AI Recommendation Letter Templates | ChatGPT & AI Tools

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

A letter of recommendation is a written endorsement or reference provided by someone, typically a professional or academic contact, to vouch for an individual's qualifications, character, and abilities. Recommendation letters are used by job applicants, students applying to educational programs, or individuals entering education- or career-related competitions.

Submitting a letter of recommendation with your application is important because it provides an external perspective, by someone who knows you personally, on your qualifications and character and thereby lends credibility to your goals and endeavors.

Pros and Cons of Using AI to Write a Letter of Recommendation

Using an AI tool like ChatGPT as an AI letter of recommendation generator can be convenient and save a lot of time. However, there are some potential issues to keep in mind:

AI-generated content often lacks a personal touch and nuanced insights that only a human who knows the applicant well can provide. If you ask ChatGPT for generic examples, they can also be biased to whatever the bot came across in its training data, and you need to carefully check whether you want to use such suggestions. When a selection committee suspects a letter was written by AI, they may question its authenticity, which can lower its impact.

There might also be ethical concerns, because a recommendation letter is supposed to reflect a human writer's genuine opinion and experiences with the applicant. You also need to be aware of any legal or institutional policies regarding the use of AI in recommendation letters, as some organizations/institutions may have specific guidelines or restrictions in place.

However, using AI tools to quickly generate a draft can help you focus on customizing and personalizing the content of a letter to fit the specific candidate to make sure the substance of their story gets across. Specialized AI letter writing tools such as our AI text editor can also assist you in refining, reviewing, and editing a recommendation letter to ensure it is impeccable and catches the eyes of the admission officers only for the right reasons!

What You Should Include in Your Letters of Recommendation?

Make sure you ask the candidate/applicant for all the necessary details before you start drafting, to avoid a lengthy back-and-forth. A comprehensive recommendation letter typically consists of the following:

• Salutation: address it to the recipient/organization
• Identify yourself and your relationship with the candidate
• Provide a brief overview of your qualifications/expertise to establish your credibility
• Explain how you know the candidate and for how long
• Specify the context of your interactions (academic, professional, personal…)
• Describe/discuss the candidate's qualifications relevant to the position/opportunity
• Provide specific examples and anecdotes that illustrate these qualities
• Emphasize any unique qualities or achievements that set them apart
• Summarize your overall recommendation - make an explicit statement
• Offer to provide further information or answer any questions (add contact information)
• Close the letter professionally (e.g., with "Sincerely" or "Best regards")
• Date and sign the letter by hand, type your name, or add an e-signature

How to Use AI to Write a Letter of Recommendation

You can use AI to draft a recommendation letter by following these steps:

Collect all relevant information about the candidate, including their qualifications, achievements, and the specific program/opportunity they are applying for.

If you then feed the candidate's details and the key points you want to include into an AI letter writing tool like ChatGPT, it can create an initial draft of the recommendation letter for you.

Edit and customize the letter to add personal nuances, include specific examples, and tailor it to the context of the recommendation.

Proofread your recommendation letter to ensure the letter is error-free and professionally written.

Note that for AI bots like ChatGPT to assist in this drafting process, you need to “prompt” them correctly. Read on to find out what that means.

Note that for AI bots like ChatGPT to assist in this drafting process, you need to “prompt” them correctly. Read on to find out what that means.

Step 1: Create a recommendation letter prompt for ChatGPT

Let’s say we type the following request into ChatGPT:

Note that depending on how much information we include, ChatGPT will generate a text with placeholders to fill in or make something up—in the latter case you have to check the output for accuracy and add details where necessary.

