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Letter of Recommendation Template and Examples

Use this letter of recommendation template to write a clear endorsement for a job, internship, graduate program, scholarship, volunteer role, or character reference. Add your relationship to the person, a few of their strengths, and the purpose — and get a polished recommendation you can copy or download as a PDF. Copy-paste templates are below.

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What a letter of recommendation is

A letter of recommendation is a written endorsement from someone who can describe another person's skills, character, work habits, academic performance, or professional potential. The recommender might be a manager, professor, advisor, coach, mentor, colleague, client, or community leader. The reader might be a hiring manager, admissions committee, scholarship board, landlord, licensing panel, or selection committee.

The purpose is to help the reader decide whether the candidate is a strong fit. Generic praise rarely persuades. A sentence like "Jordan is hardworking and reliable" could describe almost anyone. A stronger sentence is "Jordan rebuilt our onboarding checklist, trained three new hires, and reduced ramp-up time by 40% in one quarter." That type of detail proves the claim and makes the recommendation memorable.

Every effective recommendation letter follows the same pattern. It introduces the recommender, explains the relationship, names two or three relevant strengths, supports each strength with a specific example, connects those strengths to the role or program, and closes with a clear recommendation and contact information.

How to write a letter of recommendation

State your relationship

Open with who you are, how you know the person, and for how long. This sets your credibility.

Give specific strengths

Name two or three qualities and back each with a concrete example — a project, a result, a moment.

Connect to the goal

Tie those strengths to the role, school, or program. Show why they'll succeed in that specific context.

Recommend and sign

End with an explicit recommendation, your title and contact details, and your signature.

How to use this letter of recommendation template

Start by choosing the purpose of the letter. A job recommendation should focus on performance, reliability, teamwork, leadership, and measurable results. A graduate school recommendation should focus on academic ability, research potential, curiosity, writing, problem solving, and readiness for advanced study. A character reference should focus on integrity, reliability, service, and personal judgment.

Next, collect the details you need before you write. Ask the candidate for the opportunity description, deadline, recipient name, resume, transcript if relevant, and two or three accomplishments they hope you will mention. You do not need to repeat their resume. Your value is your perspective: what you saw, what improved because of their work, and how they behaved when the stakes were high.

Then personalize the template. Replace bracketed placeholders with real names, dates, projects, classes, metrics, and outcomes. If you do not have a metric, use a concrete observation. For example, mention a presentation the person led, a conflict they handled well, a research question they pursued, or a client problem they solved.

Letter of recommendation format

Most recommendation letters fit on one page and use three to five short paragraphs. Use a professional greeting, simple language, and a confident but honest tone.

Date. Add the date at the top.
Recipient. Use a named recipient when possible. If you do not know the name, use "Dear Hiring Manager," "Dear Admissions Committee," or "To the Selection Committee."
Opening paragraph. State who you are, your role, how you know the candidate, and how long you have known them.
Evidence paragraphs. Describe two or three strengths. For each strength, include an example, project, result, class performance, or situation that proves it.
Fit paragraph. Connect the candidate's strengths to the specific job, school, scholarship, or program.
Closing paragraph. State your recommendation clearly. Add your title, organization, email, phone number, and signature if needed.

Letter of recommendation samples and examples

Use any of these as a letter of recommendation template for a student, employee, academic, professional, or character reference. Swap the bracketed details for real names, dates, projects, and results, or paste your notes into the generator above. Each is a complete recommendation letter example.

Letter of recommendation for student

To the Admissions Committee, I'm pleased to recommend [Student] for admission to [Program]. As [Student]'s professor in [Course] over the past [time period], I've watched them grow into one of the most thoughtful students in the class. [Student] stood out on [specific project], where they [specific accomplishment]. They don't just complete work — they ask better questions than their peers and push an idea until it holds up. That intellectual persistence is exactly what graduate study rewards. I recommend [Student] without reservation and am glad to answer any questions. Sincerely, [Your name], [Title], [Institution]

Letter of recommendation for employee

To Whom It May Concern, I'm writing to recommend [Name], who reported to me as [Role] at [Company] for [time period]. They were one of the most dependable members of my team. [Name] led [specific project] and delivered [specific result]. Beyond the numbers, they raised the standard around them — documenting work, mentoring newer hires, and staying calm when priorities shifted. Any team would be fortunate to have [Name]. I recommend them highly and am happy to provide more detail. Best regards, [Your name], [Title], [Company]

