How To Write A Recommendation Letter That Actually Helps

Generic praise ("hardworking, reliable, a pleasure to work with") is the least useful part of a recommendation letter, because it could be written about almost anyone. Specific stories that show those qualities in action are what actually persuade a reader.

One well-told example — a project, a decision, a moment of real difficulty handled well — carries more weight than five adjectives strung together.

If you can't honestly write a strong letter, it's worth being upfront about that rather than writing something lukewarm. A tepid letter often reads as a red flag to an experienced reader, which can do more damage than declining to write one at all.

Match the emphasis to what the recipient actually cares about. A letter for a technical role should emphasize different qualities than one for a leadership track, even for the same person.

Offering to be available for a follow-up call, and meaning it, adds real credibility — readers notice when a letter-writer seems genuinely willing to vouch further, not just sign off on a form letter.