# Critique a letter of recommendation, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913 "2011-06-01T01:11:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/1 "2011-06-01T01:11:15Z")
We are moving to a new town next month, and I am leaving my current position. My boss has generously offered to give me a letter of recommendation for my job search, but wants me to write it myself, and she’ll put it on company letterhead and sign it. It’s surprisingly hard to write this myself, so I’d like your opinions: Too gushing, unprofessional, too long/short? Anything you’d change? Thanks in advance!\* [Lacunae] and I have worked together for several years now, first as colleagues at [Location X], and more recently, at [Location y]. I have been [Lacunae’s] supervisor at [Location Y] for over two years. During our time working together, I have found [Lacunae] to be a dependable colleague and employee. She provides excellent customer service, making our hotel clients feel like welcome guests, while also ensuring that our balance sheets are properly tallied at the end of the day. Her position as night auditor also requires a certain level of creative problem solving - she is the only employee on duty overnight, and she must use her judgment to retain clients when problems do arise. Our customer feedback - in person, comment cards, and on-line surveys - often make especial mention of the fact that [Lacunae] is friendly, helpful, and hospitable. Based on our several years of working together, I would recommend [Lacunae] unreservedly for any job requiring customer interaction. She is also very detail-oriented, and able to trace problems with a balance sheet. Her cash-handling, math, and written and verbal skills are very good, and she is a trustworthy employee and colleague. If you need more information, I can be contacted at [phone #], extension 0 (zero). Sincerely, [Manager’s Name] General Manager\* ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/2 "2011-06-01T01:47:25Z")
Why is he making you write it yourself? :dubious: IMO you should find another superior who will actually write it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/3 "2011-06-01T01:59:22Z")
She is really, really busy, but again, was kind enough to offer to sign a letter for me. No other superior to write it for me: She’s the general manager and co-owner, and the other owner is her husband - whose writing skills leave lots to be desired! (Although he has told me to please put him down as a professional reference.) Nice people, just busy! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/4 "2011-06-01T02:05:45Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > She is really, really busy, but again, was kind enough to offer to sign a letter for me. No other superior to write it for me: She’s the general manager and co-owner, and the other owner is her husband - whose writing skills leave lots to be desired! (Although he has told me to please put him down as a professional reference.) > > Nice people, just busy! Kinda figured that was the reason. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/5 "2011-06-01T17:02:03Z")
One bump, and then we’ll let it slip away painlessly… ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/6 "2011-06-01T18:01:56Z")
That’s very good Lacunae. Professional, makes specific mention of customer feedback and observed behaviours, and it’s not gushy. I would hire you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/7 "2011-06-01T18:05:51Z")
_Her position as night auditor also requires a certain level of creative problem solving - she is the only employee on duty overnight, and she must use her judgment to retain clients when problems do arise and I trust her decision making skills implicitly._ That’s my input. Looks good! ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/8 "2011-06-01T18:16:47Z")
I think that’s a very good letter, and I would be happy to sign it if I were your supervisor (assuming that I agreed with its judgments). Not gushy at all, but specifically points out your strengths. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/9 "2011-06-01T20:58:22Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > [Lacunae] and I have worked together for several years now, L and I have worked together for X years, > [@](#): > > first as colleagues at [Location X], and more recently, at [Location y]. I have been [Lacunae’s] supervisor at [Location Y] for over two years. We first worked together as colleagues at X; I have been L’s manager at Y since _give date_. > [@](#): > > During our time working together, Waffle. Delete this. > [@](#): > > I have found [Lacunae] to be a dependable colleague and employee. L has been a … > [@](#): > > She provides excellent customer service, L excels at customer service > [@](#): > > making our hotel clients feel like welcome guests New sentence next, because it’s a whole new function. > [@](#): > > , while also ensuring that our balance sheets are properly tallied at the end of the day. L ensures that our … > [@](#): > > Her position as night auditor also requires a certain level of creative problem solving - she is the only employee on duty overnight, and she must use her judgment to retain clients when problems do arise. … when problems arise. > [@](#): > > Our customer feedback - in person, comment cards, and on-line surveys - often make makes > [@](#): > > especial mention of the fact that [Lacunae] is friendly, helpful, and hospitable. especial note that … or particular note that … > [@](#): > > Based on our several years of working together Waffle. Delete this. > [@](#): > > I would recommend [Lacunae] unreservedly for I recommend L for > [@](#): > > any job requiring customer interaction. > [@](#): > > She is also very detail-oriented, and able to trace problems with a balance sheet. Her cash-handling, math, and written and verbal skills oral, not verbal. > [@](#): > > are very good, and she is a trustworthy employee and colleague. This should be earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/10 "2011-06-01T21:33:11Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Why is he making you write it yourself? :dubious: IMO you should find another superior who will actually write it themselves. Just about every letter of recommendation I’ve ever requested has ended up like this - “You write it, I’ll sign it!” Handy, but disingenuous. Which may be why I don’t think many job-offerers ask for them. Heck, people don’t even ask for references anymore; you either get a completely generic “Yes, Person X worked here from Jan 2002 to Feb 2005” or you get somebody’s buddy (if you’re lucky, a work buddy) giving them a really great recommendation. Neither of which are particularly helpful in the hiring process. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-a-letter-of-recommendation-please/583913/11 "2011-06-01T22:06:22Z")
Thanks all! (The nicest part about this was that I didn’t ask, the boss offered.) It may or may not be useful, but it’s nice.