Letter of recommendation template
A letter of recommendation in business letter format: how you know the person, what they did well, and your recommendation.
- ๐บ๐ธ US format ยท Letter size
- Free
Fill in what you need. The preview updates as you type.
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The recommender signs it
Even if the candidate drafts the letter, the person whose name is on it has to read it, change what they do not agree with and sign it. Some schools and employers want the letter sent directly by the recommender or through their own portal; check that first.
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Letter of Recommendation
Taylor Kim
Director of Marketing, Acme Inc.
500 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(555) 010-0000, taylor.kim@acme.example
October 5, 2026
Hiring Manager
Northwind Commerce
1 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94105
Dear Hiring Manager:
I am pleased to recommend Jordan Lee for the Growth Marketing Manager position. I managed Jordan Lee for three years at Acme Inc., from 2023 until last month, first as a marketing associate and then as our growth marketer. I saw Jordan's work every week and reviewed every campaign plan Jordan wrote.
Jordan turns data into decisions faster than anyone on my team. When our search campaigns stalled last spring, Jordan rebuilt the account structure over two weekends and cut our cost per acquisition by 18 percent within a quarter. Jordan also launched a referral program on a budget of $4,000 that brought in 12,000 members in six months, and wrote the weekly dashboard the sales team still uses. Colleagues go to Jordan when they need a clear answer and a calm voice.
Jordan is the strongest marketer I have managed in ten years, and I was sorry to see Jordan go. I recommend Jordan without reservation. If you would like to discuss Jordan's work in more detail, please contact me at the phone number or email above.
Sincerely,
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Taylor Kim
Director of Marketing, Acme Inc.
How to use it
You are the sender, so your name, title and contact details go at the top. Address it to the hiring manager or admissions office if you know the name; otherwise leave the recipient name as Hiring Manager or Admissions Committee. Pick Job or School, type the person's name and the position or program, and the first sentence is written for you.
Three boxes make the body. How you know them: your role, theirs and how long. Strengths with an example: one scene you watched, with the date and the outcome, is worth more than a list of adjectives. Your overall view: one or two sentences, then the letter adds the recommendation and an offer to talk.
Things to watch
Write only what you saw. Leave out age, health, family and anything else a US employer may not ask about. If you cannot recommend the person without reservation, it is better to decline than to write a lukewarm letter; readers notice.
Calculators that go with this
Frequently asked questions
How long should it be?
One page. Three to four paragraphs is the norm for a job reference; graduate school letters can run longer when the program asks for detail.
Can the candidate write the first draft?
It happens often. The recommender still has to read it, change anything they would not say themselves and sign it. A letter the recommender cannot vouch for in a phone call is a problem for both of you.
Do I print it on letterhead?
If you have company or school letterhead, use it and leave the typed sender block off. Otherwise the typed block with your title and contact details does the same job.
Is what I type saved anywhere?
No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is sent to our server. If you refresh the page it is gone, so print, save a PDF or download the DOCX when you are done.