Getting a strong letter of recommendation can make all the difference in your next application. Many people struggle with asking for these important letters because they worry about bothering others or they don’t know what to say.
You need someone to speak highly of your abilities, but asking for that favor requires careful thought. The right approach makes it easy for the person to say yes and write something that truly helps your case. Read on to find exactly how to ask for that perfect recommendation letter.
Sample Letters of Request for Recommendation
These sample letters will guide you through asking for recommendations for various situations.
1. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Professor
Subject: Request for Academic Recommendation Letter
Dear Professor Johnson,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Sarah Chen, and I was a student in your Advanced Biology course during the Fall 2024 semester. I really enjoyed your teaching methods and learned so much about cellular structures and functions.
I am writing to ask if you would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for my application to the Masters program in Biological Sciences at Stanford University. The deadline for submission is February 15, 2025. Your insights about my academic abilities and research potential would be very helpful for my application.
During your course, I earned an A grade and participated actively in class discussions. You might also recall my term paper on “Mitochondrial Functions in Aging Cells,” which you praised for its analytical depth.
If you agree to write this recommendation, I would be happy to provide you with my resume, transcript, statement of purpose, and any other materials that might help you write the letter.
Thank you for considering my request. I understand that writing recommendation letters takes valuable time, so please let me know if you need additional information from me.
Sincerely,
Sarah Chen
Student ID: SC349821 Email: schen@email.com Phone: (555) 123-4567
2. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Past Employer
Subject: Recommendation Request for Marketing Position
Dear Ms. Roberts,
I hope things are going well at ABC Marketing. The two years I spent working as your assistant marketing manager were filled with growth and learning opportunities that have shaped my career path.
I am applying for a Senior Marketing Specialist position at XYZ Company and would like to ask if you would write a recommendation letter on my behalf. The job involves creating digital marketing campaigns and analyzing market trends, skills I developed while working under your guidance.
During my time at ABC Marketing, you watched me grow from handling basic social media posts to leading the successful product launch campaign for the HomeStyle line, which exceeded sales targets by 30%. Your feedback on my analytical abilities and creative problem-solving would be particularly useful for this application.
The position requires the recommendation letter by next month. If you agree, I can send you the job description and my updated resume to make the process easier for you.
Thank you for considering this request. Your mentorship has been valuable to my professional growth, and a recommendation from you would greatly strengthen my application.
Warm regards,
Michael Torres
Former Assistant Marketing Manager Email: mtorres@email.com Phone: (555) 987-6543
3. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Current Supervisor
Subject: Graduate School Recommendation Request
Dear Mr. Williams,
I wanted to share some exciting news with you. After much consideration, I have decided to apply for an MBA program at City University to enhance my business knowledge and skills. The program starts next fall, and I plan to continue working while studying part-time.
Would you be willing to provide a letter of recommendation for my application? Having worked under your supervision for the past three years, your assessment of my work habits, leadership potential, and business acumen would carry significant weight with the admissions committee.
Some highlights you might consider including are my work on the financial analysis project that saved the company $50,000 annually, my leadership of the cross-departmental team during our system upgrade, and my consistent meeting of quarterly targets.
The application deadline is March 30, 2025. I am happy to discuss this further at your convenience and can provide any additional information you might need.
Thank you for considering my request. Your guidance has been instrumental in my professional growth at this company.
Best regards,
Jennifer Lopez
Financial Analyst Email: jlopez@company.com Phone: (555) 234-5678
4. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Mentor
Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Nonprofit Leadership Role
Dear Dr. Garcia,
I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. Your mentorship over the past five years has been truly life-changing for me, both personally and professionally.
I am writing to ask for your support as I apply for the Executive Director position at Community Forward, a nonprofit focused on youth education. Having been a program coordinator for similar initiatives, I believe this role would allow me to make a broader impact in an area we both care deeply about.
Your guidance has helped me develop my vision for community-based education and taught me how to build partnerships across different sectors. A letter from you highlighting these abilities and our work together on the Weekend Learning Project would strongly support my application.
