How to Write a Reference (Recommendation) Letter for Scholarship or Job?

How to Write a Reference Letter or Recommendation Letter for a Scholarship?

You may be asked to provide a recommendation letter for a student, coworker, friend, or someone with whom you've worked at various time periods in your professional life. When facing with all of this situation, understanding how to write a powerful recommendation letter, also known as a letter of reference, is critical.

Your help might be really helpful. A bad letter of reference is worse than no recommendation at all; a good letter might help your interviewee realize their aspirations.

What is a letter of reference or recommendation?

A letter of recommendation is an affirmation of a person's skills and attributes from a person who is acquainted with their character, body of work, and achievements. When applying for scholarships, employment, internships, volunteer opportunities, and positions, letters of recommendation are necessary.

The letter of recommendation outlines the applicant's qualifications for the position they are looking for as well as why the reader should choose them. The company evaluating the person for employment or admittance to a school may ask for the letter of reference, or the job seeker or applicant may send it.

Types of reference letters:

There are several sorts of letters of recommendation that may be prepared, including professional references, character or personal references, academic references, and more.

1.Professional References

A boss, colleague, customer, instructor, or professor who is familiar with the applicant's work product in a professional setting often composes a professional reference letter. It often comprises a description of the applicant's role and duties, time spent working for the company, as well as their talents, credentials, and past contributions to the company.

 2.Character/Personal References.

A neighbor or family friend who can attest to the applicant's suitability for the post being sought may write a letter of reference. This kind of letter describes the writer's acquaintance with the recipient and how such qualities could be used in the workplace.

 3.Academic References

A textbook or other academic work produced by a professor, instructor, or guidance counselor. This kind of reference details the applicant's academic accomplishments and educational history.

Before writing a reference letter!

Make sure you are capable of writing a glowing letter of reference for this person before committing to writing the letter. It's OK to refuse the request for a letter of reference if you don't know the individual well or believe that you can't adequately attest to their skills. Saying "I do not think I am the best person to write you a recommendation" will leave the request ambiguous. Try to think of someone else they could ask.

1.Obtain information for the letter

Even if you have known the individual for a long time, it is a good idea to request a copy of their résumé or CV. It could be important to emphasize recent admissions or achievements, so you should provide as much up-to-date information as you can. You can use this as guideline when you write the letter.

Ask for a copy of the job ad as well if the recommendation letter is related to a particular job opening. Ask for details about the school if the letter of reference is for a particular program or institution. The letter will be simpler to write the more details you have.

Ask not just for the applicant's details but also for instructions on how to send the letter. Find out to whom the letter should be addressed, when it must be received, and what shape it must take. Ask if there is any information that the company or school wants you to add in your letter.

Contents should be included in a reference?

If the candidate doesn't give you a form to fill out for your letter of recommendation, you should adhere to the standard structure for business letters. This entails beginning the letter with your contact information, the date, and the contact information of the receiver (often the hiring manager).

The date and your contact information do not need to be at the start of a letter if it is being sent through email, though. As an alternative, include your contact details after your email signature. A reference letter sent through email need to contain a clear, succinct subject line that includes the applicant's name, the job for which they are applying (if appropriate), and the letter's objective. "Recommendation for First Name Last Name - Human Resources Assistant Job," for instance, may be the subject line.

How to write a reference letter?

To get an idea of what you should write and how your letter should read, here are some general guidelines to be considered before writing your letter.

1.Letter Salutation

Your salutation should begin, with "Dear Mr./Mrs. Last Name." or for work references put "Dear Hiring Manager" if you are unsure. You might address the letter, "Dear Admissions Committee," if the applicant is requesting admission to a degree program. If you're writing a generic letter, you may either start it with "Dear Whom It May Concern," "To whom it May Concern," or just the first paragraph.

2.First Paragraph

Explain your relationship to the person you are suggesting, how you know them, how long you have known them, and why you are qualified to write a letter of recommendation on their behalf in the opening paragraph of the letter of recommendation. Make sure to mention the name of the business, position, institution, or opportunity that the applicant is seeking for. Example, "I have been employed at this company as the Ahamdhullah's Finance Manager for the past 3 years. It gives me pleasure to suggest he be hired by ABC Company as the chief accountant ". Or "I have been Ahmadullah's biology instructor for the past 3 years.He has my enthusiastic recommendation for your Master's program ".

3.Second paragraph, or may be third and fourth.

The body of the reference letter should contain information on the individual you are writing about, including qualifications and potential contributions. Use many paragraphs if necessary to offer details. Be detailed and provide instances to demonstrate this candidate's qualifications. If you can, mention specific instances when you saw the person use the necessary job-related abilities. Try to describe traits and abilities that are relevant to the position, program, or opportunity in issue. For instance, if the applicant is vying for a managerial position, emphasize their communication and leadership abilities.

4.Conclusion of your reference letter

Offer to provide further information and include your contact information (phone and email) in the closing part or paragraph so you may make a vocal recommendation or respond to any follow-up queries if necessary. You might state once more that you "wholly" or "without reservation" suggest this individual.

4.Signature

Your handwritten signature and typed name come after you sign off on the letter. Your name entered followed by your contact details is sufficient for an email. It could be preferable if you include your company's seal or stamp.

Design of a Reference Letter!

Your recommendation letter's format and appearance are nearly as crucial as its substance. Here are some guidelines for your letter's length, structure, and typeface.

1.Length 

A recommendation letter should be at least two paragraphs long; writing it less than that suggests that you either don't know the individual well or don't completely support them. However, you should limit the letter to one page and no more, make it concise, and concentrate on a few crucial issues. It is appropriate to use three to four paragraphs to describe how you know the individual and why you suggest them.

2.Format 

Each paragraph in a letter of recommendation has to have a gap between it and the next one. Align your text to the left and use margins of around 1 inch on the top, bottom, left, and right.

3.Font 

Use a typeface like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri that is more commonly seen in academic publications. For ease of reading, the font size should be more than 10 and lower than 14 points. A excellent technique to keep your text on one page is to change the font size.

Sample of Recommendation Letter!

A sample of recommendation letter can be downloaded from bellow link which can be used by you as a sample.

Download Sample\