The labor market is becoming more and more competitive, which means that all the aspects that can differentiate your candidacy from all others make a big difference. In that sense, having a good letter of recommendation is something that can play in your favor.
A letter of recommendation consists of a document in which another person (usually someone who worked directly with you on a previous job or a former teacher) presents your professional qualities and skills, in order to offer references to potential employers.
In spite of being an almost totally neglected aspect of applications in Portugal, the truth is that a well written recommendation letter really works as an advantage for job seekers or even for those who want to start a master’s degree or apply for a research grant.
The first aspect to consider is who to choose to write a letter of recommendation. You must choose someone with a relevant position who is available to write the letter.
To help those who will write your letter of recommendation, you can hand in a copy of your resume that isduly updated.
If the result does not meet your expectations, you will not be sure to include it in your application.
1. Examples of letters of recommendation
So that you know how to write a letter of recommendation, there is nothing like being able to see an example:
Sender
Occupation – Company
Address
Contact
Date
Subject: Letter of Recommendation for the Architect Manuel Silva
Dear. Messrs)
I am writing to recommend Mr. Manuel Silva as Architect.
During the last years I had the opportunity to work directly with Mr. Manuel Silva. Throughout the period that he worked as an architect in company X, he demonstrated all his competence and professional quality. Once I have supervised your performance, I feel qualified to recommend your professional skills.
Mr. Manuel Silva has demonstrated a great technical capacity as well as a remarkable ability to adapt to new processes. Their ability to faithfully transpose our customers’ ideas, make them real, and improve them when necessary was an excellent asset to our company.
I also have to mention the excellent communication skills that allow Mr. Carlos Silva to establish close relationships with clients and co-workers.
Throughout his stay in our company, he also exhibited a spirit of untiring work, always showing himself available to make the projects progress. Thus, it has become a source of inspiration for the whole team.
I recognize Mr. Manuel Silva’s ability, qualifications and qualities that allow him to be an excellent addition for any company and therefore strongly recommend him to the position he is applying for. I believe your company will grow stronger if you move forward to hiring. I am available to provide further clarification.
Carefully,
(signature)
2. Strengthen your application with a letter of recommendation
As we have already mentioned, submitting a letter of recommendation under an application can make all the difference, especially if you can present a really strong and valid letter written by someone with a relevant position in a company where you have passed.
Finding the right person to write a letter of recommendation is a firm step towards a good job.