Would you mind writing me a quick recommendation?
If you’ve heard this before, you probably know there’s nothing quick about it. Each letter of recommendation (LOR) has to strike the right balance between professional, personal, and to the point.
And starting from a blank page every time? Not ideal.
Letter of recommendation templates make this easier. With the right structure, you can focus on adding meaningful details rather than figuring out how to begin or what to include.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through free, easy-to-use letter of recommendation templates from and beyond. Let’s dig in! ⏭️
Free Letter of Recommendation Templates for Jobs, Internships & More
What Are Letter of Recommendation Templates?
Letter of recommendation templates are structured outlines that help you write clear, focused, and well-organized recommendation letters. Most templates include standard sections such as an introduction, highlights of the individual’s strengths or accomplishments, supporting examples, and a closing statement.
They’re instrumental when you’re short on time or need to write multiple letters.
With a template, you have a format ready to go, so you can concentrate on essential details—like the person’s unique skills and experiences—without worrying about how to structure the letter.
These templates make creating thoughtful, professional letters for job applications, internships, academic programs, and more easier.
🧠 Fun Fact: The concept of recommending someone in writing isn’t new. Even ancient Egyptians wrote reference letters—one surviving example recommends a good worker to another official!
What Makes a Good Letter of Recommendation Template?
A solid letter of recommendation template simplifies the writing process, ensuring your endorsement packs a punch. It should guide you in clearly highlighting the candidate’s strengths while staying adaptable to different roles.
Here’s what to look for in a standout template:
- Clear structure: Organizes content with distinct sections for introduction, qualifications, and closing remarks
- Customizable fields: Allows tailoring to specific roles, industries, or candidate achievements for job references
- Professional tone: Maintains a polished yet authentic voice to enhance credibility
- Specific prompts: Guides writers to include detailed examples of skills and accomplishments
- Concise framework: Keeps the letter focused and ideally has at least one page for maximum impact
- Versatile format: Adapts to academic, professional, or character-based recommendation needs
- Editable design: Enables easy adjustments in Word, Google Docs, or PDF formats
- Guided language: Suggests impactful phrasing to articulate the candidate’s unique value
🔍 Did You Know? A letter of recommendation written by Albert Einstein himself—supporting a fellow scientist’s visa application—is now preserved in the Hebrew University archives.
16 Letter of Recommendation Templates
Writing a letter of recommendation isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Even when you know exactly what you want to say, getting the words right and organizing everything can quickly become overwhelming.
So let’s look at some ready-to-use letter of recommendation templates you can start with. 📃
1. Cover Letter Template
The Cover Letter Template helps you craft compelling, tailored letters of recommendation highlighting real achievements and growth.
It uses a structured framework to guide you from a strong opening through the candidate’s qualifications and supporting examples—all the way to a persuasive close. Whether you’re endorsing someone for a job, internship, or academic opportunity, this template keeps your writing focused, personal, and impactful.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Start strong with a clear introduction and relationship context
- Align achievements with the role or program using real-world examples
- Address candidate limitations as growth opportunities
- Avoid vague praise with built-in prompts for specificity
📌 Ideal for: Recommending candidates with a story-driven, tailored letter that highlights real achievements and growth.
💡 Pro Tip: Anchor your letter around a single compelling narrative. One well-chosen story with context and outcome often speaks louder than a list of traits. Think: ‘how they led a failing project to success,’ not ‘they’re organized and motivated.’
2. Job Proposal Template
The Job Proposal Template makes it easy to shape genuine, persuasive endorsements that feel personal yet professional.
The template guides you to open with your connection to the candidate, share vivid examples of impact, and highlight measurable results. You can even embed visuals like timelines to support your case—great for candidates with project-based accomplishments.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Blend personal storytelling with professional polish
- Highlight outcomes like team impact or project success
- Option to include visuals to reinforce your message in your job proposals
- Perfect for tailored job-specific recommendations
📌 Ideal for: Shaping persuasive job title endorsements that blend personal connection, standout examples, and a polished structure.
