Everyone knows you wouldn’t be where you are today without the help and support of your boss/mentors. But how to write the best recommendation letter for your boss to support him?
A recommendation letter gives examples and reasons why your boss is the best. You’ll need this gesture if you want to get a promotion or more responsibilities.
1. Before Writing A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss
Writing a good recommendation letter takes more than, “Hey, go work with my great boss here.”
A good recommendation will detail how everyone likes and respects the boss. To find the best guide on how to write a recommendation letter for your boss:
1.1 Get To Know Your Boss:
First off, you’ll need to know what your boss wants. You don’t know much about your boss’s personal life or background.
Get on the same page about their goals and what they hope to achieve. Please find out how they became what they are today.
Did they get training for the leadership qualities they have today? Or did they learn it all from hands-on experience in the corporate world?
It is unnecessary to check their resume; you only need to have enough information on their career.
1.2 Know Your Audience:
When you write a letter for your boss, it is for another supervisor or hiring manager.
Getting to know the audience and researching what will be suitable for them is essential. Consider what tone of voice will be most appropriate.
Also, determine what goals you have before writing. Do you want to highlight your boss’s achievements? Or do you want to tell them about his great personality?
1.3 How To Write A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss- Templates
Then get down with Google. Look up templates online to help you write a recommendation letter for your boss.
If there is no template out there made about the position you’re writing for, then create one of your own.
That means reading how other people write recommendation letters. Please don’t copy them but use these examples as inspiration.
2. How To Write A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss- Writing The Letter Itself
We will discuss what things to remember while writing the letter. These are essential elements, so try not to miss them.
2.1 Keep it Short:
When writing any recommendation letter, never go on too long. No one wants to read an essay of dedicated leaders who helped develop future managers.
They only need the notable things that your boss should have said so far. Make sure what you are saying is relevant and stick to the point while being supportive.
2.2 Be Specific:
You want the hiring manager to know how to apply your boss’s achievements to their needs. It would help if you had examples and statistics of why your boss is a good fit for the job.
Find at least three specific things that will answer “what makes this person a good candidate?”
For example, mention sales records and achievements for a salesperson position.
For instance, they sold more than last year’s sales record by five percent. Or did exceptionally well during specific promotions, etc.
2.3 Speak To A Person:
Try not to write in a passive voice when writing a recommendation letter. It will become impersonal, and that is not a good practice.
Make sure you speak from your own experiences and observations about the person.
Make it like a solid recommendation coming from someone who knows them well, not a mere statement.
2.4 Keep It In Tone:
If you are unsure what tone suits your audience, look at their past letters or ask them.
Keeping the tone appropriate with your boss and the job role is essential.
Do not get too excited about your boss’s achievements and personality. It might sound like over-exaggeration in the letter.
2.5 Keep It Personal:
Always remember why you’re writing such a letter for someone else. It is either to give your boss recognition or acknowledgment of their hard work and efforts.
Work on personal elements and add facts and figures given by other sources.
Mention specific experiences to show why these are good reasons to give him the job.
2.6 How To Write A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss – Be Honest
Never lie about someone’s achievements or personality. It will do more harm than good. Also, you’ll end up getting punished for something that’s not yours in the process.
2.7 Proofread The Draft
Make a final copy of your recommendation letter by going through it one last time. Check whether everything is in order or not.
Ensure nothing is there to take out, change, or add in before sending it off for approval. See if there are any spelling errors or hints of tone that may seem artificial.
A few hours spent proofreading is better than regretting mistakes later on.
2.8 Review The Draft With Your Boss:
After giving the final touch of proofreading, review the draft with your boss. They will have a lot more insight into the letter.
Your boss can tell you what specific points they want to include or omit from the final draft.
3. How To Write A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss- Sending The Letter
Once you have written the letter, it is time to send it. Remember these elements while sending the letter to your boss.
3.1 Send The Letter:
Please print it out once you have finished and send the letter off by post or email. So, send it according to what the job listing asked for this particular position.
3.2 Never Contact The Hiring Manager:
Never contact them directly unless they state otherwise. Would you please refrain from making phone calls unless they ask you? Remember, at all times, be professional.
4. Things To Avoid When Writing Recommendation Letter For Your Boss
While remembering what to write in the letter, recognize what to avoid. Refer to the points below:
4.1 Don’t Give Irrelevant Examples:
Did you write anything that has nothing to do with leadership skills? For example, did you write about how good they were in helping kids learn how to read?
No, you have to keep it professional. And use examples that show how it is beneficial for the exact role.
4.2 Think Wisely To Write A Recommendation Letter For Your Boss
If anything negative can be a problem for the audience, mention it beforehand.
Stand by your choices when writing this letter of recommendation for your boss.
4.3 Don’t Make Any Mistakes:
If you do make a mistake, correct it and re-send the letter. Sending out letters with errors in them is not recommended at all. It will not only seem unprofessional but tarnish your reputation too.
Sample Templates
You can use different templates for reference; here are a few of them:
To whom it may concern,
It is to state that I am recommending my supervisor/ boss (boss’s name) for (a position he is applying for). He will be the best candidate for this role because (state reasons).
Firstly, (boss’s name) possesses (mention technical skills) that make him a great candidate. Secondly, (boss’s name) demonstrates (mention soft skills) that make him a great mentor.
As someone working directly under him, I can assure you that he is the right fit.
I have known (boss’s name) since (how long you’ve worked under them). He has led our team with great integrity and care for his subordinates during that time.
His leadership and managerial skills will benefit your company in the future. He is patient and gives chances to grow professionally.
You may contact me at (your phone number) or email me directly at (your email ). I look forward to discussing this matter further with you.
Sincerely yours,
(your name)
(your designation)
An example of the draft can be:
To whom it may concern,
It is to state that I am recommending my boss Chris Sloan for the role of Director Marketing at Imperial Works. I think he will be the best candidate for this role because he has vast experience in marketing for over a decade.
Firstly, Chris possesses all the technical skills that make him a great candidate. Secondly, Chris demonstrates leadership qualities, communication skills. And exceptional soft skills that make him a kind mentor and leader.
As someone working directly under him, I can assure you that he is the right fit.
I have known Chris for the last six years. He has led our team with great integrity and care for his subordinates during that time.
His leadership and managerial skills will benefit your company in the future. He is patient and gives chances to grow professionally.
You may contact me at +1 650 513 0514 or email me directly at isabel123@hotmail.com. I look forward to discussing this matter further with you.
Sincerely yours,
Isabel Mark
Team Leader Marketing
Conclusion:
There are several templates you can find online on how to write a recommendation letter. But add your personal touch by mentioning examples from real life.
Also, avoid certain elements not to come off as exaggerating.
Try to keep it simple, straightforward, and positive. You don’t want to say anything negative about your boss.
Review it last with your boss, and you are all set to send it. Remember that these are recommendations, not love letters.
Don’t let your personal feelings get in the way of what you’re trying to achieve here.
We hope next time you write a recommendation letter for your boss, you get a promotion too.
Last Updated on 4 hours by Shahzaib Arshad
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