Professional letter of recommendation example

To Whom It May Concern, I've worked alongside [Name] as a [your role] at [Company] for [time period], and I'm glad to recommend them. What I value most about [Name] is [specific strength]. On [specific project], they [specific contribution], and it changed how our team approached the problem. They're the colleague others go to when something is hard. I recommend [Name] enthusiastically. Sincerely, [Your name], [Title]

Academic letter of recommendation sample

Dear [Committee / Recipient], It is my pleasure to recommend [Student] for [scholarship / program]. I taught [Student] in [Course] and supervised their work on [project]. [Student] combines genuine curiosity with rigor. Their [paper / experiment / thesis] on [topic] demonstrated [specific quality], and their analysis was more careful than I expect at this level. They also [characteristic — e.g. supported classmates / led the seminar]. [Student] has my strongest recommendation. Respectfully, [Your name], [Title], [Institution]

Character reference letter of recommendation

To Whom It May Concern, I've known [Name] for [time period] as [relationship], and I'm happy to speak to their character. [Name] is [specific quality] — and I've seen it firsthand. When [situation], they [what they did]. They are honest, reliable, and treat people with respect even when it isn't easy. I recommend [Name] wholeheartedly and welcome any questions. Sincerely, [Your name]

How to write a stronger recommendation letter

Support every compliment with evidence. If you say the candidate is a leader, describe who they led, what changed, and why it mattered. If you say they are dependable, mention a deadline, responsibility, or situation where others counted on them. If you say they are creative, describe the idea they contributed and the result it produced.

Use the reader's priorities as a guide. A hiring manager wants to know whether the person can do the work and collaborate well. An admissions committee wants evidence of academic readiness and potential. A scholarship committee wants achievement, purpose, and character. Choose examples that match the decision the reader is making.

Keep the tone positive but balanced. You should not claim the candidate is perfect. A credible letter sounds specific and sincere. If appropriate, you can mention growth: "When Maya first joined the lab, she was cautious about presenting her findings; by the end of the semester, she was leading weekly discussions and answering questions with confidence."

Common letter of recommendation mistakes

The most common mistake is vague praise. "Excellent," "wonderful," and "hard working" are not enough unless you explain what the person did. Another mistake is writing a letter that is too long. A one-page letter with useful evidence is stronger than two pages of general compliments.

Avoid focusing too much on yourself. Your title matters because it establishes credibility, but the letter should stay centered on the candidate. Do not include private information, unsupported claims, jokes, or anything the candidate would not want shared. Do not exaggerate. Readers can often recognize exaggerated praise.

Finally, do not agree to write if you cannot be positive and specific. A lukewarm letter can be less helpful than no letter at all. If you do not know the candidate well enough, it is better to decline politely or suggest someone who can write a stronger recommendation.

Before submitting the letter

Read the finished letter out loud once before you send it. Check the candidate's name, the recipient's name, the program or job title, and every date. Make sure the examples match the opportunity and that your contact information is current. If you upload the letter through a portal, save it as a PDF unless the instructions require another format. A final review helps the recommendation feel polished, accurate, and ready for a real decision maker.

Letter of recommendation FAQ

What should a letter of recommendation include?

Include your relationship to the candidate, how long you have known them, two or three strengths, specific examples, a connection to the opportunity, and a clear recommendation with your contact details.

How long should a recommendation letter be?

Most letters should be one page, usually three to five focused paragraphs. Academic letters may be slightly longer when detailed research or coursework evidence is useful.

Who should write a letter of recommendation?

Choose someone who knows the candidate's work well. A direct manager, professor, advisor, mentor, or close colleague is usually better than a famous or senior person who barely knows the candidate.

How do I make a recommendation letter specific?

Replace adjectives with proof. Name a project, class, responsibility, result, number, challenge, or moment that shows the candidate's strength.

Can this template work for a job and graduate school?

Yes. Use the same structure, but change the evidence. For a job, emphasize results and teamwork. For graduate school, emphasize academic ability, research potential, writing, analysis, and persistence.

Is this letter of recommendation template free to use?

Yes. Copy the template, replace the placeholders, and adjust the examples so the final letter sounds true to your relationship with the candidate.

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