<p>Just got an interesting phone call from a friend of ours, who has asked me to write him a letter of recommendation. I realized it’s been 25 years since I’ve done one of these. We knew him from working with my husband, but then their paths went separate ways within the company. Friend was let go due to company restructuring back in January, but will finish his MBA this June. In the meantime, he wants to get his substitute teaching certificate, and needs three letters. The other two he is getting are from his most current co-workers. He does not have kids, but has always been like an uncle to ours, so I think he’d be great at this job.</p>
<p>He said to write it in a Word document and send it to him, as he is submitting everything electronically. So how do I start it off, what’s important about the content? Do I inform them of how I know him, and for how long? What’s a good length? In other words, what makes a good letter of recommendation, when you really want to impress a future employer?</p>
<p>Hmm… All I know is you should not send it to him, send it to the person. It is supposed to be confidential as you cannot base it on what his eyes might see. </p>
<p>Other than that it depends on your relationship with him and how you feel about him.</p>
<p>We spoke about that, and this application process is all done electronically. He’s filling out everything electronically (even took a test on-line when logged onto their website). He can’t advance to the next items on the checklist until he’s attached his recommendations in Word format. I am aware of the lengthy application process, as I know substitute teachers in the area and am know this is not really too new for our area.</p>
<p>For a sub teaching position, I think they are interested in his moral character vis a vis kids as much or more than is abilities. Especially perhaps a single man over 40 might raise red flags in some eyes. I’d focus on what you could say toward that - how you always felt comfortable and how he acted around your kids. In your case I’d mention your experience in guidance/counseling areas.
And include your contact info including email and cell numbers if that’s the best way to reach you. They may follow up on some of the letters to make sure they are authentic.</p>
<p>I should have clarified, he doesn’t have kids, but he is married. They could not have children due to his wife’s chronic illness. But I can tell by how he relates to not only my kids, but my kids’ friends when they are over.</p>
<p>teriwitt, I have written quite a few letters of recommendation. I always mention how long I have known the applicant, and in what capacity. Generally, I keep the letter to one single-spaced page. Character is important, as mentioned above, and so are skills (if you have worked with him in such a way that you can identify them).</p>
<p>Mary13 - considering that two of his other recommendations are coming from co-workers, I definitely see my request as a character reference, which I’m completely comfortable with. I have not worked with him, although he worked for/with my husband for many years. I’m assuming since he already has two other work-related recommendations, he’s asking me to write the letter for character reference, as opposed to getting another co-worker recommendation from my husband. </p>
<p>When you’re writing the letter of rec, do you include what your own vocation is, as dragonmom suggested?</p>
<p>I do mention my profession because the letters that I write are almost always work related—for a former employee applying for a new job, a student applying for a scholarship, etc. But even if you are not writing as a co-worker or employer, mentioning your own line of work tends to strengthen the letter and help the reader “place” you. (And of course, if your job is in any way similar to the type of work the applicant will be doing, so much the better.)</p>