Recommendation Letter From A Previous Employer (With Samples)

Summary. A recommendation letter from a previous employer can go a long way in helping you get a job, so don’t be afraid to ask for one. If you’re writing a recommendation letter for a past employee, ask for a list of their accomplishments and skills, give examples of their skills in action, and be truthful.

Recommendation Letter From a Previous Employer with Samples.

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What is a Letter of Recommendation?

A letter of recommendation, also called a reference letter, is a document that explains why you’d be a good hire. Often these letters are written by a past employer since they’ved seen your skills in action and can vouch for you when you’re applying for a new job.

A recommendation letter from a previous employer can be extremely impactful when applying for a new job. The reference letter is used to attest to your professional skills, experience, and character from a dependable source. It can be an excellent opportunity to have your accomplishments explained beyond the bullet points on your resume and help a future employer get to know you better.

Before going to eat at a new restaurant, you check that it has good reviews from previous patrons. It’s natural to want to know other opinions before risking a bad experience. An employment reference is similar. New employers want to know about your reviews as an employee from the people with the most experience: your previous employers.

Why Do You Need A Letter of Recommendation?

Employers want to know more than just the jobs you’ve had before and the school you graduated from. They’re looking for insight into your work-ethic and soft skills. This is more than a backdoor reference check. It’s a preview into the employee you’re going to be from someone who’s seen the show before.

A letter of recommendation from a work reference can be especially useful and even required in some cases.

Preferably, this professional resource is your superior because they come across as the most reliable resource to your possible new boss. A declaration from a former employer is needed in your application because it gives a clear depiction of the professional you are. This makes it that much more likely that you’ll be invited for an interview.

Tips for Requesting a Letter of Recommendation From a Previous Employer

When it comes to how to request a letter of recommendation from a previous employer, reach out as early as possible and be intentional about saying thank you for their time and effort.

  1. Give notice in advance. Asking previous employers for a letter of recommendation takes time out of their schedule to accommodate your success. Be considerate of this by giving them as much notice as possible before an application deadline.
  2. Be aware of backdoor reference checks. When applying for a new position, keep in mind that the recruiting team may utilize backdoor reference checks during the hiring process. This involves getting more information on a candidate from sources other than what’s listed on their resume. There are certain things that employers can and cannot do while conducting backdoor reference checks. Familiarize yourself with this process so you know what to expect.
  3. Expect hiring managers to check your references. Having an excellent professional reference is an important part of your application, however, don’t expect that an employer will be satisfied with a just simple letter. The recruiting team will likely reach out to your former boss to check your reference, ask more questions, and establish the validity of their recommendation before offering you the position. Make sure that your recommender is prepared to respond if requested.
  4. Thank them throughout the process. When a former employer agrees to write a letter of recommendation, it means that they care about your career and want to see you succeed. Express your gratitude for this and their effort throughout the process.

Tips For Writing A Letter of Recommendation for a Former Employee

  1. Discuss with the applicant beforehand. Once you agree to write a recommendation letter for a former employee, you should have a conversation about what they’re expecting. Ask them as many questions as you need answers to. Some of these questions could include:

Recommendation Letter Format

Letters of reference should follow professional guidelines, but you should also make them your own. The hiring committee should have a good idea of who you are and who the candidate is by the end of the letter.

    Proper business letter format. Open your letter with the appropriate business email or letter format. This will include your contact information, the date, and the hiring personnel’s information when available. If the applicant doesn’t have the hiring manager’s information, include the company information and address the letter as:

Business Letter to Unknown Recipient Greeting Examples
Dear Sir or Madam or To Whom It May Concern

By the close of the first paragraph, the hiring manager should have a thorough sense of the candidate’s previous position and why you’re qualified to speak on their work habits.

A reference letter is a vital part of any candidate’s application success. The applicant should have the opportunity to ask a previous employer for a recommendation with more positives to offer than negatives. If you’re having difficulty coming up with the candidate’s strong points, it may be best to decline writing a letter of recommendation for them.

