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Have you agreed to write a letter of recommendation for a student? If so, you can feel good about your assistance. Also known as reference letters, letters of recommendation can mean all the difference for high school students who are trying to land a new job or secure a spot in an academic program. Because students often lack extensive work experience, your kind words can mean the difference between an offer and a rejection.
It’s important to be sure that your letter contains the right information. Learn what to include in a reference for a high school student and see sample letters to inform your writing.
If your letter will be used as part of a work application, ask the student to provide you with a copy of the job description they’re applying for, the name and email or physical address of the employer, and a copy of the student’s resume (if they have one). If not, ask for a list of activities the student is involved in. This should give you plenty of information to work with as you write your letter.
Your reference letter should include information on:
In the body of the letter, try to emphasize the qualities of the student that you feel speak most directly to the qualifications and skills that an employer or college is seeking.
Close your letter by mentioning that you recommend the student and offer to provide additional information, if necessary. Even though the student may not have formal work experience, you can provide a strong reference based on the capacity in which you know them.
When you're sending your reference in an email, include the student's name in the subject of the message: "Katherine Kingston - Reference."
The following is a sample character reference for a student who was a mother's helper and assisted in a retail store. Download the letter template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online), or see below for more examples.
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Jill Johnson
123 Main Street
Anytown, NY 12345
555-234-1234
jill.johnson@email.com
October 18, 2024
Cory Lee
Director, Human Resources
Acme Store
123 Business Rd.
Business City, NY 54321
I have had the pleasure of employing Katherine Kingston for eight years. During the years of our acquaintance, I have worked with Katherine in many capacities. She has been my mother's helper since the birth of my first child five years ago. Her responsibilities in this role have increased significantly since then with the subsequent addition of our second child. Katherine babysits and entertains both children (now a preschooler and a toddler) for three afternoons each week. She is also accommodating and flexible about taking care of the children at a moment’s notice in the evenings and on the weekends.
Katherine has also been involved with a variety of tasks at my retail business, a specialty shop that fits women for mastectomy, compression, maternity, and nursing products.
Her experiences, in addition to customer interface, have included working on inventories, writing our newsletter, and updating our mailing list and website.
Katherine is an intelligent, responsible, and personable young woman. She is always quick on her feet, with sensible reactions in all the circumstances I've seen her in. I feel confident in saying that she is capable of handling any situation with thoughtfulness and maturity.
Please contact me at jill.johnson@email.com or 555.234.1234 if you have any questions that I can answer for you.
Signature (hard copy letter)
The following is an example of a recommendation letter for employment written for a high school student seeking a job.
Anthony White
Owner
Center Diner
37 Center Street
Middletown, MA 02199
555-111-1234
anthony.white@mail.com
October 20, 2024
James Sullivan
Owner
Riverview B&B
10 Riverview Drive
Middletown, MA 02199
Dear Mr. Sullivan,
I understand that Mary Smith has applied for a job as a receptionist at your B&B for the upcoming summer season. Mary has worked as a waitress in my restaurant for the past two summers. She is a hard worker, always on time, and cheerful. I have been impressed with her ability to manage during hectic times, always remaining in control and keeping the customers happy. She gets along well with her co-workers as well as with the management team.
Mary is a bright young woman, and I am sure she will excel at whatever job she undertakes. I can enthusiastically recommend her for the position that you have open.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions. I can be reached at 555-111-1234 or anthony.white@mail.com.
Signature (hard copy letter)
