Essentials for Writing a Recommendation Letter
Essentials for how to write a letter of recommendation differs to the type of organization it will go to. It can be for academic or professional use. If the letter is written to serve job applications, then it should focus on the candidate’s relevant work experience and skillset. If the letter is written to serve an educational purpose, then it should highlight academic ability and achievements.
What Should the Letter Deliver?
The ultimate crux of this letter is to explain why the candidate is fit for that particular job or program. Your points should highlight the experience, skills, attitude of the candidate, and confidence you have. It is also recommended to add information about the candidate’s leadership skills and ability to focus and learn. This will deliver information about their personality and help a company or educational organisation visualise the candidate’s potential.
Tips on How to Write a Letter of Recommendation.
Skills: For creating an impeccable recommendation letter, the foremost thing to highlight is the skills. Demonstrate the leadership skills and how he/she has helped a team, their performance metrics, and how they have used their skills in the right place. Also, add about their willingness to upscale and grow their skills to fit well in a particular place.
Adaptability: While your first tip focuses on highlighting the skills, the next should focus on adapting to the new environment and staying in it. You should give clear examples of how the candidate performed during a specific time in their journey and didn’t choose to give up. Add more about contribution, motivation during the initial days’ maintenance of the same attitude throughout, reliability, and availability.
Favourable: Your letter should give a clear idea of your perspective, and it is important to have a favourable attitude towards the candidate when you write a recommendation letter. If you are unsure about the candidate’s abilities, then the letter will also carry the same message.
Attractive: Make your letter attractive to grab the reader’s attention. Start with giving the candidate an honour, then a little-known fact, followed by general consideration about qualities and remarkable achievement. Always submit the letter in PDF format.
Why is it advisable to convert your Recommendation letter into a PDF?
- PDF gives a formal perspective to any document. Be it a report, a letter, or any piece of information, a PDF will have a formal tone.
- You can secure your PDF with a password to keep it confidential.
- It is not easy to edit the PDF without converting it or having a pro version of any PDF edit tool such as Adobe Acrobat.
- PDF is globally accepted and can be opened on any device without any software support.
Step to convert into PDF
Method 1: Converting without any tool:
If you’re using Microsoft Word:
Step 1: Write your recommendation letter in Microsoft Word.
Step 2: Click on “File” and choose “Save As.”
Step 3: At the Save As box, you will find the “Save as type” dropdown. Choose “PDF” and click “Save.”
Your file will be saved in PDF at the desired location.
If you are using Google Docs:
Step 1: Write or paste your recommendation letter in Google Docs.
Step 2: Click on the “File” button and choose “Download.”
Step 3: You can choose the type of format for downloading. Click on “PDF Document.”
Your recommendation letter will be downloaded in PDF at the location you choose.
If you are using Mac, follow the same steps except you have to pick “Export Format” in the File Format option and choose “PDF.”
Method 2: Adobe Acrobat Online Services.
Third-party tools like Adobe Acrobat ensure that your PDF version matches with the original document file along with right formatting. You can also password-protect your PDF file with the help of Abode security features and permissions.
Another reason for using third-party tools is that they are highly compatible across different platforms regardless of how it is viewed and you can compress PDF online as well.
Follow the simple steps below to convert your recommendation letter to PDF.
Step 1: Open Adobe Acrobat desktop version or visit https://www.adobe.com/in/acrobat/online/convert-pdf.html
Step 2: Select the file or use the Drag and Drop feature. Pick your recommendation letter and click on “Open.”
Step 3: After clicking on “Open” the file will start to convert into PDF. Click on Download. You can choose to compress PDF.
Step 4: Click on Download and choose your desired location.
Final Tip
Built-in tools can only help you with converting your Word documents to PDF, but third-party tools like Adobe offer advanced features that will enhance your Recommendation letter. With the advanced security option and smart formatting, it makes sure your PDF is easily accessible across various platforms. Whether your recommendation letter is for personal or business use, always submit a PDF version. Take this last tip on how to write a letter of recommendation and submit a letter that will leave an impact.