With the rise of social media, requests to write a "letter of recommendation" are ever more common. I put those words in quotation marks because the requested recommendations are often less formal than a traditional letter - more of a note. Still, the effect can be far-reaching for everyone involved. It's important, then, to do it right, while keeping time, and words, to a minimum. I recommend the following two-step approach.
1. What features do you admire most?
Ask yourself what honest praise springs to mind concerning the requester. If you can't think of something quickly, do everyone a favor and decline the request. The old adage "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" finds a new application here. It's better to avoid wasting your time and a potential reader's, avoid damning the requester with faint praise, and avoid filling the Web with more pointless text. Your response to the requester doesn't have to be cruel; you can simply say you don't have time to give the request the attention it deserves, and wish the person well.2. What does the reader want to know?
If you do have something nice to say about the requester, next ask yourself what a reader really wants to know. Is the recommendation for employment? Acceptance to school? An award or grant? Each of these readers will be looking for slightly different details, whether work ethic, potential for growth, or applicable accomplishments. Consider how the nice things you have to say match up with what the reader needs, and start writing.
Remember, though, to keep it brief. People on the Web are scanning for a quick sense of things. If they need more details, they will investigate further (and may contact you for that reason).
If you have any other suggestions for writing online recommendations, we would love to hear them. Either add a comment below, or send us an e-mail. Thanks.
- Lester Smith
Photo by PinkMoose
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