A strong letter of recommendation is specific, positive and about the job. It says who you are, how you know the person and why they are right for the role. Real examples and numbers make it believable.
Below are 5 employment letter of recommendation samples, followed by a free builder with three starting points. Make your own, then print it or copy it. These samples are for jobs, not for school or scholarship applications.
AdvertisementThe names, employers and numbers are fictional examples. Replace them with true information about the person you are recommending.
5 Letter of Recommendation Samples
Quick jump: Retail salespersonRegistered nurseCustomer serviceOffice clerkCashier from a coworkerFree letter of recommendation builder
Letter of Recommendation for a Retail Salesperson From a Manager
Store Manager, Cedarbrook Home Supply
Aurora, CO
rachel.morgan@email.com | (555) 010-2101
November 7, 2026
Mr. Daniel Brooks
Hiring Manager
Pinecrest Home Goods
220 17th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Dear Mr. Brooks,
I am writing to recommend Brandon Ellis for the Retail Salesperson position at Pinecrest Home Goods. Watching Brandon turn a first-time visitor into a loyal customer has been one of the joys of managing our store.
I have supervised Brandon at Cedarbrook Home Supply for 5 years. In that time, he has kept a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating and grown his sales by 20%. He also trained 6 new employees, and each one reached full speed within a month.
Last winter, a customer was upset about a late order. Brandon found a fix within the hour and kept the sale, and the customer left a 5-star review. He brings that same calm to every problem.
Brandon would bring steady, friendly work to your team, and I would gladly hire him again. I am happy to answer any questions at the number above.
Sincerely,
Rachel Morgan
Store Manager, Cedarbrook Home Supply
Letter of Recommendation for a Registered Nurse From a Nurse Manager
Nurse Manager, Riverside Medical Center
Dublin, OH
karen.whitfield@email.com | (555) 010-2114
November 7, 2026
Ms. Angela Rivera
Director of Nursing
Westbrook Community Hospital
450 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Ms. Rivera,
It is my pleasure to recommend Michelle Harris for the Registered Nurse position at Westbrook Community Hospital. Michelle treats every patient with the same patience and respect she would want for her own family.
I have managed Michelle on our medical-surgical unit for 6 years. Patient satisfaction on her shifts has averaged 94%, and her charting error rate has stayed under 1%. She is also the nurse our newest team members ask for first.
During a recent staffing shortage, Michelle organized a shared handoff checklist that the whole unit still uses. It cut handoff delays by 30%, and our doctors noticed the difference.
I recommend Michelle without reservation, and I would gladly work beside her again. You are welcome to contact me for any further details.
Sincerely,
Karen Whitfield, RN
Nurse Manager, Riverside Medical Center
Letter of Recommendation for a Customer Service Representative From a Director
Customer Service Director, Harborline Utilities
Tampa, FL
thomas.greene@email.com | (555) 010-2127
November 7, 2026
Ms. Sharon Roberts
Hiring Manager
Bluestone Energy Services
100 Fayetteville Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
Dear Ms. Roberts,
This letter is my recommendation of Marcus Hayes for the Customer Service Representative position at Bluestone Energy Services. Marcus stays calm when others feel stress, and customers leave his calls feeling heard.
I have directed Marcus’s team at Harborline Utilities for 4 years. He handles about 60 calls a day, resolves 92% of issues on the first call and holds a 95% customer satisfaction score. His call checklist cut repeat calls by 25% and saved the team 5 hours a week.
Marcus also coaches coworkers. He trained 5 new representatives this year, and all of them passed their first quality review.
I strongly recommend Marcus for your team. You can reach me at the number above if you would like to talk more.
Sincerely,
Thomas Greene
Customer Service Director, Harborline Utilities
Letter of Recommendation for an Office Clerk From an Office Manager
Linda Parker
Office Manager, Maplewood Dental Group
Raleigh, NC
linda.parker@email.com | (555) 010-2140
November 7, 2026
Mr. Steven Lopez
Office Manager
Lakeshore Medical Billing
900 Channelside Drive
Tampa, FL 33602
Dear Mr. Lopez,
I am pleased to recommend Dennis Walker for the Office Clerk position at Lakeshore Medical Billing. Dennis takes pride in getting every record right, and our office runs better because of it.