Sample of Recommendation Letter From Previous Employer

  1. Previous Employer Recommendation Letter Example:

Delivery Address:
James Jackson
Editor-in-chief
City Scene Magazine
111 Lakewood St.
Albany, NY, 30440 Return Address:
Blake Richards
Associate Editor
Los Angeles Weekly
567 Bridge St.
Los Angeles, CA, 34481 September 10, 2020 Dear Mr. Jackson, My name is Blake Richards and I’m an associate editor at Los Angeles Weekly magazine. Between 2015-2019, Erin Knight worked for me as an investigative journalist. It is my pleasure to contact you with a strong recommendation on Erin’s behalf for the position of journalist at City Scene Magazine. During the four years that Erin worked for us, she was professional, extremely hard-working, and responsive to feedback. Her writing skills are top-notch. She was one of the most valuable journalists I had in my arsenal. She has produced several of our most popular articles in her time working for the Los Angeles Weekly. One story about small businesses was so impactful to the community, that she ended up turning it into an ongoing series by popular demand. Erin is an experienced and talented investigative journalist. I recommend her wholeheartedly for this position and believe she will be a strong asset to your team. Please contact me if you have any other questions about Erin. I’ve included my information below. Best regards, Blake Richards (Signature) Blake Richards (Printed) Associate Editor
Los Angeles Weekly
(303)-829-4427 BlakeRichards@LAweekly.com

Subject Line: Recommendation for Timothy Jones Lily Thompson
1347 Smith Lane
Los Angeles, CA, 70201
(716)-434-2237
Lthompson@Springvalley.edu September 10, 2020 Bright Horizons Preschool
427 Nathan St.
Los Angeles, CA, 80302
hiring@brighthorizons.edu To Whom It May Concern: My name is Lily Thompson and I’ve been a Kindergarten teacher at Spring Valley Elementary School for the past eleven years. I would like to enthusiastically recommend Timothy Jones for the teaching position at Bright Horizons Preschool. Timothy was my assistant teacher at Spring Valley Elementary School for between 2017-2019. In the two years that Timothy was my assistant, I saw enormous growth in his teaching skills and leadership abilities. He has an exceptional way of communicating with the children. I’ve turned to him for help with an unruly student more than once. In addition to his talents with the students, he’s equally as valuable when it comes to working outside of the classroom. I could always count on Timothy to have a lesson plan prepared ahead of time. I remember on one occasion, Timothy went out of his way to set up a book club for the children. Each week they’d pick a children’s book to read with their parents, and then tell the class about it. It was a great idea that I still use with my students today. For these reasons, I highly recommend Timothy Jones for the preschool teacher position at Bright Horizons. I am sure he will exceed your expectations. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to provide further information. Sincerely, Lily Thompson

Letter of Recommendation From a Previous Employer FAQ

  1. What is a reference letter from a past employer? A reference letter from a past employer is a document written by a job candidate’s previous employer describing why the candidate would be a good hire. These letters outline the candidate’s skills and experience, as well as what they added to the organization while they were there, helping interviewers get a better idea of what the candidate would really be like as an employee.
  2. Can you get a reference from a previous employer? Yes, you can get a reference from a previous employer. In fact, this is a very common occurance, and some employers may even require you to provide one. Just be aware that you may not be able to get a reference if the previous employer is no longer in business or if they don’t feel like they can truthfully recommend you.
  3. Do employers verify reference letters? Yes, employers verify reference letters. This means that usually they’ll contact the person who wrote your reference letter to make sure it’s legitimate and still holds up. This is to prevent candidates from posing as past employers and writing their own reference letters or embellishing letters they’ve been given.

Ask the Experts

How To Ask For A Recommendation Letter From A Previous Employer

Shannon Hilmar
Owner/Founder AUDACITY Career Consulting

The key to an effective employment recommendation is specificity. When asking your former employer for a letter of recommendation be sure to provide specific examples of your work accomplishments while in that particular role, and reminders of positive feedback regarding your relevant skills and experience to be included in the recommendation.

References

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