Recommendation letter

A letter of recommendation (including letter of recommendation or a reference (including reference letters ) ) is a written document with a positive evaluative recommendation to a person. While the term recommendation rather a written document (some even handwritten ) refers to a particular addressee, the term reference is often addressed to an unspecified addressee. A reference is a benevolent opinion or vocational setting of the applicant if it is used in an application. Recommendations usually put the emphasis on the future ( recommendation for a specific job ), references usually put the emphasis on the past ( level of qualification, activity carried out ).

Use

Letters of recommendation are common in British and American literature and are used while applying for a job. The recommendation is this pronounced by a person who is in a position that allows this statement about the applicant. In German-speaking letters of recommendation are compared to the U.S. still rare, but in a general application possible. Partial recommendation overrides are required for applications in the religious environment. These are then drawn from previous employers or persons from the personal environment (such as religious officials, teachers, members of the same religious group). This may also include applications for an internship, a study place or a scholarship.

The reference wins by the higher and higher proportion of freelancers in German-speaking increasingly important. Since freelancers do not have a " working relationship " in the true sense, they get any work certificate issued in the rule. This gap is filled by the reference.

In contrast to a work certificate, which is issued by a previous employer, a letter of recommendation may be written principally by any third person. In order to achieve the desired effect of a credible assessment, but it is useful if the exhibitor due to its position, the performance and personality of the Recommended judge good and the best has a high social status, for example, as a university professor, politician or minister. Thus, not only all professional activities can be described, but also met longtime volunteer activities, group leader activities and thus important statements about social skills and be introduced into an application.

The recommendation writer or reference donors should be clarified with the applicant whether the prospective employer must go to the creator of recommendation or reference. On the basis of invested capital certificates and references are increasingly being considered by the hiring Human Resources Department.

Construction

Basically no defined structure is prescribed for recommendations or references. Recommendations may be shorter of their particular very nature. Recommendations are addressed to a recipient, references usually have no specific recipient. For references, it is advisable to take the following contents:

  • Subject with regard to Speaker, name of the person and type of activity
  • Description of the company and the referenced location
  • Description of the specific tasks and the applied skills
  • Qualitative assessment of work performance
  • Review of social behavior
  • Wish for the future
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