Letters of recommendation differ from references, as they are used for much more than just job applications. A letter of recommendation can also be used when applying to a degree program, obtaining a professional license and for determining the recipient of an award. Here's judge the content.
Instructions
1. Make sure the letter is official and written by a professional. You can do this by noticing who the writer is and where he works. A quick phone call to the writer's place of employment will allow you to verify his title, phone number, company name and mailing address.
2. Determine the relationship between the writer and the person being recommended. The letter should provide details about this connection and what qualifies the writer to testify about the applicant's abilities and character.
3. Review the letter for vague statements. This is the mark of a poor testimonial, which indicates the letter writer does not know your candidate's strengths or weaknesses. He might have written the letter simply because he couldn't say "no."
4. Look for specific examples of a person's qualities and job duties when you read the letter. A good recommendation will have details about the candidate's professional background, like projects she has completed and her job-related skills.
5. Read a letter for academic recommendations. This type of letter should be geared toward your requirements, but will demonstrate the applicant's ability to learn, his resourcefulness and interest in obtaining more knowledge.
6. Interpret a good character reference. A recommendation of this sort is written by a friend, neighbor or associate. An effective letter reveals a person's character traits. Seek this through description, anecdotes and examples. Spot useful buzzwords like hardworking, reliable, responsible and trustworthy.
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