The application package must be submitted by April 15, 2025. I can provide you with the job description, my resume, and a draft of my vision statement for the organization if that would be helpful.
Thank you for considering this request. Your insights have shaped my approach to community work in countless ways.
With gratitude,
David Washington
Community Programs Coordinator Email: dwashington@email.org Phone: (555) 345-6789
5. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Colleague
Subject: Request for Professional Recommendation
Dear Samantha,
How are you? It’s been a few months since we worked together on the Harris project, and I still think about how smoothly we handled those last-minute client changes!
I wanted to reach out because I’m applying for a Project Management position at Bright Solutions Inc., and I need a recommendation from someone who has directly collaborated with me. Your feedback on my coordination skills and attention to detail would be really valuable for this application.
We spent almost two years working side by side at Johnson Design, and you saw firsthand how I managed client relationships and kept our projects on schedule and within budget. Your perspective as a fellow designer who worked closely with me would offer the hiring team insights that a supervisor might not have.
The position requires three recommendations by May 10, 2025. If you’re willing to help, I can send you the specific job requirements and my updated portfolio.
Thank you for considering this. I learned so much from our time working together and would really value your support in this next career step.
Best wishes,
Carlos Rodriguez
Graphic Designer Email: crodriguez@email.com Phone: (555) 456-7890
6. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Graduate School from an Advisor
Subject: Graduate School Recommendation Request
Dear Professor Martinez,
I hope the spring semester is going well for you. As my undergraduate academic advisor for the past three years, you have played a key role in guiding my educational journey at State University.
I am applying to the PhD program in Economics at National University and would be grateful if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. Your insights into my academic progress, research capabilities, and overall potential as a scholar would be extremely valuable to the admissions committee.
During our advising sessions, we often discussed my research interests in behavioral economics, and you provided feedback on my honors thesis “Consumer Decision-Making Under Uncertainty.” Your mentorship guided me toward focusing on experimental methods, which I hope to continue exploring in graduate school.
The application deadline is January 5, 2025. I would be happy to meet with you to discuss my goals for graduate study and provide any additional materials that might help you write the letter.
Thank you for considering my request and for all your guidance throughout my undergraduate studies.
Respectfully,
Aisha Johnson
Economics Major, Class of 2025 Student ID: AJ567432 Email: ajohnson@email.edu Phone: (555) 567-8901
7. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Scholarship
Subject: Scholarship Recommendation Request
Dear Mr. Thompson,
I hope you are doing well. Your Science Olympiad coaching has been one of the highlights of my high school experience, and I am grateful for all the extra hours you put into helping our team prepare for competitions.
I am applying for the National Merit Science Scholarship and would like to ask if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. This scholarship would help me pursue my undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering at Tech University next fall.
As my Science Olympiad coach for three years, you have seen my passion for scientific problem-solving and my growth as a team leader. Under your guidance, I developed the experimental design that won us first place at the State Championship last year.
The scholarship committee is particularly interested in candidates who show scientific curiosity and leadership potential. Your perspective on these qualities would strengthen my application considerably.
The recommendation must be submitted online by December 10, 2024. I can provide you with the submission link and any other information you might need.
Thank you for considering my request. Your mentorship has truly shaped my scientific interests and goals.
Sincerely,
Jason Kim
Senior Student Email: jkim@school.edu Phone: (555) 678-9012
8. Letter Requesting Recommendation from a Client
Subject: Request for Professional Recommendation
Dear Mrs. Anderson,
I hope your business is thriving since we completed your website redesign last quarter. It has been a pleasure working with Anderson Real Estate over the past year.
I am updating my professional portfolio and seeking client testimonials for my freelance web development services. Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation based on our work together? Your insights as a business owner who has used my services would be especially valuable for prospective clients.
During our collaboration, we successfully rebuilt your company website with a more user-friendly interface, integrated property listing features, and improved mobile responsiveness. The traffic to your site increased by 45% in the first month after launch, according to the analytics we set up.
There is no strict deadline for this recommendation, but receiving it within the next few weeks would be helpful as I prepare my updated portfolio. A brief letter mentioning your experience working with me and the results of our project would be perfect.