🧠 Fun Fact: In the 18th and 19th Centuries, letters of recommendation were sometimes used to introduce potential spouses in aristocratic circles. ‘Dear Duke, this gentleman has excellent prospects and good teeth.’
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t waste time switching between tools or starting from scratch. With , you can draft, organize, and polish all your recommendation letters in one streamlined workspace—so you can focus on what matters: writing meaningful, memorable endorsements.
3. Letter of Recommendation Template by Canva
Canva’s Letter of Recommendation Template delivers a clean, professional layout with soft design touches that make it feel warm without being informal.
With dedicated space for sender and recipient details, a flexible body for your message, and a neatly styled closing, this template keeps things polished and easy to personalize.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Visually appealing layout with soft peach accents
- Easy-to-follow structure for quick personalization
- Balances warmth and professionalism with clean formatting
- Great for academic or job recommendations that need a visual lift
📌 Ideal for: Designing a letter that’s as visually impressive as the recommendation it carries.
💡 Pro Tip: Avoid superlatives unless you can back them up. Words like ‘best,’ ‘most,’ or ‘exceptional’ can feel hollow without specifics. Quantify or contextualize achievements when possible. With Brain, you can highlight a vague sentence in your letter and prompt the AI to rewrite it with concrete examples or data.
📌 Try this prompt in Brain:
Replace ‘He is the most reliable employee on our team’ with a specific example or measurable result that demonstrates reliability.
4. High School Recommendation Template by Adobe
Adobe’s High School Recommendation Template offers a welcoming, well-structured layout perfect for student endorsements.
From the vertical school name in the margin to the soft leaf design, the visuals balance creative and credible. The format focuses on academic achievements while adding a personal, supportive touch.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Friendly yet professional design with modern flair
- Ideal for student recommendations in academic settings
- Clean layout that makes personalization simple
- Visual elements add warmth without distraction
📌 Ideal for: Helping students put their best foot forward with an outstanding recommendation.
🔍 Did You Know? Those skill endorsements and recommendations on LinkedIn? A digital evolution of traditional rec letters, only with less effort and more emojis.
5. Character Reference Letter Template by AIHR
The Character Reference Letter Template by AIHR keeps things genuine and straightforward, guiding you through writing a thoughtful personal endorsement.
With clear prompts for qualities, examples, and closing remarks, this flexible format works across use cases—whether for jobs, academic roles, or volunteer programs.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Easy-to-follow structure for non-professional recommendations
- Encourages a genuine, personal tone without sounding informal
- Great for character references across different contexts
- Prompts help you stay focused and specific
📌 Ideal for: Writing a heartfelt character endorsement that feels genuine and memorable.
🧠 Fun Fact: There’s a viral internet trend where people write fake recommendation letters for famous villains—think glowing endorsements for characters like Darth Vader or Voldemort. One letter even praised Darth Vader as a “strong leader with laser-sharp conflict resolution.” 😅
It’s a funny reminder that with the right tone and format, you can make almost anyone sound impressive. But in real life? Authenticity, specifics, and sincerity are what truly make a recommendation letter stand out.
6. Professional Reference Letter Template by AIHR
The Professional Reference Letter Template provides a polished structure for confidently supporting a colleague’s career move.
It walks you through a strong introduction, details about the candidate’s strengths, and a closing that invites follow-up—perfect for supporting job transitions or promotions.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Sleek, modern design with subtle color accents
- Ideal for career changes, promotions, or formal job applications
- Encourages both personal insights and professional examples
- Leaves room for a credible, respectful close
📌 Ideal for: Backing up a colleague’s next big move or upcoming career change with a strong, professional recommendation with positive feedback.
💡 Pro Tip: Weave in future-facing language from the job description. Shift from ‘what they’ve done’ to ‘what they’re equipped to do next.’ Example: ‘Her ability to adapt quickly and lead under pressure makes her an excellent fit for fast-paced, client-facing roles.’
7. Promotion Reference Letter Template by AIHR
The Promotion Reference Letter Template by AIHR is designed to recommend an employee for the next step in their career without sounding overly formal or generic.
