Imagine you want to help out a colleague by writing a recommendation for them. It’s kind of like showing how awesome they are to others. But here’s the thing, if you want people to pay attention to your recommendation, you need to start with a strong opening line. Think of it as the hook that gets people interested. For example:
- “Wow, you don’t meet someone as exceptional as Mike every day.”
- “I had the privilege of working under Susan, who was not just my boss but also an incredible mentor.”
Next, you should tell a bit about your relationship with the person you’re recommending. Share some details about how you know them, what you worked on together, and how long you’ve known each other. This helps the reader understand why your recommendation matters. And of course, make it clear that your experience with them was positive. For instance:
- “I collaborated with Jim at the Smith Company for two years on various projects.”
- “After hiring Carrie as a freelance designer in 2011 based on her online portfolio, she has consistently delivered outstanding work on six different projects.”
- “Mark excelled as the social media coordinator on my company’s marketing team for over a year.”
Now comes the part where you highlight what makes this person stand out. Instead of stating the obvious like they’re smart or talented (because everyone knows that), focus on something specific that they excel at. You can also ask them if there’s something they’d like you to highlight. For example:
- “Kelly’s ability to handle even the toughest clients with ease was truly impressive.”
- “Fred had an amazing knack for getting people on the same page, even when their ideas were initially very different.”
- “Matt’s skill in managing multiple projects was exceptional and significantly boosted our team’s productivity.”
People also want to know what it’s like to work with this person, so share a little something about their personality or how they make work more enjoyable. Be mindful of your audience, though. Not everything might be suitable to mention. For example:
- “And, by the way, she always made sure our Monday morning staff meetings started with bagels and coffee. It really kept the team motivated!”
- “We all miss having her on our office softball team.”
- “No matter how tense a meeting got, Annie had a way of making everyone leave with a smile.”
Lastly, wrap up your recommendation with a strong closing statement that shows you highly recommend this person. Keep it short and sweet but make it clear that you think they’d be a valuable addition to any team. For example:
- “Allison would be a great asset to any team.”
- “I wholeheartedly recommend Steve as a team member or leader.”
- “Michelle would be an excellent manager for any employee.”
So, remember, compliments and a well-structured recommendation can go a long way in helping your colleagues succeed!