Recommendation Letter Templates
A recommendation letter speaks to someone’s character, skills, or work history on their behalf, written by someone who knows the person well enough to provide specific examples rather than general praise. Templates in this collection cover the common contexts including employer recommendations for former employees, teacher recommendations for students applying to programs, mentor recommendations for scholarship and award applications, and personal references for housing, immigration, or character verification. Each one includes the standard structure: relationship to the candidate, specific examples of strengths, and a clear endorsement. Pick the template that matches your role relative to the candidate and add the specifics that actually distinguish them.
A recommendation letter carries weight only when the reader believes the writer would actually recommend the candidate in person, which is why specific examples beat generic praise every time. A teacher's letter that says "Sarah was the top student in my class" tells the reader less than one that says "Sarah's research project on local water quality was the only one in the class that included field sampling, and her presentation to the school board led to a policy change in our district." The specific example shows judgement, initiative, and impact in ways the general claim cannot.
The most important decision in writing a recommendation letter is whether to accept the request at all. If you would not advocate for the candidate enthusiastically in conversation with the admissions committee or hiring manager, decline politely rather than producing a lukewarm letter that damages the candidate's chances. Reasons to decline include not knowing the candidate well enough, not having current information about them, having concerns about the role they are applying for, or simply not having time to write the letter well. A short, honest decline preserves the relationship and lets the candidate ask someone else who can write more strongly.