If you’re in business long enough, you’re going to have employees approach you asking for a letter of recommendation. Even if you don’t want to do it, you should write a recommendation letter for employee endeavors whenever possible. Yet, if you don’t want to write the recommendation, you’re not alone. The idea of losing a hardworking employee can prove scary for business owners.

Below, we’ll get into all the reasons you should write the recommendation letter. We’ll also show you to best do it.

Finally, if you’re an employee, you’ll also learn how to ask an employer for a recommendation once you’ve found your dream job. If you haven’t done so already, we suggest checking out ZipRecruiter! If you’re hesitant about pursuing another job, ZipRecruiter allows other employers to come to you when they see how qualified you are for a position. It takes the pressure off of job searching—and eventually telling your boss you’re leaving— in many different ways.

Why You Should Write a Recommendation Letter 

Imagine this: your favorite employee has approached you to tell you they found a new job on ZipRecruiter, a job site that allows workers to create profiles and browse jobs that they’re qualified to take. They’re excited about the opportunities this will afford them in the future and believe it’s a step in the right direction for their career.

Then, they ask you to write a recommendation letter for them. As a business owner, you should say yes unless you have a compelling reason not to.

First, you need to remember that many work agreements don’t allow employers to prevent their employees from leaving. If you signed an at-will contract with your employee, they’ll have the ability to quit whether you write the recommendation letter or not.

It will preserve your business relationship and set your worker up for success in the future if you write the recommendation letter. In addition, your employee will be more likely to perceive you as caring for them as a person rather than just being concerned about what they can do for you. If you’re worried about struggling to find a new employee, read these tips for recruiters.

Recommendation Letters Boost Employee Engagement

A smart employer always seeks to increase employee engagement. Put simply, employee engagement consists of the level of loyalty your workers have to your company. Businesses with higher levels of employee engagement often see greater employee productivity and internal motivation. They also have a positive company culture.

Employees feel most engaged in their work when they know their employer cares about them as a person. If you become known for writing a great recommendation letter for employee workers, they might perceive you as caring about their individual dreams. As such, your employee engagement might increase.

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Now, you’re ready to learn how to write a letter of recommendation for employee success.

To begin, you’ll need to gather some information. First, make sure you know the employee’s full name and can spell it correctly. Then, find out the name of the person who will receive the letter. You can ask your employee for this information.

If they don’t know, address the letter to the hiring manager. Find out the name of the company as well. You’ll also need to know the official job title for the position to which your employee has applied.

Opening

To begin your letter, address the hiring manager by name if applicable.

Then, in the next paragraph, state that you are writing to recommend your employee for the job to which they’ve applied. Use the employee’s full name and the job’s title.

For example, write:

Dear Mr. Casey Smith,

I’m pleased to recommend Annabelle Windsor for the role of Digital Analyst at Logistics Unlimited, Inc.

Body

In the next paragraph, introduce yourself. State your full name, your official title, and the company for which you work. You should also mention how you know the employee.

Create another paragraph to talk about the reasons you’re recommending this employee for this job listing. Talk about their hard and soft skills. Mention the contributions they’ve made to the team and the specific things you like about working with them.

You can also include a personal story that showcases these skills. Stories work well in recommendation letters because brains are hardwired to remember them. As such, you’ll help your employee stand out by telling a story.

Finally, include a closing paragraph with your contact information. Encourage the hiring manager to reach out if they have any questions.

Then, sign your name.

Asking for a Recommendation Letter as a Job Seeker

If you’re on the job hunt, you might need to ask your colleagues for a recommendation letter at some point. This might seem like a frightening prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, if you ask in the right way, they will likely respond well.

First, wait for a time in which the person is in a good mood and doesn’t seem stressed. Then, approach them in person. If this isn’t possible, give them a phone call.

You should talk to the person about the reason you’re asking for a letter of recommendation. You can also give them details about the role so they can tailor their letter.

Make yourself available to answer any questions they may have. Finally, respect their answer if they say no. Pushing them into a recommendation might ruin your chances of getting a positive letter!

Make the Most Out of Your Next Career Move

Whether you’re a worker on the job hunt or an employer who just wrote a recommendation letter for employee job applications, you need ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter allows workers to find jobs that match their skillsets and qualifications.

Likewise, employers can create business profiles and post jobs that attract qualified candidates. Create your free account today to change the way you find jobs or hire workers!