Dennis worked for me at Maplewood Dental Group for 5 years. He enters about 150 records a week with 99% accuracy and balances the daily totals for our 5 front-desk stations every night. He also cleaned up 3 years of old files, which cut the time it takes to find a chart by half.
Dennis is dependable, he is kind to patients and he never leaves a task half done. I would gladly hire him again, and I am glad to answer any questions.
Sincerely,
Linda Parker
Office Manager, Maplewood Dental Group
Letter of Recommendation for a Cashier From a Coworker
Jennifer Collins
Senior Cashier, Brightfield Market
Columbus, OH
jennifer.collins@email.com | (555) 010-2153
November 7, 2026
Mr. Gregory Nelson
Store Manager
Lakeview Grocery
312 Market Street
Dayton, OH 45402
Dear Mr. Nelson,
I am writing to recommend my coworker Olivia Bennett for the Cashier position at Lakeview Grocery. Olivia greets every customer as if they were a neighbor, and that warmth makes our store a better place.
I have worked beside Olivia at Brightfield Market for 3 years. She serves about 200 customers a shift, and her register balances within $1 on 99% of shifts. When we are short-staffed, she covers extra shifts without being asked, and she has covered more than 20 so far.
Olivia also helped me learn our new checkout system when it launched, and she patiently trained 4 new cashiers. Customers and coworkers trust her.
Olivia would be a great addition to your team. I am happy to talk with you about her work at any time.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Collins
Senior Cashier, Brightfield Market
Free Letter of Recommendation Builder
Step 1. What job is the person applying for?
Step 2. What do you want to highlight about the person?
Step 3. Tap the lines to add. Three to five is plenty.
Step 4. Click any text in the letter below and type or modify to make it yours.
Replace the names, job title, employers and every detail with your own true information about the person. Write only what you have seen yourself, and delete any line that does not fit.
Daniel Brooks
Store Manager, Pinecrest Home Goods
Denver, CO
daniel.brooks@email.com | (555) 010-1977
November 7, 2026
Ms. Julie Anderson
Hiring Manager
Seabrook Retail Group
77 Bayshore Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33606
Dear Ms. Anderson,
I am writing to recommend Nicole Harper for the Retail Salesperson position at Seabrook Retail Group. Watching Nicole turn a first-time visitor into a loyal customer has been one of the joys of managing our store.
It is my pleasure to recommend Nicole Harper for the Cashier position at Seabrook Retail Group. Nicole greets every customer as if they were a neighbor, and that warmth has made our store a better place.
This letter is my recommendation of Nicole Harper for the Customer Service Representative position at Seabrook Retail Group. Nicole stays calm when others feel stress, and customers always leave her counter feeling heard.
I have managed Nicole at Pinecrest Home Goods for 4 years. In that time, she has kept a 4.8 out of 5 customer rating and has grown her sales by 20%.
I have managed Nicole at Pinecrest Home Goods for 4 years. She works well with every department and has covered more than 20 extra shifts when the team needed help.
I have managed Nicole at Pinecrest Home Goods for 4 years. She arrives on time, finishes every task and has never missed a deadline I gave her.
Customers ask for her by name, and her rating is the highest on our team.
Her sales have grown 20% over two years, the best result in our store.
She has trained 6 new employees, and every one of them reached full speed within a month.
Her register is accurate to within $1 on 99% of shifts.
She has arrived on time for 98% of her shifts over 4 years.
Coworkers trust her, and teams ask to work with her.
When a customer was upset about a late order, she found a fix within the hour and kept the sale.
She led our holiday team of 8 and met every weekly goal.
She learned our point-of-sale and inventory systems faster than anyone I have trained.
A shelf-count change she suggested saved about $12,000 a year in lost goods.
I would gladly hire Nicole again if I had an opening.
I am happy to answer any questions about her work.
Nicole would bring steady, friendly work to your team, and I recommend her without reservation.
Sincerely,
Daniel Brooks
To save your letter: press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) and choose Save as PDF. Only the letter prints. To copy it, select the text inside the letter and press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C.
