Letter of Recommendation (Page 1 of 3)	
Letter of Recommendation	
WHAT IS A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
Letter of recommendation is a letter written by your supervisor (or oth
er adult) that gives future employers 
information about you as a worker in a paying job, community volunteer assignment, club officer, teacher 
aide (such as in computer lab), or other situation.  The letter of recommendation might say you are a good
team worker, dependable, have good customer service skills, are able to handle resp
onsibility, show
initiative (can start and finish what needs doing without being told), or other good things.  A letter of 
recommendation might say that you have skills such as computer operation
, debate, leadership, drafting,
mechanical, or other skills.  A letter of recommendation is written by your supervisor or other adult and 
may be word processed or handwritten:  a) On letterhead paper with scho
ol or company name and address 
printed at the top, or b) On plain paper.
WHY COLLECT LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?
First,	 you need letters of recommendation because future 	
employers want to know what past supervisors and adults 
think about your work skills.  	Copy 	of the letter of 	
recommendation may be attached to your job application, 
resume, or taken with you to share in interviews.  Never give away your 
original letter of recommendation.  
Second,	 letters of recommendation are used to give you an emotional boost when 
you face the hard task 	
of looking for a new job.  Reading your collection of letters of recomme
ndation will remind you that you 
have valuable qualities and work skills that an employer will value.  This will give you support. Then, you 
feel positive during the next job interview which will impress the emplo
yer and  help you get hired.
Third,	 letters of recommendation "document" (give proof of) your paid and un
paid work history in writing 	
so that nothing will be lost if the person you need as a reference moves
 to another city.  You will have a 
letter of recommendation that states the fact that you have work experie
nce and did a good job.
HOW MANY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION DO I GET?
Get as many letters of recommendation as you can.  In your younger days,
 do you remember how scouts 
earned badges as evidence that they learned skills?  Today, letters of recommendation are your evidence to 
show employers you did a good job as a worker or volunteer.  You may collect a letter of recommendation 
from the supervisor (or adult over 21 years of age) at the following p
laces:
1) Volunteer work sites (helping in the community or with sports leagues, c
lubs, church group, other).
2) Paid part- or full-time jobs.
3) School classes in which you earned a good grade.
4) School, club, or volunteer experience in which you succeeded such as com
puter lab 
 assistant, tutor, switchboard operator, club officer, drug awareness team leader,
 newspaper or yearbook staff, sports team leader, peer counselor, or other experience.
5) Babysitting or yardwork jobs that you held for more than six months.
6) Activities that earned you recognition such as sports awards or science fair projects.	
Get letters
from
1 - Drama
     teacher
2 - Coach

HOW DO I GET A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
Since letters of recommendation are not automatically written by adults;
 you will need to 	ask 	for one.  For 	
volunteer work, school projects, or outside activities, ask the leader (
who must be over 21 years of age) for 
a letter of recommendation after a project, at the end of a school term,
 or when you think it is the right time.  
To request a letter of recommendation you may say, 	"Mrs. Webster, I would like to request a letter	
of recommendation from you for the period of time I worked as a switchboard operator and 
receptionist for the school.  I am making a job hunt portfolio 
and will need a letter of recommendation about my work
experience to keep it up to date.  Also, I may need a reference 
from you in the future, and I want to have something in writing
in case I am unable to find you when I need the letter of
recommendation."
Sometimes a supervisor or teacher will ask you to write 
a list of things you want said about you in a letter of 
recommendation so that he/she understands what you need.
As the supervisor writes the letter of recommendation, he
or she may follow some  of your suggestions.  So, before
you ask someone to write a letter of recommendation, 
make a list of 3 things you want included (or said about
you) in that letter in case you are asked.  
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: 	 Keep the original	
letters of recommendation in a safe place!  Do not give
the original letters to anyone — even employers. 
Make copies of the letters of recommendation to
give to future employers.  Note: Letters may be 
word processed or handwritten by the adult.
Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	Letter of Recommendation (Page 2 of 3)	
1. What is a letter of recommendation?
2. List 5 things the letter might say about you.
3. What does letterhead paper have printed at top?
4. List 3 reasons why letters of recommendation 	
are needed.	
5. a) List 5 places where you may collect letters 	
of recommendation from supervisors.	
6. How do you get a letter of recommendation?
7. From your life, list 2 adults (and your activities 	
they supervise) that you can ask to write a 	
 letter of recommendation for you.
8. How old must the adult writing the letter of 	
recommendation be?	
9. Following the example in bold print on this 	
page, write a paragraph asking for a letter of 
recommendation from one of the supervisors 
you listed in question #7.	
10. a) What may the supervisor ask you to write?
 b) Why? 
11. List 3 things 	you 	would like said in a letter of 	
recommendation 	written for you!	
12. What is one last important point to remember 	
about letters of recommendation?	
13. May a supervisor handwrite the letter?
14. Word process a request for a letter of 
 recommendation to one of the supervisors you 	
listed in question #6.  Follow the example on 
the next page. 	 	
QUICK CHECK:	
Valley High School
Careerville, KS 99001	
February 5, 2021
To Whom It May Concern:
Monica Gonzales worked as a computer 
lab assistant for one year.
Monica was always on time and reliable.  
She completed all job duties with an 
enthusiastic attitude.  She works well 
with others. She is willing to go the extra 
mile for students who have problems 
with the computers.  Please feel free to 
contact me for any questions.
Sincerely,
Mr. Clements

Permission to use allowed with usworkworld.com subscription.	Letter of Recommendation (Page 3 of 3)	
3945 My Street
Careerville, KS  99001
November 3, 2021
Mr. Clements
Valley High School
234 School Way
Careerville, KS 99000
Dear Mr. Clements:
I would like to request a letter of recommendation from you for the peri
od of time I 
worked as a computer lab assistant.  I am making a job hunt portfolio an
d will need a letter 
of recommendation for my work experience to keep it up to date.  
Also, I may need a reference from you in the future, and I want to have something in 
writing in case I am unable to contact you when I need the letter of rec
ommendation.
Sincerely,
Monica Gonzales	
Press return (or enter) key 5 times
Press return key 2 times 
Press return key 2 times 
Press return key 2 times 
Press return key 4 times — Sign your name in the space after "Sincerely"
Start signing under the "S" or "i" and try not to slant up or down as you finish writing your name.
Press return key 2 times 	
Use your home address and the current date	
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT:  
Get an actual letter of recommendation from a teacher (if you were an a
ide), 
secretary (if you were an office assistant), adult (for a volunteer position), or 
supervisor (if you have a paid job).  To do this:  a) Word process a request for a 
letter of recommendation, b) Let your teacher proofread the request let
ter, then 
c) Give your request letter to the person whom you want to write the le
tter of 
recommendation.  d) 	Say, "On what date may I return to pick up the letter?"	 	
If your letter is too high or too low, add or delete 
lines in the space above your street address.