When you’re applying to jobs, internships, and scholarships, you might fall into a spot where you need to write your own letter of recommendation. This usually happens when a professor or employer is too busy to do so themselves. It is relatively common, but it can be intimidating, especially if you’ve never written a letter of recommendation before. However, this is a great way to help your recommender highlight all of your awesome strengths for this new opportunity.
As a side note, this article is not for people who want to forge a letter of recommendation or make up an employer. This is for people whose professor or employer explicitly told them to write a letter of recommendation that they will sign off on. Always make sure to check with your recommender at all stages, as it is their name that is going on it!
Step #0.5: Find a recommender
If someone has asked you to write your own letter of recommendation, you’ve probably already found a recommender. If you’re still getting started, however, consider who is in your network. First, you should read what the application asks for. If it’s for graduate school, does it want a professor? A certain type of professor? The head of your program? If it’s for a job, does it want your current supervisor? Anyone who saw your leadership capabilities? Someone from a campus position? Make sure that you follow the directions and read carefully when selecting your recommender.
Keep your relationship in mind
After you’ve considered the people that meet the application requirements, consider who you have a positive relationship with. If you aren’t sure, please save yourself time and directly ask the person if they are willing to write you a positive recommendation. This isn’t the same as asking if they like you.
You obviously shouldn’t request a recommendation from an employer where you left on bad terms. That probably won’t result in a good letter of recommendation. However, other recommenders might have various reasons they can’t write a good letter. Maybe they don’t know you well enough to do so, have too many obligations, or have a conflict of interest. All of these are valid and have nothing to do with you. Just be sure before you count on them!
Be respectful of your recommender
Once you’ve found a good potential recommender, it’s time to ask. Be sure to give them an ample amount of time to write the letter. It’s not only annoying when someone asks you for a letter of recommendation a few days before it’s due, but it also won’t result in a good recommendation. Take it from me! Whenever a student asks me last minute, I can only write a short, generic letter that doesn’t do much for them. It’s both a matter of respect for your recommender’s time and a logical consideration of the outcome you want.
Step #1: Google what a letter of recommendation should look like
It’s an easy first step to take when you need to write your own letter of recommendation. Especially if you’ve never written a letter of recommendation before, you want to find examples. Whether these are simply references for you or they are actual templates, be sure to find quality examples. Get familiar with the format and the expectations.
If you want some helpful links, here are some great jumping off points:
- A website here with many downloadable letter of recommendation templates
- A sample letter of recommendation here from UC Berkeley
- A sample letter of recommendation here with analysis from City College of New York
- An article here about letters of recommendation with a sample and template
#2: Ask if your recommender has any previous examples
If your recommender is having you write your own letter of recommendation, chances are good that they have others do the same thing as well. They probably have previous examples somewhere. If they are willing to share these, this is what you should model yours after. Not only will these people probably have a similar background as you, but their letters of recommendation have also been approved by your recommender.
Study these examples. Make note of what works and what doesn’t. If you think the employer will be willing or able to share any details about the letters of recommendation and the previous applicants, ask. Take advantages of the resources offered to you.
#3: Look at your resume and at the opportunity
Just like when you write a cover letter for an application, you want to compare your experience and what the description asks for. Highlight the experience, skills, or character traits that you want to share, then showcase those when you write your own letter of recommendation. Be sure to not pack the words in there, but to organically incorporate them instead.
A mentor of mine once said to view your entire application as a sort of portfolio. Everything should showcase something different about you. If you’re applying to a scholarship and there are four essays you need to write and two letters of recommendation, don’t just repeat the same thing in each! Use each one as an opportunity to show your unique background and qualifications.
#4: Consider using ChatGPT for ideas
If the templates and examples aren’t enough, consider using an AI program like ChatGPT or Grammarly to help you generate some ideas. These programs are great to come up with a format, populate ideas, and give suggestions. With a few simple prompts, you can speed up your process.
