Last Updated February 27, 2024
A Letter of Recommendation is also known as a/an:
- Reference Letter
- Character Reference
- Statement of Service
What is a Letter of Recommendation?
A Letter of Recommendation, or a reference letter, is a document that details someone's attitude, skills, accomplishments, ethics, and/or values in a professional, personal, or academic capacity. Typically, candidates use this letter when applying for new employment, educational opportunities, tenancy agreements, or for other personal reasons.
Who can use a Letter of Recommendation?
You can use this document to give or receive a reference.
For example, if you’re applying for new employment, ask your previous employer to give you a written recommendation using LawDepot's Letter of Recommendation template.
Alternatively, if someone’s asked you to give them a personal, academic, or professional reference, simply fill out our questionnaire to generate a thorough and descriptive reference letter.
What are the different types of Recommendation Letters?
The four most common types of recommendation letters include professional, academic, rental, and personal.
A personal reference, sometimes called a character reference, describes a person's lifestyle, morals, values, and personality traits. A personal reference works well for immigration applications or court testimonies.
A professional reference, also known as an employer reference, describes a person's qualifications, skills, and work ethic. It's typically used for job applications.
Arental reference, sometimes called a landlord reference, describes a person’s behaviour as a tenant. The letter may touch on their ability to pay rent on time and abide by contract terms.
An academic reference, or a school/college reference, describes a person's academic aptitude, knowledge and career goals. Some schools, courses, scholarships and grants require an academic reference along with an application.
How to write a Letter of Recommendation
When writing a reference letter for a former employee, co-worker, student, or acquaintance, remember that it should be simple, to the point, and no more than a page long.
Every Letter of Recommendation should include the following information:
- How you know the person and how long you have known them for
- What you think the person's strongest attribute is (include examples that demonstrate this)
- Your contact information
If the letter is for a specific purpose, include only relevant information.
For example, if you’re writing a reference for a job application, highlight the specific skills that make the candidate suitable for the job.
If writing for a postgraduate course, expand on the candidate's academic successes.
If it's a character reference, include evidence of ethical behaviour and the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
Who to ask for a Letter of Recommendation
A personal reference comes from someone who knows the candidate casually or personally. This person could be anyone with a thorough understanding of the candidate's personality, such as a friend, coach, or fellow volunteer.
Personal references shouldn’t come from anyone who could be considered biased, such as a family member.
A professional reference comes from someone who knows the candidate from a workplace setting. This person could be anyone who can confirm the candidate's work ethic and successes, such as a former employer, co-worker, or client.
A rental reference comes from someone who has knowledge of you as a homeowner or renter, such as a previous landlord, roommate, or neighbour.
An academic reference comes from someone who knows the candidate from school. This person could be anyone who’s familiar with the candidate's work within a particular field of study, such as a professor, course advisor, or mentor.
How to ask for a Letter of Recommendation
When requesting a reference, be sure to include some information about the nature of the application, why you are interested in the position, and why you think you are a good fit for the role. By doing this, you can guide the referrer to include only the best and most relevant information in the Letter of Recommendation.
