Writing a letter of recommendation

by Michael Ernst (mernst@csail.mit.edu)
October, 2002

(Also see my advice on requesting recommendation letters.)

Be specific. Don't just praise the person with generalities (such as "quick learner"), but give specific examples of things the person did to give you that impression. Rankings in class are another example of a helpful specific.

Differentiate. Say how this person is unlike other people: his or her specific strengths.

Compare. When writing to someone who shares context with you, name names. ("The best student I've graduated since little Al Turing.")

Be plausible. Don't make the person out to be perfect. Often shortcomings are just ignored, but it can also be reasonable to note some, particularly if the person has started to overcome them.

Say how well you know the person, and for how long. This should come at the beginning of the letter.

State your own qualifications. How many other people of the caliber the recommender sees have you yourself seen. (For example, the best student in years at some places might not be appropriate for MIT; but someone who got a PhD from MIT or was there on sabbatical carries more weight in a recommendation to MIT, because that person's scale has been calibrated.)

Don't be too brief. One paragraph, or two short paragraphs, is the kiss of death. (If you don't know the student well, and don't have much to say, add a short paragraph explaining what the course is and why it's good that the student excelled in it. This won't fool most people, but will soften the blow of a short letter.) However, don't ramble: make it succinct and to the point.

Mayfield Handbook: Writing Letters of Recommendation

Write letters of recommendation to provide relevant information and to present an individual truthfully and positively.

Guidelines for Writing Letters of Recommendation

• In most cases, agree to write a letter of recommendation only if you can honestly write a supportive letter. If you cannot portray an individual positively, decline to write the recommendation.
• Ask for a current resume and as complete a description as possible of the position or program to which the person is applying.
• Assemble and review all other relevant information you may have about the person you are recommending. It is often easy to overlook some important accomplishment.

Writing the letter:

• Present the person truthfully but positively. A recommendation that paints an unrealistic picture of a candidate may be discounted. A recommendation that focuses on negative qualities may do more harm than intended.
• Tailor the recommendation to the position. A letter recommending an individual for a job as a camp counselor should contain different information from that in a letter recommending the same individual for a job as a computer programmer.
• Begin the letter by describing how you know the individual you are recommending and the specific contexts upon which you are basing your evaluation. In what situations have you known the individual? For how long? How closely?
• Present the individual's general qualities relevant to the position along with one or two detailed examples. Including vivid detail will make the recommendation much more effective.
• In most cases, a letter of recommendation should consist of three or four paragraphs and not be over one page in length.