How to Write a Recommendation Letter for a Promotion
Recommendation letters for promotion should serve as assessment tools for evaluating the potential of a candidate for a prospective position. Excessive praise without focus on actual contribution of the candidate to his respective field renders the letter meaningless. Very brief letters that lack details can raise feelings of doubt about the writer's evaluation capacity and sometimes about the qualifications of the candidate himself. A compelling recommendation letter not only elevates the candidate's chances of being offered a promotion, but it also adds to the perceived authority of the letter writer.
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Instructions
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Obtain concrete information about the qualification and experience of the candidate you are recommending, in case you know him but are not currently working with him. Ask the candidate to provide you with his updated resume and documents, such as research papers, that support his work experience. These materials are not necessary if you are working with the candidate and have firsthand knowledge of his work and skills.
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Introduce yourself. Write about your relationship with the candidate. Explain the type of experience the candidate has had and the amount of time you have known him.
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Provide the reason for your recommendation, giving specific details. For example, if you are recommending a candidate for a new academic position, you could explain how his research in his discipline contributes to the field.
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Give a summary in the last section. Reiterate your support for the candidate and include key points that substantiate your recommendation in the summary.
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Tips & Warnings
When providing your reason for recommending a candidate, Avoid general descriptions such as the number of papers the candidate has published.
Discuss the candidate's personal skills that are relevant to the prospective position, focusing on skills such as communication, decision-making and problem-solving as well as motivation, active listening and perseverance.
Avoid using statements that can render an unprofessional tone to the letter. "He is practically a member of the family," or "He is actively involved in social activities" are some examples.
Avoid uncertain statements such as "She seems to be the sort of person that perseveres through the end." Words such as "seems" or "appears to" are not concrete evaluation and can raise doubts of the candidate's worth.
Do not give negative comments like "She was not the class best ...."
Be to the point and avoid clichés and effusive language.
Avoid comparisons to another person such as "He has greater intellectual capabilities than Adam Smith." You can, however, make comparisons like "He is one of the 10 percent of consistently top-ranking students I have ever had."