Which Starting Point Fits You?
| Your situation | Builder choice | What to highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Recommending a salesperson | Retail salesperson | Customer ratings, sales growth and training others |
| Recommending a cashier | Cashier | Accuracy, reliability and teamwork |
| Recommending a service representative | Customer service representative | Calm problem solving, speed and reliability |
The 5 Parts of a Letter of Recommendation
| Part | What to write | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Who you are, your relationship to the person and how long you have known them | Indeed |
| Strengths | An overview of their strengths, tied to the job | Indeed |
| Personal story | A short story that shows one or two of their traits | Indeed |
| Closing | A summary of why they fit the opportunity | Indeed |
| Signature | Your name and contact information | Indeed |
How to Write a Letter of Recommendation: 6 Steps
| Step | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm you can write a strong letter, or decline quickly so they have time to find another writer | Indeed |
| 2 | Ask for an up-to-date resume and the job description | Indeed |
| 3 | Pick two or three achievements that match the job and prepare an example for each | Indeed |
| 4 | Write it in a standard business letter format, on letterhead if you have it | Indeed |
| 5 | Keep the tone positive and formal | Indeed |
| 6 | Proofread, then follow the submission instructions and deadline | Indeed |
Format and Length
| Detail | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Between two-thirds of a page and one full single-spaced page (never more than two) | Indeed |
| Font | Times New Roman 12 point for printed letters or Arial 11 point for electronic ones | Indeed |
| Margins | Near one inch | Indeed |
| Voice | Active voice, with the person doing the action | Indeed |
| Numbers | Use ratings, rankings or percentages to show their results | Indeed |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing about someone you barely know. Decline if you cannot give real examples.
- Using general praise. Show results with numbers and short stories.
- Adding doubts. Avoid any comment that could suggest reservations.
- Writing one letter for every job. Customize each letter to the posting.
- Missing the deadline. Confirm how and when to submit it.
- Typos. Check every name and proofread twice.
Recommendation Letter Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. Your letter is ready when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a letter of recommendation?
Confirm you know the person well, ask for their resume and the job description, then follow Indeed’s five parts: introduction, strengths, a personal story, closing and signature. Use real examples and keep it positive and formal.
How long should a letter of recommendation be?
Indeed advises one page and no more than two, and another Indeed guide suggests between two-thirds and one full single-spaced page.
What should I include in a letter of recommendation?
Your relationship to the person, how long you have known them, two or three strengths tied to the job, a short story or example with numbers and your contact information.
Who should write a letter of recommendation?
Someone who has worked with or directly observed the person, such as a manager, supervisor, senior coworker or client, and who has specific examples of their work.
What if I do not know the person well enough?
Indeed advises declining quickly and respectfully so they have time to find another writer.
How should the letter start?
With the purpose: say you are recommending the person for the job at the employer by name, then add a personal sentence about what you value in their work.
How do I make the letter stand out?
Use numbers and comparisons. Indeed suggests ranking the person against peers or including measurable results, such as a 25% increase in website traffic, and describing their potential.
What format and font should I use?
A standard business letter on letterhead if possible. Indeed suggests Times New Roman 12 point for printed letters or Arial 11 point for electronic ones, with margins near one inch.
How much notice does the writer need?
Indeed says to give the writer at least two weeks before the due date. Share the job posting, the deadline and how to submit the letter.
Is this the same as a reference letter?
They are close. A recommendation letter is usually written for a specific job or opportunity, while a reference letter may be more general (our suggestion). This page covers employment recommendations, and school letters are on separate pages.
Conclusion
A good recommendation letter is short, honest and specific. Say how you know the person, share two or three strengths with numbers and close with confidence. Use the builder above to write yours today.
Related Reading
- Former coworker recommendation letter sample
- Letter of recommendation for a subordinate
- Driver reference and recommendation letter samples
- Secretary reference and recommendation letter sample
Sources: Indeed Career Guide, How To Write a Letter of Recommendation; Indeed Career Guide, 15 Tips for Writing a Great Letter of Recommendation. The sample letters, names, employers and numbers are fictional.