As a manager in a company, your subordinates often for a recommendation letter for employee from manager. The letter is required by an employee if (s)he want to acquire a new job, visa process for residency or looking for newer avenues for some other purpose. Whenever requested, you are required to compose the letter for your subordinates. Depending on the company policy, the letter may be issued by HR Dept, by reporting manager, or by someone from the top management. Read on to learn more about the letter, how to compose one, and more about it.

Recommendation Letters For Employee From Manager

What to include in a recommendation letter?

Have any of your employees asked you to make a recommendation letter from manager or a reference letter from employer? If you’ve held the managerial position for a long time, then you’ve probably written such a letter already. If you’re new to the position, then you have to learn how to compose this letter in case your employees ask for it.

If the employee asking for the recommendation consistently demonstrated strong work ethics, performs his tasks diligently, and has been an asset to the company, then, by all means, compose a recommendation or reference letter for him. As you compose the letter, make sure to include this information:

  • In what capacity had the employee worked for you
  • How much time the employee held his position
  • The attributes and skills that the employee possesses which makes him a good candidate
  • Your reason for writing the letter about the employee
  • Your contact details so that the recipient can get in touch with you if needed

Recommendation Letters From Supervisor

Why do you need a recommendation letter?

A recommendation letter from supervisor or a manager can be a significant asset for someone applying for a job. It will serve as proof that the applicant held his previous position well and even performed beyond expectation.

So much, in fact, that you as the employee’s supervisor or manager are very much willing to endorse him. In the letter, provide some concrete examples of the employee’s abilities, skills, and even some testimonials which support all of his qualifications.

If one of your employees asks you for this letter, talk to him first. Ask for a copy of his resume as well as the details of the job he’s applying for. You can use the information to help you compose an effective letter which will make a huge impact.

If you have the task of writing a recommendation letter, you need to know about the employee’s education, training, work history, skills, and qualifications. You can use all of this information to help you craft the letter based on what job the employee wants to get.

Reference Letters From Employer

Considerations to think about when writing a recommendation letter for employee from manager

Before you write a recommendation letter for employee from manager, you need to consider a few important things. After all these considerations, writing the letter would be a whole lot easier. Keep these in mind:

  • Think about it first before you agree to write the letter
    This is the first step in writing a recommendation letter for your employee. Think about whether or not you feel comfortable about writing the letter, if you have time to write it, and if you know the person well enough to recommend him.
  • Gather all of the information you need first
    If you want your letter to be well-composed and complete, you have to gather all of the information about the employee first. In doing this, you will even learn more about your employee which, in turn, can help you in writing the letter.
  • Read some sample letters to get an idea of what to write
    If this is your first time to write a recommendation letter for your employee, it would be very helpful for you to read some sample letters first. That way, you will have a better idea of what to write and how to format the letter.

Recommendation Letters From Manager

Tips for writing a recommendation letter for employee from manager

As a supervisor or a manager, there will come a time when you would have to write a recommendation letter about your employees for different reasons. One of the most common reasons for such a letter is if an employee wants to apply for a higher position in the same company or for a position in a different company.

There may also be a time when a former employee might ask you to write the recommendation letter for employee from manager. No matter what the case is, these tips may help you compose the letter:

  • Ask the employee for any information you may need to help make your document complete and specific. If a former employee asked for the letter and a significant amount of time has already passed since he worked for you, ask for a copy of his recent resume to help you out.
  • It would also be very helpful to ask for the job advertisement or at least a job description of the position the employee applies for. You may even ask for the hiring manager’s name so you can address him in the letter.
  • Often, such a letter would follow a business format. Therefore, you need to start by providing your contact details. If you’re sending the letter through email, write the name of your employee on the subject line and state that it is a reference or a recommendation letter.
  • Start the letter with a salutation then immediately follow it with the body of the letter. Remember that this is an official document, so you don’t have to add any unnecessary content. Talk about how long the employee has worked for you and in what capacity. Then talk about the employee’s strengths, experiences, and skills and why you consider him as an excellent employee.
  • If necessary, you may even share some anecdotes about the employee to emphasize his skills and attributes. Just make sure that this information is highly relevant to the position the employee applies for.
  • Before ending the letter, talk about how confident you are about the employee and how you strongly recommend him for the position. Then express your gratitude to the reader for taking the time to read your letter. Also, mention that you have provided your contact details in case the hiring manager needs to ask you any follow-up questions.

Sample Reference Letters From Employer

Mistakes to avoid when writing a recommendation letter

A recommendation letter from supervisor or manager is an unavoidable part of employment. If you’re in a high position, you would have to compose such a letter for your employees no matter what their reason is.

Composing a strong recommendation letter would give your employee an edge, especially if he’s applying for a position he really wants. On the employee’s side, there are some mistakes you need to avoid if you’re asking your superior to write this type of letter:

  • Don’t reuse old recommendation letters
    Doing this might end up undermining your credibility. For instance, giving a recommendation letter written for you 4 or 5 years ago won’t relate to your most recent job and performance.
  • It’s not a good idea to ask for academic references
    Usually, hiring managers want to know how you contribute to your company and how you engage with your coworkers. Therefore, it’s better to ask for professional recommendations, especially if you’re applying for a job and not to a university.
  • Don’t ask a supervisor or manager who doesn’t know you well to write the letter
    You may want to impress your potential employer by asking your company’s manager to write the letter. However, if he doesn’t know you that well, he might make a general letter which won’t be too impressive. Therefore, it would be much better to choose your direct supervisor who knows you well and has worked with you longer.
  • Also, don’t choose someone who you know isn’t objective
    This mainly applies to when you work in a family business. For instance, an employer won’t consider a recommendation letter that comes from your brother even though you work with him or you’re in business with him. No matter how succinct or informative the letter would be, it might not carry a lot of weight.
  • When you request for the letter, don’t rush the person to finish it
    Writing a reference letter from employer may take some time, especially if you want the letter to make an impression on your potential employer. Give the request beforehand and don’t rush the person you’re asking it from. Giving the person enough time would ensure that he can compose the letter well and use the information you’ve given him wisely.

If you’re an employer, a manager or a supervisor and an employee requests for a recommendation from you, think about whether or not you want to make it. You have to have a willingness to compose the letter for your employee. Otherwise, you might end up writing a weak recommendation which won’t help your employee get the job he wants.

Click to rate this post!
[Total: 3 Average: 4.7]
Tagged:JobLettersRecommendationRecommendation Letter From ManagerRecommendation Letters For Employee From Manager
TemplateLab April 29th, 2021