Thank you for considering this request. It was truly a pleasure helping Anderson Real Estate establish a stronger online presence.
Kind regards,
Rachel Green
Web Developer Email: rgreen@techdesign.com Phone: (555) 789-0123
9. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Internship
Subject: Summer Internship Recommendation Request
Dear Dr. Wilson,
I hope your research is progressing well this semester. I have greatly enjoyed being part of your Psychology lab team for the past academic year.
I am applying for a summer research internship at the National Cognitive Science Institute and would appreciate if you could write a recommendation letter for me. The internship focuses on cognitive development research, which aligns perfectly with the work I have been doing in your lab on memory formation in young adults.
During my time as your research assistant, I have helped administer cognitive tests to study participants, cleaned and analyzed data sets, and contributed to the literature review for your upcoming publication. These experiences have strengthened my research skills and deepened my interest in cognitive psychology.
The internship application requires a recommendation from a current research supervisor by February 28, 2025. If you agree to write this letter, I can provide you with more details about the internship program and my application materials.
Thank you for considering my request. Working in your lab has been an invaluable learning experience.
Respectfully,
Olivia Park
Psychology Major, Junior Year Research Assistant ID: OP123456 Email: opark@university.edu Phone: (555) 890-1234
10. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Volunteer Position
Subject: Volunteer Program Recommendation Request
Dear Pastor Thomas,
I hope this letter finds you and the church community in good health. The past two years serving alongside you in the community outreach program have been truly fulfilling.
I am applying to join the Peace Corps as a Community Development Volunteer in South America and would be grateful if you could write a letter of recommendation for me. The program requires references who can speak to my community service experience, cultural sensitivity, and ability to work with diverse populations.
As the leader of our church’s outreach program, you have observed my dedication to our weekly food distribution service, my coordination of the holiday gift drive for underserved families, and my participation in the home repair program for elderly community members. These experiences have prepared me well for the community development work I hope to do with the Peace Corps.
The application requires recommendations by March 15, 2025. I would be happy to discuss my goals for this volunteer service with you and provide any additional information that might be helpful.
Thank you for considering my request and for your spiritual guidance over these past years.
With respect,
Marcus Johnson
Community Outreach Volunteer Email: mjohnson@email.com Phone: (555) 901-2345
11. Letter Requesting Recommendation for a Teaching Position
Subject: Recommendation Request for Teaching Position
Dear Principal Rivera,
I hope the school year is progressing smoothly. My student teaching experience at Washington Elementary under your supervision last year was incredibly valuable for my professional growth.
I am applying for a 4th-grade teaching position at Lincoln Elementary School for the coming academic year and would greatly appreciate a letter of recommendation from you. Your assessment of my classroom management skills, lesson planning abilities, and interactions with students and parents would be highly regarded by the hiring committee.
During my student teaching placement, you observed my literacy instruction block several times and provided feedback on my differentiated instruction approaches. You also attended the parent-teacher conferences I conducted and commented positively on my communication style.
The application deadline is April 20, 2025. If you agree to write this recommendation, I can provide you with the job description and my teaching portfolio for reference.
Thank you for considering my request. Your mentorship during my student teaching experience has shaped my teaching philosophy and practices.
Sincerely,
Sophia Washington
Elementary Education Graduate Certification #: EE789012 Email: swashington@email.edu Phone: (555) 012-3456
12. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Medical School
Subject: Medical School Recommendation Request
Dear Dr. Lee,
I hope your medical practice is going well. The two years I spent as a medical scribe in your cardiology office have been an incredible learning experience that confirmed my desire to pursue a career in medicine.
I am applying to several medical schools for the 2025 academic year and would be honored if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. Your perspective as a practicing physician who has observed my interactions with patients and my understanding of medical procedures would be invaluable for my application.
While working with you, I have gained insight into the physician-patient relationship, learned about diagnostic reasoning, and developed a deeper understanding of the cardiovascular system. I particularly valued our discussions about complex cases and your emphasis on patient-centered care.
