It does not matter whether you are in a professional or academic clime; you may be tasked with writing a peer letter of recommendation for your colleague at some point.
Peer letters of recommendation are particular references that, in some circumstances, one may need to land a job or get into an academic institution.
Whatever the desire of your colleague may be, possessing the ability to write a good peer letter of recommendation will enable you to assist them in achieving their goal.
This post will discuss what a peer letter of recommendation is, why this reference is needed, tips for putting together a strong peer letter of recommendation, and how to write one.
What is a Peer Letter of Recommendation?
A peer letter of recommendation is an official letter written by an individual on par with a job or college applicant that talks about their abilities and personal qualities.
Most organizations ask for a peer letter of recommendation because the peer or individual is well acquainted with the letter’s subject through either work or school.
Establishments use the peer letter of recommendation to validate an applicant’s character and how well they relate with people.
When is the Peer Letter of Recommendation required?
A peer letter of recommendation is required for many circumstances, such as:
1. College application
Many colleges ask applicants to submit a peer letter of recommendation as one of their application requirements.
This assists admission staff in acquiring more knowledge of what a person brings to the table, even as a student.
2. Job application
Professional openings for people with good teamwork skills may demand applicants to submit a peer letter of recommendation which can help the company assess if they possess these skills.
3. Internal promotions
Anyone seeking a promotion within the same company may have to provide, in some instances, more than one peer letter of recommendation written by their colleague.
Tips for Writing a Peer Letter of Recommendation
1. Find out when they need it
Knowing when the subject wants to submit the peer letter of recommendation will enable you to write it weeks before.
This is important so you don’t rush a vital document like this but rather pen together an exceptional piece that will enable the subject to accomplish their goal.
2. Know how you are supposed to send the document
Find out from the peer reference if you are supposed to submit the letter to the appropriate quarters by yourself, and also find out if the submission is made digitally or physically.
This will enable you to prepare well to avoid disappointing the subject.
3. Ask for their perspective
Speak to the subject of the letter and find out the things about themselves that they would love you to include and what they won’t love you to include.
4. Review the peer letter of recommendation
Don’t hand over a peer letter of recommendation to anyone if you have not checked for spelling and grammatical errors. Software like Grammarly can be beneficial in expertly achieving this.
This is important because submitting an error-strewn letter will send the message that you are unreliable enough for them to believe the details of the letter
Also, sending an error-free letter will make the reader concentrate on your writing instead of your numerous blunders.
5. Give the subject to read
Once you are done writing the peer letter of recommendation, send it to the subject to go through it and inform you if they are uncomfortable with any piece of information that you added.
This will make them happy, and they can furnish you with more pieces of information that will make the letter even better.
How to Write a Peer Letter of Recommendation
Below are the steps to take to write down an excellent peer letter of recommendation:
1. Write down a list of what strikes your mind most when you think about them
Think about some of their best attributes when you were both in the same space and form a list of them. This will help you to pick their most striking abilities that would form the base of your letter.
2. Begin with a salutation
Ask the subject to whom you are addressing the letter so you can reflect that in your salutation. If you don’t know the person’s exact name, address him or her by their professional position.
On the other hand, if you know their names and titles, please mention them just like you would when writing a formal letter. Examples of salutations are;
- Dear Human Resource Manager,
- Dear Mercy Pascal,
- Hello Victoria Michael,
3. Introduce yourself and describe the relationship you share with the subject
Mention your full name, current role, and relationship to the subject in the first three sentences of your letter. This will assist the receiver in recognizing what connects you and the subject.
4. Concentrate on only the instances they have shown commendable traits
Talk about four excellent subject traits you recall to keep things short and straightforward. This will help you pass a compelling message.
5. Try to show instead of narrate
When describing the traits of the subject, try to describe circumstances where they utilized this quality rather than just mentioning them.
6. Use the conclusion to restate their traits
The conclusion is your final chance to highlight the subject’s abilities.
7. Use a closing salutation
Some of the best closing salutations for a peer letter of recommendation are:
- Sincerely,
- Best,
- Thank you,
8. Include your name and contact info for further reference
Write your name and contact details at the end of the letter.
A Peer letter of recommendation sample
For a teamwork related Job
Dear Hiring Manager,
My name is Pascal Michael, and for three years, David and I worked together as members of the marketing team of the John Dee Group of Companies. My colleagues and I could always count on him to coordinate us when we were facing difficulty, and he always boosted our spirits whenever we were falling short of our daily marketing targets. We increased our quarterly customer numbers by 15% thanks to David’s innovative pitch concepts. He could also initiate conversations with clients by asking them personal questions and establishing common ground.
I’m excited to watch David advance in his chosen field.
Sincerely,
Pascal Michael,
Marketing Officer
John Dee Group of Companies,
pascalmichael@email.com, 123-456-7891
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Peer Letters of Recommendation
A good peer reference must be consistent, understandable, and commendable.
A peer letter of recommendation should be only one page long.
The three recommendation types are employment, academic, and character letters of recommendation.
It is best to begin a recommendation letter by introducing yourself and your relationship with the subject.
Conclusion
You may have to write a letter of recommendation for someone you know at some point in your life, whether in an academic or professional setting.
Peer recommendations are excellent references that may be required when applying for jobs or enrolling in schools.
If you have the skills to write a strong peer letter of recommendation, you can help a classmate or coworker get what they want.
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