It helps you highlight the candidate’s skills, key contributions, and readiness for leadership, with space to back your recommendation with real examples and a strong closing.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Focused format tailored for internal promotions
- Encourages specific examples that support advancement
- Maintains a clear, professional tone throughout
- Easy to personalize for any industry or role
📌 Ideal for: Recommending someone you believe is ready to step into a bigger role with confidence.
8. Letter of Recommendation for Scholarship Template by Template.net
The Scholarship Recommendation Letter Template makes it easy to spotlight academic achievement, leadership qualities, and community impact in a structured, meaningful way.
From establishing your relationship to highlighting alignment with scholarship goals, this template helps you build a strong case—without overcomplicating the letter.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Covers academic and extracurricular achievements clearly
- Helps align student values with the scholarship mission
- Includes space for real examples like community initiatives
- Great for students applying to merit- or service-based programs
📌 Ideal for: Helping a deserving student secure that scholarship with a recommendation full of impact.
💡 Pro Tip: Skip overused praise like ‘goes above and beyond.’ Instead, describe exactly what the person did and what made it noteworthy. Action > buzzwords.
9. Recommendation Letter for Colleague Template by Template.net
This Recommendation Letter Template helps you write a sincere, professional endorsement of a colleague without sounding generic.
The layout keeps things conversational yet structured, with placeholders that guide you to highlight specific strengths—like technical skills, leadership, or collaboration—based on the context.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Clean structure that makes editing quick and simple
- Prompts help you focus on real accomplishments and traits
- Balances professionalism with a personal touch
- Ideal for coworker recommendations and internal referrals
📌 Ideal for: Spotlighting a colleague’s achievements with a sincere, thoughtful recommendation.
📮 Insight: The average professional spends 30+ minutes a day searching for work-related information—that’s over 120 hours a year lost to digging through emails, Slack threads, and scattered files. An intelligent AI assistant embedded in your workspace can change that. Enter Brain. It delivers instant insights and answers by surfacing the right documents, conversations, and task details in seconds—so you can stop searching and start working.
💫 Real Results: Teams like QubicaAMF reclaimed 5+ hours weekly using —that’s over 250 hours annually per person—by eliminating outdated knowledge management processes. Imagine what your team could create with an extra week of productivity every quarter!
10. Reference Letter Layout Template by Template.net
The Reference Letter Layout Template offers a versatile format for professional recommendations. It has space to showcase key strengths and add credibility through real examples.
It moves efficiently from introduction to endorsement, encouraging concise storytelling supported by short, relevant anecdotes.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Versatile enough for various professional scenarios
- Helps you avoid vague praise with guided prompts
- Streamlined flow keeps letters focused and effective
- Useful for early drafts or quick-turnaround recommendations
📌 Ideal for: Getting a head start on any recommendation letter with a clear, easy-to-follow layout and specific guidelines.
11. Recommendation Letter for Visa Application by Template.net
The Visa Recommendation Letter Template helps you craft a respectful, concise letter supporting someone’s visa or immigration process.
It walks you through addressing the immigration officer directly, establishing your authority, and highlighting the candidate’s academic or professional merit in a structured, supportive way.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Formal tone suited to legal and immigration contexts
- Built-in structure ensures clarity and credibility
- Space to highlight education, work ethic, and achievements
- Clean formatting with precise sender details for follow-up
📌 Ideal for: Supporting someone’s visa application process with a well-crafted letter of endorsement.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re writing for someone early in their career, emphasize attitude and adaptability more than experience. In the right context, curiosity, coachability, and perseverance can outweigh technical expertise.
12. Internship Recommendation Letter Template by Template.net
The Internship Recommendation Letter Template simplifies the process of recommending students or early-career professionals for internship roles.
Its straightforward layout helps you quickly introduce the candidate, highlight a few strengths, and share a specific anecdote—all in a format that’s easy to personalize.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Concise structure perfect for quick, thoughtful endorsements
- Encourages the use of real examples that show potential
- Balanced tone makes it suitable for formal or informal settings
- Easy to tailor for various internship programs
📌 Ideal for: Helping a student or early professional land an internship with a standout recommendation for potential employers.