The AMCAS application opens on May 1, 2025, with a recommendation letter deadline of September 15. I would be grateful if you could submit your letter before that date. I can provide you with my personal statement, resume, and transcript to assist you.
Thank you for considering my request. Your mentorship has been instrumental in shaping my path toward medicine.
With appreciation,
Ethan Robinson
Medical Scribe Email: erobinson@email.com Phone: (555) 123-4567
13. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Law School
Subject: Law School Recommendation Request
Dear Attorney Davis,
I hope this letter finds you well. My experience as a paralegal at your firm over the past three years has been truly eye-opening and has solidified my decision to pursue a legal career.
I am applying to several law schools for the Fall 2025 semester and would be grateful if you would write a letter of recommendation for me. Having worked closely with you on numerous cases, your assessment of my analytical abilities, attention to detail, and ethical conduct would carry significant weight with admissions committees.
During my time at Davis & Associates, I have assisted you with legal research for the Hernandez case, prepared documentation for court filings, and helped interview witnesses. These experiences have taught me about the practical aspects of legal work and the importance of thoroughness and precision.
Most law school applications are due in January 2025, but I am trying to submit all materials by December 1, 2024. If you agree to write this recommendation, I would be happy to provide you with my resume, personal statement, and a list of schools I am applying to.
Thank you for considering my request. Working at your firm has been a valuable stepping stone toward my legal career.
Respectfully,
Daniel Chen
Paralegal Email: dchen@email.com Phone: (555) 234-5678
14. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Housing
Subject: Request for Rental Reference Letter
Dear Ms. Taylor,
I hope you are doing well. I have enjoyed being a tenant at Sunshine Apartments for the past three years and appreciate how well you maintain the property.
My family and I are planning to relocate to another city due to a job transfer, and I am writing to ask if you would provide a landlord recommendation letter for our new rental application. Your confirmation of our good standing as tenants would be very helpful for securing our new home.
During our tenancy at Apartment 304, we have always paid rent on time, maintained the unit in good condition, and followed all community guidelines. You might recall that we promptly reported the minor water leak last year, which helped prevent any major damage to the property.
We are applying for a new apartment with a deadline of June 5, 2025. A brief letter stating the duration of our tenancy, our rent payment history, and our care of the property would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for considering this request. We have truly enjoyed living at Sunshine Apartments under your management.
Kind regards,
Maria Gonzalez
Tenant, Apt. 304 Email: mgonzalez@email.com Phone: (555) 345-6789
15. Letter Requesting Recommendation for Professional Certification
Subject: Professional Certification Recommendation Request
Dear Dr. Black,
I hope your academic semester is going well. I greatly valued the Advanced Project Management course you taught last fall, which helped me apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios.
I am applying for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and need a recommendation from someone who has observed my project management skills. As my professor who evaluated my team leadership during our semester-long client project, your input would be particularly valuable.
In your course, I led the team that developed a comprehensive project plan for the city library renovation, which you graded as “excellent” and used as an example for other students. Your assessment of my planning abilities, team coordination skills, and risk management approach would strengthen my certification application.
The certification board requires recommendation letters by July 30, 2025. If you agree to write this letter, I can provide you with the specific criteria the board looks for and additional details about my project experience.
Thank you for considering my request. Your course has significantly contributed to my professional development in project management.
Sincerely,
Kevin Patel
Former Student, MBA Program Student ID: KP456789 Email: kpatel@email.com Phone: (555) 456-7890
Wrap-up: Request Letters for Recommendations
Writing a request for a recommendation letter might feel awkward at first, but it’s a normal part of professional and academic growth. The samples above show how to approach different people for various purposes while being respectful of their time and position.
When asking for a recommendation, always give the person enough information about your goals and accomplishments. Make it easy for them to say yes by being clear about deadlines and offering to provide additional materials. Most importantly, show genuine appreciation for their time and effort.
A thoughtful request increases your chances of getting a strong recommendation that highlights your best qualities. Use these samples as starting points, but always personalize your request to fit your unique relationship with the potential recommender.