The opening paragraph should briefly introduce the writer, his relationship to the candidate and the letter's purpose. Discuss the interaction you have had with each other on a regular basis and how long you have known each other. Reveal your pleasure and excitement in sharing your thoughts about the individual in highly recommending him for the position. Your relationship must be one that involves a close enough interaction to give validity to the enclosed statements. Letters of recommendation hold more weight when written by persons of authority within a school, community or company. When introducing yourself, state your professional position and expertise.
The letter's purpose is for the reviewer to learn something more about the candidate that cannot be derived from an application, resume, school transcripts or other submitted records. The body of the letter should reveal certain positive qualities and character traits of the individual that are relevant to the sought-after position. Back up these descriptive words of praise with specific examples or incidents in which these aspects became evident to you. This sets the individual apart from other competitors. Traits might include honesty, integrity, creativity, dependability, responsibility and leadership
The body should also include information about specific skills that you have witnessed from the individual. Examples might involve communication, management, writing, problem-solving, teaching and teamwork. Only mention skills that pertain to the desired position. Simply stating the skill is not a strong enough assessment. Include a brief overview of specific classroom or work-related incidents or accomplishments that you were privy to, and the impression they left upon you about the individual's abilities.
The last paragraph should summarize the letter's key points and reiterate the recommender's confidence in the candidate. Restate your support of the individual and recommendation for the position. If possible, include statistics or comparisons to form a clearer picture of the candidate's great potential. Compare the candidate to others you have taught or worked with throughout your career with a ranking among your top favorites as intelligent or hardworking. Print the letter on official company or school letterhead and include your job title with your signature at the end to acknowledge the professionalism of the occasion.
In order to be comfortable writing a successful letter of recommendation, you must have some background provided to you about the award, school or desired position. This gives you a better idea of what positive aspects to address to make the best impression upon the reviewer. Ask to whom the letter should be addressed, and remember to include the date the letter was written.