Letter of Recommendation
A recommendation built around specific examples: how you know the person, what stood out, and a clear recommendation, for a job or for a school, in the layout your country uses.
Free. Fill in, print, save as PDF or download as Word without an account. Saving to your account needs a free account.
Country versions
- International
- United States *
- United Kingdom *
- Korea
- Japan
- Germany *
* check with local advice
A template, not advice.
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What it is
A letter of recommendation is written by someone who has seen a person's work and is willing to put their name to an opinion of it. It is read by a hiring manager, an admissions committee or a scholarship panel who cannot see the person at work themselves. What makes it useful is not praise but evidence: how you know the person, what you saw them do, and how it compares with others you have worked with.
This template is built around that. You say who you are, who the person is and what they are applying for; you describe how you know them and for how long; and you give two or three strengths, each with one specific example. A short comparison with others is optional, and you choose whether you recommend without reservation or are simply glad to recommend. Switch the country for the form people expect there: the 추천서 with a box header and seal in Korea, the 推薦状 with 拝啓 and 敬具 in Japan, the German Empfehlungsschreiben, and the US and UK letters, each with the right salutation and closing.
When to use it
- A colleague, student or team member asks you for a recommendation for a job or a degree.
- You have seen the person's work for long enough to describe it with examples.
- You want a clear structure instead of a page of general praise.
- The receiving country or institution expects a particular form, such as a Korean 추천서 or a Japanese 推薦状.
How to fill it in
- Fill in your own details and organisation; your saved personal and company details are filled in for you.
- Enter the name of the person, what they are applying for, how you know them and for how long.
- Give two or three strengths, each with one specific thing you saw, with numbers or results where you have them.
- Add a comparison only if you can support it, and choose how strongly you recommend.
- Read the preview, then print the letter for your signature or download it as a Word file; send it only after the person has asked you.
Common mistakes
- Filling the letter with adjectives and no examples; a reader cannot check an adjective.
- Writing something you could not repeat to the person's face, or that you only half believe.
- Mentioning age, family, health, religion or origin, which are not relevant to the decision.
- Sending the letter before the person has agreed, or to a place they did not choose.
- Ignoring the institution's own form or portal, which many schools and employers require.
Steps at a glance
- Fill in
- Check the preview
- Save as PDF, Word or Excel
Country versions
Pick the country you need. Each version uses the wording and layout commonly found there; a version marked “check with local advice” should be read by someone who knows the local rules before it is used.
- International (XX): Written in English, Korean, Japanese, German
- United States (US): Written in English – check with local advice
- United Kingdom (GB): Written in English – check with local advice
- Korea (KR): Written in Korean, English
- Japan (JP): Written in Japanese, English
- Germany (DE): Written in German, English – check with local advice
Designs
The same form in several designs. The fields and the wording stay the same; only the look changes.
- Classic
- Modern
- Minimal
- Warm
- Plain (black and white)
- Formal
- Side band
- Banner
- Executive
- Ledger
- Compact
- Boxed form
Your details fill it in
Fields that ask for your name, address or company details are filled from My details, so you do not type them again; you can still change any field for one form. Signed in, your details stay in your account; otherwise they stay in this browser only. A passport, identity or social security number is never saved.
Questions
- How long should a recommendation letter be?
- One page is enough for most jobs and programmes. Two or three well-chosen examples with results are worth more than a long list of qualities. If the institution sets a limit, follow it.
- Can I refuse to write one?
- Yes. If you cannot recommend the person with a clear conscience, or do not know their work well enough, saying so politely is kinder to them than a lukewarm letter that readers will recognise as one.
- Will the person see the letter?
- That depends on the institution and the country. Some applications let the applicant waive the right to read it, and some institutions ask you to send it to them directly. Write as if the person may read it, and follow the institution's instructions.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. It is a general template. A referee can be responsible for what they write, so keep to facts you can support, and ask a qualified adviser if you are unsure about your duties.
- Is this form legal, tax or accounting advice?
- No. It is a template: it gives you the usual structure and wording, not advice. Rules differ by country and case, so have someone qualified read anything that matters before you sign, send or file it.
- Which countries and designs does it come in?
- It comes in 6 country versions: International, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and Germany. 12 designs.
A form is a template, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules differ by country and case.