Two Sample Letters of Recommendation

Below is a sample letter of recommendation for admission into the Tippie School of Management
Executive MBA Program. Elements for a successful letter should include how long the writer has
known the candidate and in what capacity. Then, is simple statement share a few remarks about
qualities you believe make this a successful candidate for enrolment into the Executive MBA program

August 10, 2012

Admissions, Tippie School of Management

Executive MBA Program
100 Pomerantz Center, Ste E444
Iowa City, IA 52242-7700
Dear Director,
I am writing to today to recommend Leif Bush for admission into the University of Iowas
Executive MBA Program. I have known Leif for 15 years, and he has worked for me (with
me) in marketing for approximately eight of those years.
It should go without saying that and he is a remarkable marketing talent, with an eye for
not only growing his traditional business, but also seeking out opportunities in to expand the
business.
Leif has always taken his role seriously and is passionate about his results. Beyond his
passion on driving performance, Leif is a natural leader, and fights hard for his beliefs. Hes
at his best in a group environment, and is consciously proactive at getting full involvement
of all other team members to derive the best results possible. He has a very effective
personal style, and will be looked to for continued executive leadership with our Ecommerce
Marketing efforts.
I have the deepest personal and professional respect for Leif, and sincerely belief he will
bring his unique energy, optimism, passion, and tireless creativity to your class and
classroom. He has my highest endorsement. If you have any questions about this
recommendation or my endorsement of Leif, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will
gladly try to help.
Kind regards and best wished for a successful Executive MBA class.

Giles Poladoras
CEO of Snubby Enterprises
319-522-9999

August 10, 2012

Admissions - Tippie School of Management

Executive MBA Program
100 Pomerantz Center, Ste E444
Iowa City, IA 52242-7700

Dear Director,
I would like to recommend Ms. Claire Savage for admission into the University of Iowas
Executive MBA Program. I have known Clare both personally and professionally for more
than 18 years.
Claire has worked for Owl Farm Pharmaceuticals for the past 12 years and during this time
she has continued to hold positions of increasing responsibility. She has overseen our sales
growth in the Bakersfield market by more than 120% percent in the past three years. Prior
to that, she helped organize our Accounting department which saved Owl Farm more than
$72,000 in annual operating expenses.
I have found her to be a very quick study, ambitious leader and terrific team player. And it
is my belief these qualities would make her an outstanding student for your program.
Conversely, your program will help provide Ms. Savage with the highest skills, experience
and qualifications for increased responsibilities at Owl Farm. Feel free to contact me at any
point should you have questions about this recommendation.
Kind Regards,

Dr. H. S. Thompson, MD
Owl Farm Pharmaceuticals
319-335-3020
==
Dear [Name of Employer or Graduate School Committee]:

I am pleased to write a letter of recommendation for [name of student]. I highly

recommend [name of student] to your organization for the position of [job title].

I have known [name of student] for the past [number of months, semesters, years] as
[he/she] has taken the following courses that I teach: [list courses, give brief description of
content of course]. As [his/her] professor, I have had an opportunity to observe [his/her]
participation and interaction in class and to evaluate [name of student]s knowledge of the
subject matter. [He/she] is and outstanding student in all respects. [Name of student] has
proven that through hard work, follow though, and team work, [he/she] can accomplish
tasks in a courteous and timely manner.

[Give one or two specific examples of the student's performance. Also, list other activities
that the student is involved with at the university and outside of the university. Point out the
areas in which this individual has learned and had the chance to grow with these
opportunities.]

[Name of student] is well equipped to grow from challenges that [he/she] is presented
with. [His/her] [list three key traits (examples: patience, teaching ability, strong computer
programming stills?], prepare [him/her] beautifully for your
[company/organization/school/program]. I strongly endorse making [name of student] a
member of your team at [list company name/school/program].

Sincerely,

[Your Name

Phone number

Email Address]

Sample 1
To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is my personal recommendation for Sarah Powell. Until just recently, I have been Sarah's immediate supervisor for
several years. I found her to be consistently pleasant, tackling all assignments with dedication and a smile.

Besides being a joy to work with, Sarah is a take-charge person who is able to present creative ideas and communicate the
benefits. She has successfully developed several marketing plans for our company that have resulted in increased revenue. During
her tenure, we saw an increase in profits that exceeded one million dollars. The new revenue was a direct result of the plans
implemented by Sarah.

Though she was an asset to our marketing efforts, Sarah was also extraordinarily helpful in other areas of the company. In addition
to writing effective training modules for sales representatives, Sarah assumed a leadership role in sales meetings, inspiring and
motivating other employees.

I highly recommend Sarah for employment. She is a team player and would make a great asset to any organization.

Sincerely,

Sharon Farel Marketing Manager ABC Productions

Sample 2
To whom it may concern:

I would like to recommend Donna Doe as a candidate for a position with your organization. In her position as Staff Assistant, Donna
was employed in our office from 2002 - 2006. Donna did an excellent job in this position and was an asset to our organization during
her tenure with the office. She has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is extremely organized, can work
independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done.

During her tenure with XXXX, Donna was responsible for supervising the department office assistants. These assistants, under
Donna's management, were responsible for many of the office's basic administrative and clerical functions. Donna effectively
scheduled and managed several assistants to maintain efficient office operations.

Donna was always willing to offer her assistance and had an excellent rapport with the many constituents served by our office
including clients, employers, and other professional organizations. She would be an asset to any employer and I recommend her for
any endeavor she chooses to pursue.

Yours truly,

Jane Ford

Sample 3
To Whom It May Concern:

Paula Light is an extraordinary young woman. As her AP English Professor, I have seen many examples of her talent and have long
been impressed by her diligence and work ethic. I understand that Paula is applying to the undergraduate business program at your
school. I would like to recommend her for admission.

Paula has outstanding organizational skills. She is able to successfully complete multiple tasks with favorable results despite
deadline pressure. As part of a semester project, she developed an innovative collaborative novel with her classmates. This book is
now being considered for publication. Paula not only headed the project, she ensured its success by demonstrating leadership
abilities that her classmates both admired and respected.

I must also make note of Paula's exceptional academic performance. Out of a class of 150 students, Paula graduated with honors in
the top 10. Her above-average performance is a direct result of her hard work and strong focus.

If your undergraduate business program is seeking superior candidates with a record of achievement, Paula is an excellent choice.
She has consistently demonstrated an ability to rise to any challenge that she must face.

To conclude, I would like to restate my strong recommendation for Paula Light. If you have any further questions regarding Paula's
ability or this recommendation, please do not hesitate to contact me using the information on this letterhead.

Sincerely,

Professor William Knot