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References and Recommendations

by Janel Muyesseroglu

Has your friend, co-worker, or employee asked if they can use you as a reference and you want to know what to say when someone asks about him or her? Has someone asked you to write a letter of recommendation for a job, or for entrance into a school program?

This will guide you as you write the perfect reference letter.

Guidelines for writing references and recommendations:

Be sure to give general information, such as: employee’s name, length of employment, job title and responsibilities.
For a general reference, include: how long you have known the person, your relationship, remarks on the qualities of the person. Focus more on the character of the person than on the employment background.
Explain the applicant's qualities that would make the person a good employee. Use examples of his/her strengths.
Be specific in your recommendation. If you are saying someone is honest, show how that person is honest.
Emphasize the applicant's strongest qualities. Limit yourself to describing only two or three characteristics in detail. If you try to explain all of the applicant's abilities, the letter will lack focus and depth.

Helpful adjectives you can use: Click on each word to get definitions and examples from WordNet 1.6 Vocabulary Helper.

Admirable	Competent	Considerate	Cooperative
Creative	Dependable	Efficient	Energetic
Excellent	Experienced	Friendly	Hardworking
Honest	Intillegent	Loyal	Professional
Reliable	Responsible	Thoughtful	Trustworthy

the image of a bear that is using a computer

TO: Office of Admissions
FROM: Elise Becker
RE: Stu Gally
DATE: 17 June 1999

It's my pleasure to recommend Stu Gally for admission into the Deaf Education Masters degree program at Gallaudet University. I've known Mr. Gally since August 1996 when he began working as a Tutor and Writing Advisor at English Works!. As his supervisor, I've seen Stu mature and expand his skills faster than most of his co-workers. He is one of only a few employees at EW! who is equally comfortable using ASL or PSE. Over the years, he proved to be so flexible and dependable that he attained several promotions, and the added responsibility of being the Night Supervisor, Tutorial Scheduler and a Mentor for new Tutors and Advisors.

As a Tutor and Writing Advisor, Mr. Gally has met the challenges and demands of working with a variety of students. He has demonstrated skill in teaching basic English to students who need intense practice in developmental English. Among the staff at EW!, he has devoloped a reputation for being confident, encouraging and effective when working with students who are easily frustrated. He has the interpersonal skills necessary to connect with students who would otherwise give up on learning English.

Stu's strengths are not limited to his work with basic English students, he is also an exceptional tutor for graduate students. Even though Stu does not yet have his MA, he is able to work successfully with graduate students who need compositional feedback. He displays the same confidence with skilled writers as he does with those struggling with the language. With his encouragement and guidance, his students raise their expectations of themselves. He leads them to recognize inadequacies in their writing that they would not otherwise notice.

Stu is also gifted with problem-solving and organizational skills. He is detail oriented, and understands how to break a large task into small steps to make it less daunting. At the same time, he never gets so wrapped up in the details of a task that he loses sight of the "big picture." He has used these skills to help solve problems at English Works!. He took it upon himself to redesign the layout of our office in order to maximize floor space, and to reorganize our scheduling system to minimize tutorial changes.

Stu would be an incredible assett to the Deaf Education Masters Degree Program. He is already on the way to becoming an inspiring teacher, and will inevitably impact many students' lives throughout his carreer. He has proven himself reliable, trustworthy, caring, and intelligent.

Sincerely,

Elise Becker

Elise Becker
English Works! Coordinator