaching Kyle, I have often noticed his willingness to learn and his commitment to education. He often encourages his classmates and offers tutoring to students who are struggling academically. As Kyle's teacher, I have observed him helping other students, often answering their questions and offering to help them with concepts they're unfamiliar with. I remember one day, there was a new student in class, and Kyle offered to take the student on a tour of the school.

He shows the new student where all of her classes were, introduced her to faculty and students and ensured that she felt welcome. As a result, I placed him on the welcoming committee so that he could extend his friendly attitude toward all new students. I am confident that Kyle's positive demeanor, combined with his eagerness to learn, makes him a valuable asset to Coastal Technical College.

If you have any questions, or would like to further discuss Kyle's qualifications, please reach out to me. When students apply for graduate school or a national scholarship, two-page letters are the norm, and very short letters leave candidates at a clear disadvantage.

As faculty who sit on review boards will confirm, letters of three pages or more are simply too lengthy and often too full of irrelevant detail for a selection committee to consider efficiently; pare them back. The letterhead should not be included on any pages except the first one, but be sure to number and perhaps date any subsequent pages in case they become separated.

Many writers also provide an appropriate subject line at the top of any pages after the first one e. Thanks to computer software, professional looking letterheads are easily generated, and many faculty use paper with a pre-printed letterheads for their first page. The best letterhead is that of the department, college, or other organization with which you are most closely affiliated.

If you attach a separate letter to a form, a letterhead is still appropriate. Date the letter two or so spaces beneath the letterhead at the left or right margin.