Sample recommendation letter for a co-worker.

Further things to consider when writing reference letters to management

Reference Letters

Reference letters are letters written to endorse someone's general character and personality. A reference letter differs from a recommendation letter in that the latter supports the person's application for a specific job or education program and is usually addressed to a particular person. A reference letter is more general in nature, refers to the overall character of the person, and is not addressed to anyone in particular. It is normally addressed as "Dear sir/madam," or "To whom it may concern." The person who writes the reference letter is known as the referee, and he/she could be a close friend or colleague.

For you to write good reference letters, you need to know the candidates well to be able to express their best character. Start off with a salutation and the name of the person the letter is about. Write a sentence or two explaining how you know the person and for how long. Mention the strong qualities, characteristics, and strengths of the person in question. Giving brief examples, discuss why you feel the person will be a great addition to office and work culture. Use strong verbs but do not exaggerate. Conclude with your contacts and signature.

Letters to Management

Letters to management are letters written to the personnel or department that controls and makes decisions for a company or organization. These could be job application letters to apply for jobs, complaint letters to raise complaints, inquiry letters to request information, etc. Under all circumstances, all letters written to the management should be formal, contain all the necessary information, and free of grammatical errors. They must also be typed in a legible and professional font. Make sure not to include any sensitive information especially when the letter is not addressed to a specific person.

Before writing letters to management, you need to think about what you want to achieve and exactly who you are writing to. Use proper address and salutation. If you do not have an existing relationship with the recipient, introduce yourself in the first paragraph. Start with the most important information and go directly to the point. Keep it brief. However, if your letter is relatively lengthy, break it into short paragraphs. If there are any attachments, make sure to mention that in the letter and give a brief description of what they are. Finish with an expression of appreciation and give your contact details.