Things to avoid in a reference letter or letter of recommendation
Make sure that you avoid:
- Mentioning any weaknesses the candidate has.
- Saying anything that could be construed as libel.
- Writing in an informal manner: keep the letter business-like. Jokes, slang and casual language are not appropriate and may harm the candidate’s chances.
- Including personal information not relevant to the application. Mentioning the candidate’s race, political stance, religion, nationality, marital status, age or health is usually inappropriate.
- Spelling mistakes, sloppy writing or typos: this letter is hugely important to the candidate, and you should take care to make it look professional.
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