In response to our prompt, we get the following draft:

Step 2: Review the output text and make necessary changes

You can now add what is missing from this somewhat generic output, fill in the missing elements (see the section on what to include in a letter of recommendation above), and review the text to make it your own. For example, the statement

His exceptional preparation, unwavering attendance, and his ability to ask insightful questions demonstrate his deep passion for understanding human history…

should ideally be replaced with your description of a situation where you personally experienced how exceptional this student is. Moreover, the free AI Paraphrasing Tool can help you to achieve a less ChatGPT-like tone or make your quickly jotted down notes sound more formal and professional: Just copy-paste part of your statement into the left-hand box and click “Paraphrase” (in this case, we chose the Mode “Fluent”):

Step 3: Use AI to edit your letter of recommendation

As with every text or document intended for professional or official purposes, you need to make sure it is grammatically flawless and tailored to the right audience. Use the free AI proofreading tool to fine-tune your recommendation letter: choose your correction level (light - standard - intensive - concise) and click on the flagged errors to receive feedback and suggestions for corrections:

AI Recommendation Letter Templates

As we have explained so far, you can either get ChatGPT to create a generic recommendation letter template and fill in the specific details that apply to your student/letter yourself, or provide the AI bot with those details, and let it draft the whole letter for you. In the following, we show you examples of prompts and outputs for both ChatGPT letter of recommendation types.

Recommendation letter for college

Prompt ChatGPT with the following simple request

Create a brief recommendation letter template for a college application

and receive a generic template that you only need to fill in:

[Date]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing this letter in enthusiastic support of [Student's Full Name], who is applying for admission to [Name of College/University]. I have had the privilege of [teaching/supervising/working with] [Student's Full Name] for [duration or context] and am confident in [his/her/their] qualifications and potential for academic success.

[Student's Full Name] is an exceptional individual with [his/her/their] outstanding [qualities, achievements, or attributes]. [He/She/They] consistently [provide specific examples of accomplishments, skills, or characteristics]. and has demonstrated a genuine passion for [relevant field or area of interest].

I have no doubt that [Student's Full Name] will be a valuable addition to your academic community, contributing positively to [name of college/university]'s [mention any relevant aspects of the institution]. I wholeheartedly recommend [him/her/them] for admission, and I am confident that [he/she/they] will thrive in your academic environment.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at [your email address] or [your phone number] if you require any further information or have any questions regarding this recommendation.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Title/Position] [Your Contact Information]

Graduate school recommendation letter

Alternatively, you can feed ChatGPT the following specific details

Create a brief recommendation letter (<200 words) for student R. Kramer to apply to a PhD program in cognitive neuroscience. I have known R. Kramer for the entirety of her undergraduate studies; she has been a student in my classes on biology, psychology, and sociology. Her passion stems from growing up with a brother with schizophrenia; her goal is to contribute to a better understanding of the disorder and improved treatment options.

and let it generate a more complete letter:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am delighted to write this recommendation for R. Kramer, who has been a dedicated student in my biology, psychology, and sociology courses throughout her undergraduate studies. R. Kramer's academic excellence, coupled with her unwavering commitment, sets her apart.

Her passion for cognitive neuroscience, driven by her personal experience growing up with a brother who has schizophrenia, is truly commendable. R. Kramer's aspiration to contribute to a deeper understanding of this complex disorder and to advance treatment options reflects both her empathy and her scholarly ambition.

Throughout her time in my classes, R. Kramer exhibited a keen intellect, exceptional work ethic, and a genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter. I have no doubt that she possesses the qualities and determination required for success in a PhD program.

I wholeheartedly recommend R. Kramer for admission to your cognitive neuroscience program, believing she will make significant contributions to your academic community.

Sincerely,

[Your Name] [Your Title/Position] [Contact Information]

Benefits of Writing Your Letter of Recommendation with Wordvice AI

While ChatGPT can provide you with AI recommendation letter templates and drafts like the ones above, the advantage of specific writing tools such as the Wordvice AI Writing Assistant is that they do not pose any ethical dilemma, because they rely on more human input. You also don’t risk sounding too generic when you use them to revise your recommendation letter. The Wordvice free AI Proofreader, AI Paraphrasing Tool, and AI Text Summarizer help you correct your grammar, check your punctuation, and improve the clarity and flow of your text by adapting your vocabulary, tone, and style where necessary.

Additional AI Recommendation Letter Resources

Even if you follow all these tips and make the most of everything AI writing and editing tools have to offer, it is always a good idea to let a professional human editor go over your recommendation letter before you submit it to impress a selection committee or employer. Wordvice’s Editing and Proofreading Services, especially our Recommendation Letter Editing, are all you need to perfect your writing.