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Culture & behavior

Things to remember when you are asked to write a good recommendation

When an employee resigns from their position, there are many who would like to have a recommendation with them. However, it can be difficult to find the right tone, structure and style.

Culture & behavior

Here are some guidelines you can follow if you need to be guided on the right path.

1. Only write if you have something positive to write – otherwise it is better to say no. Your former employee is not entitled to a recommendation, but it is good practice to write one.

2. Be honest, don't write anything you can't vouch for.

3. When writing the recommendation itself, you can follow this structure:

Facts section. Provide personal data, period of employment, job title, mention it if the person has taken longer periods of leave. It may also be a good idea to disclose the reason for the termination of employment. Formulations you can use are, for example: "At your own request", due to redundancy, bankruptcy, closure, savings.
Task description. Describe which tasks the employee has completed and at which level in the organisation. Responsibilities and powers are described in relative detail without being specific.
Job requirements. Describe what requirements there were for the employee's experience, skills and education and, not least, personality. Focus here specifically on the position the employee held and not on what education and personality the employee has. Use e.g. words such as: responsibility, prioritization, collaboration, communication, independence, endurance, initiative, analytical skills, social skills, the ability to see the big picture, etc.
Qualities. In relation to what you have written in the previous two paragraphs, evaluate how you think the employee has coped. Negative comments are not included.
Summative assessment. You use the last part to round off the recommendation. It must contain an overall recommendation and a summary assessment expressed in one or a few sentences. With five declensions, it can e.g. sound like this:
- Excellent/best recommendations
- Is a pleasure to recommend
- We want to give the best recommendations
- Can we recommend
- Wish you luck