However, I would not recommend using this to generate your entire letter of recommendation. As a teacher, I can tell you firsthand that ChatGPT-written essays are usually pretty easy to spot. The writing style is still not human enough to trust. Especially when it comes to writing something for your future, use your own writing skills. The last thing you want is for a future employer to understand that you chose to write your own letter of recommendation with AI and couldn’t even be bothered to do it yourself.
#5: Emulate your recommender’s voice
If you have to write a cover letter or essay for this opportunity as well, you do not want it sounding the same as the letter of recommendation from your employer. While your employer may have absolutely asked you to do it and will absolutely look over it, you don’t want it to look like you made up work experience or forged it. This letter is coming from your recommender. Write it from their position, not from yours. Additionally, err on the formal side. You want to boost your credibility through your recommender, not weaken it.
Your recommender should and almost definitely will look over this. Make them proud!
#6: Highlight your strengths–focus on examples
The purpose of a letter of recommendation is for the recipient to understand who you are and how you worked in that role. They want to see if you are 1) a trustworthy person, 2) capable, and 3) a good potential fit. By highlighting your strengths as you write your own letter of recommendation, you show this.
To really make an impact, I suggest including the following things:
- A statement and example about what and how you added to the team/class
- One notable contribution that set you apart
- Why they would recommend you
- Character strengths that allowed you to succeed
- Subtle proof that you are trustworthy
If you can include tangible and quantifiable evidence, that’s even better. That would look like “XYZ bagged 200 lunches in an hour” or “she boosted our response rate by 85%.” If you can’t, keep focusing on the soft skills and talents that you demonstrated that would make you a great fit for the new opportunity.
#7: Don’t be too over the top
You have a chance to hype yourself up to a potential employer or scholarship committee. You should absolutely sell yourself. However, you shouldn’t be over the top about it. If the letter sounds insincere, it will reflect badly on both you and your recommender.
Focus on tangible things that you did. Like I said above, you want to highlight your strengths when you write your own letter of recommendation. You don’t want to go crazy and claim you are literally the most talented person in everything that your recommender has ever seen. Unless it’s something that they would say themselves, leave it out.
#8: Write the letter
Now that you have a template or an idea of the formatting, it’s time to actually write it. Using the notes that you’ve written down, you’re going to want to create a coherent letter. You’ll want to include the following:
- A formal header (see templates above)
- A statement of how you’ve been impressive/a pleasure/great in some way
- How your recommender knows you
- The body–your strengths, what you add, why they’re recommending you
- A brief conclusion to wrap up your thoughts
- Where they can reach your employer
- Formal sign off
Keep in mind that it’s much easier to write your own letter of recommendation when you have an example or a template, so don’t skip that step!
#9: Proofread and have someone else read it
As an English teacher, this is one of my pet peeves. Yes, it is human to make mistakes. No matter how many times you read over something, there will still probably be a little mistake, even if it’s something that could have been worded better. We see this all the time, even in books that have gone through multiple rounds of editing.
However, far too many people completely skip the editing process. This becomes more common when it’s not your name attached to it. Don’t be that person. Even if it’s just using Grammarly, make sure that you get at least two sets of eyes on this before you send it back to your recommender.
#10: Have your recommender read it and discuss
Now it’s time to “submit” it! Once you’re happy with what you’ve written, send it back to your recommender and ask for feedback. Be sure to make it clear that you will change anything that they would like or don’t feel comfortable with saying. Furthermore, make sure that you actually listen to their feedback! It’s their name going on the recommendation in the end, so you want to make sure that all parties are comfortable with the final product.
A Final Word
While it can be intimidating to write your own letter of recommendation, especially if you haven’t done it before, you’ll quickly find out that it isn’t too scary. You have the flexibility to brag about yourself in a way that you can’t in your own cover letter, and you can help your recommender to showcase your best qualities. Just remember to keep it grounded and professional! What else is useful to know when writing your own letter of recommendation? Let me know!
Photo Credit: Photo by Álvaro Serrano on Unsplash