13. Freelancer Recommendation Letter Template by Template.net
The Freelancer Recommendation Letter Template is designed to showcase a freelancer’s skills, reliability, and contributions in a personal yet professional tone.
It includes space to discuss collaboration, project outcomes, and the overall experience—great for helping freelancers secure future clients or roles.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Simple layout that focuses on skills, trust, and outcomes
- Encourages personalized stories over generic feedback
- Closes with a clear endorsement and contact info
- Ideal for freelance developers, designers, writers, and consultants
📌 Ideal for: Endorsing a freelancer’s power skills and reliability in a way that opens new doors for them.
14. Nursing Peer Recommendation Letter Template by Template.net
The Nursing Peer Recommendation Letter Template helps you write a thoughtful, credible endorsement for a fellow nurse, focusing on clinical and interpersonal strengths.
It prompts you to cover teamwork, patient care, communication, and leadership—making it a well-rounded letter for job applications, training programs, or awards.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Covers critical areas like clinical skills and collaboration
- Maintains a professional but warm tone throughout
- Useful for peer-to-peer recommendations within healthcare settings
- Includes a strong closing for final endorsement
📌 Ideal for: Recognizing a fellow nurse’s dedication and recommending them as a good fit for their next opportunity.
15. Public Service Recommendation Letter Template by Template.net
The Public Service Recommendation Letter Template helps you recommend someone who is making an impact in government, nonprofits, or civic roles.
It guides you to highlight leadership style, people skills, and community impact with specific examples—perfect for roles that require professionalism and heart.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Clean layout with sections tailored to public sector roles
- Helps highlight mission-driven qualities and interpersonal strengths
- Works for job applications, appointments, or award nominations
- Strong closing leaves room for follow-up or contact
📌 Ideal for: Writing a meaningful endorsement for someone making a difference in public service.
16. Teacher Recommendation Letter Template by Template.Net
The Teacher Recommendation Letter Template keeps things focused and heartfelt—great for recommending educators or students in academic settings.
It encourages you to share specific stories about learning, leadership, and classroom contributions—adding depth to the endorsement while keeping the structure clean.
⭐ Why you’ll like this template:
- Designed for student or educator recommendations
- Includes space for personal stories and academic highlights
- Easy to adapt across K–12 and higher education settings
- Keeps tone respectful, credible, and encouraging
📌 Ideal for: Supporting a fellow educator’s journey with a recommendation highlighting their passion and skills.
💡 Pro Tip: Name-drop projects, partners, achievements, or company names when appropriate. It gives your letter credibility and positions the person as someone who’s operated in real, complex environments.
Create, Refine, and Send LORs Faster With
Recommendation letters should be thoughtful, structured, and easy to produce, especially when time is limited or multiple requests come in simultaneously. Templates help simplify the process, but the real advantage lies in having a workspace that brings everything together.
is the everything app for work and skills management software designed to make every part of your workflow smoother, including writing, formatting, and managing LORs.
Docs
Let’s start with Docs.
It’s a built-in doc editor where you can create, format, and organize complete documents without leaving your workspace.
For example, suppose you’re leading a career mentorship program and need to send out LORs for 10 mentees. You could create a master Doc called ‘Mentorship LORs 2025,’ with a subpage for each mentee and personalize each letter with highlights from their mentorship journey. Then, tag the program coordinator to review and finalize them.
Brain
Here’s where it gets even better: Brain, an intelligent AI assistant, is built right into Docs.
It helps you draft, rewrite, or refine content directly inside your Doc. You can highlight a rough paragraph, prompt Brain to polish it, or ask it to generate an entirely new section without leaving the page.
Let’s say you’re recommending a project manager and struggling to phrase their leadership impact. You could highlight rough notes about their achievements, prompt Brain with ‘Turn this into a strong recommendation paragraph for a project manager who led a successful cross-team initiative,’ and instantly get a polished version.
Move Beyond the Blank Page—Impress With Every LOR
Whether you’re writing a single letter or managing dozens, the right template and workspace can save you hours and help you deliver recommendations that genuinely stand out.
Ready to streamline your process and create letters that make an impact?
Sign up for today and experience a smarter way to write, organize, and send your LORs!
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