Recommendation letters are no longer as central to the job-hunting process as they used to be, but having a statement of confidence to support your skillset can never hurt. While managers and bosses set the letter of recommendation formats and standards with their experience in the field, people sometimes turn to other sources—their colleagues. But are you allowed to write a letter of recommendation for coworkers? What then is the process of writing a professional letter of recommendation for coworkers?
Can You Write a Letter of Recommendation for a Coworker?
The answer is yes, but the reception of it might differ between employers. As a coworker, you are often well-placed to observe an individual’s work ethic, performance consistency, workplace behavior, commitment to the company, etc. Due to the proximity with which you work with the individual or the overlap of your role with theirs, you can bring great insight and write a professional letter of recommendation for coworkers who request one.
However, before starting, it might be important to ask your company if it is acceptable first, as they might have their own policies on what aspect of their business you are allowed to comment on. If there are restrictions, the recommendation letter can still be written but from a personal angle, according to USA Today. The intended recipient may also have guidelines on who is allowed to write the recommendation letter. Some employers might require a letter from former managers and employers rather than a coworker, in which case writing a letter of recommendation for coworkers who cannot use it, becomes unnecessary.
Should You Write a Letter of Recommendation for a Coworker?
Consider if you feel positioned to write a formal review of the coworker and have all the information necessary. If you work in accounting while the coworker works in graphic design and you rarely have an opportunity to see what they actually do for work, it is unlikely you will have the knowledge necessary to review their skills and work styles relevant to the new job they are applying for. In such cases, it would be preferable to help the colleague find someone else who can better recommend their abilities.
Also, evaluate the time it will take to write the letter and whether you have the bandwidth to do it. If you can rearrange your schedule to make time for it, then helping a coworker out is the right move. But if there is little time to do a good job of the letter, then the rushed results might hurt the coworker’s chances rather than helping them.
How To Write A Professional Letter Of Recommendation For Coworkers?
The professional component of the letter of recommendation format is essential as it serves the very serious purpose of acting as a character reference for the individual. Both the style of writing and the content that is written need to focus on the individual as a worker rather than a good friend.
Ask for All the Details in Advance
Having information such as the deadline for the letter, the details of the company, the post the individual is applying for, etc. are all useful pieces of information that can help you better understand what to include and whom to address while structuring a more professional letter of recommendation for coworkers. If they can email you with all the details, you will have everything you need in one place.
Avoid Using Formulaic Templates While Writing Recommendation Letters
While there are many sample recommendation letters for coworkers available online that can help provide a formal structure, it is ideal to avoid overly relying on those. Using online samples and examples can make the letter appear forced and untrue, especially if the content does not reflect the actual individual you are recommending.
Your Identity Is Also Relevant to the Letter of Recommendation Format
It is important to highlight who you are and why your opinion might be relevant to the employer. This could include your own job title, years of experience, years of working with the coworker, or projects that you have worked on together. It makes up a small section of the letter but the reader’s confidence in the validity of the letter could hinge on this aspect.
Refer to the Resume but Do Not Rewrite It
It can be tempting to use their resume as a script for rehashing all their experiences and achievements but such details do not add any value to the process—employers will have their own copy of the resume. Instead, provide your own letter of recommendation examples that can build on the skills and achievements that are listed. A Resume Genius survey indicated that 88 percent of hiring managers prioritized technical knowledge and job-specific abilities when reviewing resumes. It does not hurt to apply this to a recommendation letter as well. Emphasize why you think your coworker would be a good fit for the company.
Ask the Coworker for a Sample Recommendation Letter
The letter of recommendation should only include information you can verify, so do not sign off on a letter the individual writes for themselves. However, it can be useful to ask the coworker if there are any specific details they would like to bring focus to. A new company might have a preference for one programming language over another and it might be more helpful for you to focus on that particular skillset in the letter.
Final Checks on Your Coworker’s Letter of Recommendation Format
All the formalities of a regular letter are important here as well, from addressing the right person to using formal language where grammar has not been ignored. Your insights in the letter of recommendation for your coworkers does not have to be too long but it is crucial to ensure that everything that is included in the letter is true and also relevant to the new employer. With that in mind, you should be good to go.