What to write in a reference or recommendation letter
Write a reference letter that actually helps the person you are recommending. Fill in your details below, copy the prompt, and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini.
The weakest reference letters describe a person through adjectives: "hardworking, dedicated, and a great team player." These phrases are so generic that they actively undermine the letter; they tell the reader nothing that couldn't apply to virtually anyone.
What makes a reference letter effective is specific evidence: a project they owned, a challenge they handled, a result they achieved. One concrete example that shows the quality you are endorsing does more for the candidate than three paragraphs of positive adjectives. And a lukewarm closing line undermines everything that came before it.
Enter who you are recommending, your relationship, what you are recommending them for, their key strengths, and one specific example. The AI builds a letter that actually helps the person you are endorsing.
Fill in your details
Your prompt
Help me write a reference or recommendation letter. Here are the details: Who I am recommending: [CANDIDATE] My relationship to them: [RELATIONSHIP] What I am recommending them for: [PURPOSE] Their key strengths: [STRENGTHS] A specific example that illustrates those strengths: [EXAMPLE] Write a professional recommendation letter that: introduces my relationship with the candidate, makes a clear recommendation, supports it with specific evidence (not just adjectives), and closes with a genuine endorsement. One page maximum.
Copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool.
Tips for writing this
- 1Lead with your relationship and context. The reader needs to understand why your opinion matters.
- 2Use one specific example rather than a list of adjectives. "She managed a team of 12 through a complete product pivot" tells more than "she is a great leader."
- 3Close with a direct, clear statement of recommendation. Lukewarm endings undermine everything before them.
Common questions
Should I say yes if I cannot write a strong recommendation?+
Be honest with the person asking. A weak recommendation is often worse than no recommendation. If you can only write something mediocre, let them know so they can find someone who can endorse them more fully.
How do I use this prompt?+
Fill in your details using the form above. The placeholders in the prompt update live as you type. When you are ready, click “Copy prompt” and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any AI tool. The AI will write something personalized to your specific situation.
Which AI tool works best for this?+
Claude and ChatGPT both work well. Claude tends to produce more natural, nuanced writing for personal situations. ChatGPT is strong for structured business and professional writing. Try both and keep the version that sounds more like you.
Should I use the AI output word for word?+
Use it as a strong first draft, then edit it to sound like you. The AI gives you the structure and language to work from. Reading it out loud is one of the best ways to catch anything that does not feel natural in your voice.
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