Can you share a sample letter of recommendation for me to edit?
Yes, a strong recommendation letter runs 300 to 400 words and fits one page, opening with the recommender's relationship to you, followed by a specific project or achievement example, then three key strengths such as problem-solving, communication, and reliability, before closing with a clear, direct recommendation and contact offer.
You can hand this structure to whoever is writing your letter, whether a manager, professor, or senior colleague, so they only need to fill in the specific details rather than start from a blank page. The strongest letters stay concise and lean on one real example rather than generic praise.
Letter Structure to Fill In
| Section | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Header | Recommender's name, title, company, contact details, date |
| Opening line | Direct statement recommending the candidate for the specific role or program |
| Relationship and tenure | How they know the candidate and for how long (e.g. direct supervisor for 2 years) |
| Specific example | One concrete project, achievement, or challenge handled well |
| Key strengths | Three qualities such as problem-solving, communication, and reliability |
| Closing | Clear recommendation statement plus an offer to discuss further |
Tips Before You Send It Out
- Be specific in the example paragraph, since a detailed, real story is far more persuasive than general compliments.
- Match the listed strengths to the actual job or program description so the letter feels targeted rather than generic.
- Keep the whole letter to 300 to 400 words and one page, since admissions committees and hiring managers read dozens of these.
My Advice
If this letter is for an academic application rather than a job, ask your recommender to swap the "achievement" paragraph for a specific example of your coursework, research, or classroom performance instead of workplace output. Send your recommender a short bullet list of two or three things you would like highlighted so their letter stays personal to you.
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