So be honest, and decline on behalf of the other person's best interests: “Medha, I wish I could help, but I really don't think I know you well enough to provide as strong a reference as you probably need and deserve. I'd encourage you to reach out to someone who knows your work style/product/ethic better.
How do you politely decline a letter of recommendation?
- Keep it Short and Simple. …
- Offer to Help in Other Ways. …
- Be Honest. …
- Tell a White Lie. …
- Focus on the Positive.
When you don't want to write a letter of recommendation?
“First and foremost, know that
you are under no legal or moral obligation to give someone a recommendation
. This is not something to feel guilty about. If they don't deserve a glowing recommendation, then don't give one,” says Jennifer Lee Magas, vice president of Magas Media Consultants.
How do I not give a recommendation?
- Option 1: Just say no. “First and foremost, know that you are under no legal or moral obligation to give someone a recommendation. …
- Option 2: Say you're not the right person. …
- Option 3: Give the rec… but don't rave.
What do you say when recommending someone?
- Think carefully before saying yes. …
- Follow a business letter format. …
- Focus on the job description. …
- Explain how you know the person, and for how long. …
- Focus on one or two traits. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information.
How do you write a recommendation for someone you don't know well?
- Think carefully before saying yes. …
- Follow a business letter format. …
- Focus on the job description. …
- Explain how you know the person, and for how long. …
- Focus on one or two traits. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information. …
- Follow the submission guidelines.
How do you tell someone you don't want to give them a reference?
If you can't come up with a believable explanation, it's fine to to (politely)
tell someone outright that you don't feel comfortable being a reference
. Keep things short and simple: “I don't think I'm the best fit for this.” You don't need to explain why; in fact, you probably shouldn't.
Can I refuse to provide a reference?
There is never an obligation to give someone a reference
. You can politely and diplomatically decline the request without offending the person who asked you. The trick is to do so without making your refusal sound like a personal criticism or a professional rejection.
Can I use someone as a reference without asking?
Your references should be people you have worked for or worked with.
Don't use someone as a reference without asking them first
. Do not assume your favorite teacher or former supervisor will give you a reference. Always ask for permission first and ask far enough in advance so they have enough time to say yes or no.
How do you highly recommend someone?
- Think carefully before saying yes. …
- Follow a business letter format. …
- Focus on the job description. …
- Explain how you know the person, and for how long. …
- Focus on one or two traits. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information.
How do you start a recommendation sentence?
Some useful phrases might be: “
This is in response to your recent request for a letter of recommendation for [name of the person]
” or “I am pleased to be able to write this letter of recommendation for [name of the person].” Other possible introductory phrases include “I have no hesitancy in writing a letter of …
How do u recommend someone?
- Think carefully before saying yes. …
- Follow a business letter format. …
- Focus on the job description. …
- Explain how you know the person, and for how long. …
- Focus on one or two traits. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information.
How do you write a short letter of recommendation?
- Always start with the date.
- State who you are recommending and what you are recommending them for.
- Describe how long you know the person and in what capacity.
- State their best qualities.
- Give details about the person's character, morals, and values.
How long should a recommendation letter be?
The recommendation letter should be
no more than two pages in length
. Although a recommendation letter is more about quality than quantity, a letter containing only a few sentences is not recommended.
How do I write a recommendation for a friend?
- Think carefully before saying yes. …
- Follow a business letter format. …
- Focus on the job description. …
- Explain how you know the person, and for how long. …
- Focus on one or two traits. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information.
What if you can't use your boss as a reference?
Even if you're in a position where an employer is refusing to give you a reference, you will almost definitely have
someone else in your career history willing to sing your praises
. If you think you have more than enough positive references, you could likely omit the negative reference from your reference list.
