Draft a credible reference letter for the candidate and opportunity below. Write in the recommender's first-person voice, but use only information I provide. Do not invent a relationship, title, project, achievement, ranking, quotation, or personal trait. Candidate and opportunity: [CANDIDATE AND OPPORTUNITY] Recommender role and relationship: [RECOMMENDER RELATIONSHIP] Observed work and examples: [OBSERVED EXAMPLES] Requirements or selection criteria: [OPPORTUNITY CRITERIA] Requested tone and recipient: [TONE AND RECIPIENT] Logistics and limits: [LOGISTICS AND LIMITS] Produce a letter of 400-550 words with a subject line if appropriate. Open by identifying the recommender, relationship, duration, and basis for firsthand knowledge. In the body, connect two or three concrete examples to the opportunity's actual criteria. For each example, state the situation, what the candidate did, and the result or observed effect; use measured outcomes only if supplied. Include one calibrated statement of comparative judgment only if I provide a valid comparison group. Close with an unambiguous recommendation, invitation to contact the recommender, and the contact details provided. Avoid generic praise lists, resume repetition, inflated certainty, and confidential information. If there is a limitation that should not be concealed, phrase it accurately and constructively rather than inventing a workaround. Before answering, self-check that each positive claim is anchored to an observed example and that the letter clearly matches the recipient's decision criteria. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [CANDIDATE AND OPPORTUNITY] | Give the candidate's name and the job, program, scholarship, or other opportunity. | Priya Nair; MPH program at State University |
| [RECOMMENDER RELATIONSHIP] | State the recommender's role, organization, relationship length, and how they know the candidate. | Dr. Lena Ortiz, clinic director; supervised Priya as a research assistant for 18 months. |
| [OBSERVED EXAMPLES] | Provide firsthand projects, responsibilities, behaviors, results, and dates the recommender can verify. | Priya cleaned 1,200 survey records, caught a consent-form mismatch, and led weekly data-quality checks for a maternal-health study. |
| [OPPORTUNITY CRITERIA] | Paste the most relevant requirements or selection criteria from the posting or program. | Evidence of quantitative readiness, public-health commitment, collaboration, and ethical judgment. |
| [TONE AND RECIPIENT] | State who will read it and the appropriate tone, such as formal admissions committee letter. | Formal letter to the MPH admissions committee. |
| [LOGISTICS AND LIMITS] | Provide deadline, word limit, contact information, and any facts that must be omitted or qualified. | 500-word maximum; submit by November 15; include [email protected]; do not discuss personal medical details. |
How to use
- Gather examples the recommender personally observed, not claims copied from the candidate's resume.
- Paste the opportunity criteria so the letter can make direct, relevant connections.
- Confirm every number, date, and comparison before the recommender signs it.
- Follow up with: “Make the second example more specific while keeping every claim within my notes.”
Variations
Teacher reference
Use this for a teacher writing about a student for college, scholarship, or a program.
Write a 450-600 word teacher reference for [STUDENT] applying to [OPPORTUNITY]. Use [TEACHER CONTEXT], [CLASSROOM EVIDENCE], and [SELECTION CRITERIA]. Establish how long I taught the student and in what course or setting. Build the letter around two classroom examples and one contribution outside ordinary coursework, if provided. Connect evidence to intellectual curiosity, persistence, collaboration, or other stated criteria without using unsupported superlatives. Include a clear recommendation and contact line. Do not invent grades, rankings, family circumstances, or activities. Ask up to 3 questions only if a required input is missing.
Manager reference
Use this for a former manager recommending someone for a job.
Draft a 350-500 word employment reference for [EMPLOYEE] applying for [ROLE]. Write from [MANAGER RELATIONSHIP] using only [WORK EXAMPLES] and [ROLE REQUIREMENTS]. Explain reporting relationship, dates, scope of work, and why my observation is credible. Use two examples that show ownership, judgment, and role-specific ability, including outcomes only when supplied. Mention a development area only if [LIMITATION TO ADDRESS] requires it, with accurate context. End with a direct recommendation and [CONTACT DETAILS]. Do not invent performance ratings, compensation, or team size. Ask up to 3 questions only if required inputs are missing.
Reference request
Use this when a candidate needs to ask someone for a reference.
Write a concise reference request to [RECOMMENDER] for [OPPORTUNITY] due [DEADLINE]. Mention our shared context: [RELATIONSHIP CONTEXT]. Include three short bullets with relevant work or qualities the recommender directly observed: [RELEVANT EXAMPLES]. Give the submission method from [SUBMISSION DETAILS], offer my resume or materials, and make declining easy if they cannot write a strong letter. Keep the tone [TONE] and limit the email to 180 words. Do not claim they agreed or put words in their mouth. Ask up to 3 questions only if essential information is missing.
Tips
- A reference gains force from a witnessed example with context and effect, not from a long list of adjectives.
- Give the recommender the posting, deadline, resume, and a short evidence sheet, but let them decide what they can honestly endorse.
- Comparative claims such as “top 5%” need a real comparison group and firsthand basis; omit them if neither is available.
- Remove private health, disciplinary, immigration, or family details unless the candidate specifically wants them included and disclosure is appropriate.
FAQ
Can I use AI to write a letter my professor signs?
Use it as a draft based on the professor's own observations. The recommender must review, revise, and stand behind every claim.
How long should a reference letter be?
Many are effective at 400-550 words, unless the recipient sets a different limit. Specific evidence matters more than length.
What if the recommender knows me only briefly?
State the limited relationship accurately and focus on the work they did observe. A more detailed letter from another person may be stronger.