10 Recommendation Letter Samples for Your Former Employees

A recommendation letter samples gives hiring managers a valuable chance to confirm what they’ve learned about your former employee during the hiring process.

It offers insight into the employee’s past experience, performance, and, just as importantly, your perspective on their strengths and work ethic.

A great recommendation is more than just a formal letter—it’s a personalized reflection of your time working with the employee.

It should highlight their relevant skills, include specific examples of when they demonstrated those strengths, and provide a complete picture of their capabilities, so much so that the hiring team may not even need to call your HR department for more details.

With the templates provided here, you’ll be able to write compelling, well-structured recommendation letters for your former employees.

Plus, you’ll find shorter message samples ideal for LinkedIn endorsements or quick references when time is tight.

Recommendation Letter Examples

General Formal Recommendation Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m happy to recommend {employee’s name} for the {role applied for} role. We worked together at {your company’s name}, where s/he held the role of {employee’s job title} and I was {your position/relationship to them}.

{Employee’s name} was always {standout quality one}, and during their time with us, they managed to {example related to quality one}—a great example of their consistency and drive.

At our company, we put a lot of value on {quality two}, and {employee’s name} always stood out in that area. I still remember when {example related to quality two}—it was a moment that showed their strength.

It was a real pleasure having {employee’s name} on the team, and I fully recommend {him/her} for this opportunity.

If you’d like to chat more, I’m happy to connect at {phone number}.

Warm regards,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Sales Formal Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m delighted to recommend {employee’s name} for a sales role with {company’s name}.

We worked together at {your company’s name}, where I was {his/her} sales manager for {length of time}.

{Employee’s name} was a fantastic part of our team—hardworking, reliable, and always up for a challenge. One thing that stood out was their ability to stay calm and confident when solving complex sales problems.

Their knowledge of sales practices and customer service made a difference. Thanks to their efforts, our customer base grew by over {percentage} in just {timeframe}. But beyond the numbers, they were also a great teammate, always bringing positive energy and lifting others around them.

I have no doubt {employee’s name} would be a great asset to your team at {company’s name}.

Feel free to call me at {phone number} if you’d like to talk more about {his/her} skills and experience.

All the best,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

HR Formal Recommendation Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m writing to recommend {employee’s name} for the HR {personnel/executive/admin} role in your organization. As the {your position}, I worked closely with {employee’s name} during their time as {position held} from {length of time}.

Throughout our time working together, I was impressed with {his/her} broad knowledge of employee relations, compliance laws, and benefits administration. {Employee’s name} always approached HR with empathy and professionalism, and they were a go-to person for both staff and leadership.

One thing that stood out was their ability to use tools like HRIS effectively. With this skill, he/she helped us {achievement}—a huge help in making our processes more efficient.

I’m confident that {employee’s name} will bring real value wherever they go and strongly recommend them for your HR team.

If you’d like to reach out, I’m available anytime at {phone number} or by email.

Sincerely,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Software Engineer Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m genuinely pleased to write this letter of recommendation for {employee’s name}.

S/he worked with me as a software engineer at {your company’s name} for {length of time}. Their responsibilities included writing code, building complex software systems, and supporting our full development lifecycle.

What stood out was {employee’s name}’s ability to tackle problems head-on and collaborate seamlessly with others. Deadlines were always met, and {he/she} had a unique way of explaining code—even to non-tech folks—which made presenting to clients smooth and stress-free.

{Employee’s name} is always learning and growing—constantly taking courses to stay up to speed with the latest tech trends. This drive made him/her one of the most adaptable engineers I’ve worked with.

Without a doubt, I recommend {him/her} for any software engineering role. With the right team and support, I know {he/she} will thrive.

Let me know if you’d like to talk more. You can reach me at {phone number}.

Sincerely,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Marketing Executive Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I had the pleasure of supervising {employee’s name} at {your company’s name} for {length of time}, where s/he worked as a marketing executive and played a big part in our team’s success.

{Employee’s name} took the lead on content creation, and product messaging and helped us better connect with our audience. S/he also managed our social media and made sure we always delivered a great experience to our customers.

On top of that, he/she ran some pretty successful digital campaigns that helped us grow our reach and bring in new business. One of the most exciting results during this time was {specific achievement}—a big win for the team.

Always eager to learn more and try new things, {employee’s name} was a true asset to our marketing department. I’d recommend him/her for any role that could benefit from their creativity and results-driven approach.

If you’d like more details, feel free to give me a call. I’d be happy to talk more about what {he/she} contributed at {your company’s name}.

Warm regards,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Project Manager Formal Recommendation Letter

@melissakblackmore Replying to @Tiesha Whitsey Yes! Even if you’ve never had that formal PM experience you still likely have worked on something that can count as a “project” take this and put it in a Canva site, a Powerpoint pdf or some other document, put down risks, objective, goals, timelines, etc #projectmanagement #projectmanager #breakintoprojectmanagement #projectmanagerbestie #projectmanagementtips #careertips #projectmanagementtiktok #womeninprojectmanagement ♬ I Get The Bag (Instrumental) – LivingForce

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m happy to recommend {employee’s name} for the role of Project Manager at your company. We worked closely at {your company’s name} for {length of time}, where I served as {your position}.

{Employee’s name} was responsible for leading several high-impact projects, and they consistently delivered results on time and within budget. Their ability to coordinate teams, track progress, and keep stakeholders aligned was a huge asset to us.

I was particularly impressed by how {he/she} handled challenges—staying calm under pressure and finding smart solutions quickly. One of the most successful projects under their management was {example of achievement or project}.

If you’re looking for someone who can organize, communicate, and motivate a team while keeping an eye on the details, I’d recommend {employee’s name} for this role.

Feel free to reach me at {phone number} if you’d like more insight into {his/her} work with us.

Best regards,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Customer Support Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m pleased to recommend {employee’s name} for a customer support role with your team. We worked together at {your company’s name}, where I was {your position}, and {he/she} was part of our support department for {length of time}.

{Employee’s name} brought patience, empathy, and strong communication to every interaction. S/he always went above and beyond to solve customer problems and often turned tough situations into positive experiences.

One example that stands out was when {specific instance or result}, shows their ability to manage difficult situations with grace.

S/he also contributed to building out our help center and suggested improvements that reduced ticket volume by {percentage}—showing initiative and a genuine care for the team and customers.

I’m confident {he/she} will bring the same level of dedication and positivity to your company. Don’t hesitate to reach me at {phone number} if you’d like to talk more.

Warmly,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Finance Analyst Formal Recommendation Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m writing to recommend {employee’s name} for the role of Finance Analyst at your company. I had the pleasure of working with {him/her} at {your company’s name} throughout {length of time}.

{Employee’s name} was sharp, reliable, and always took a thoughtful approach to financial data and reporting. S/he worked on several budgeting and forecasting projects, and their insights helped us spot trends and improve our financial decisions.

S/he also built out models that simplified complex financial reports, making them accessible for leadership and non-finance teams. One of their models even helped us identify cost-saving opportunities worth {monetary figure or percentage}.

{Employee’s name} is a smart and proactive analyst with strong attention to detail—I’d highly recommend {him/her} to your finance team.

Please feel free to reach out to me at {phone number} if you’d like more information.

Sincerely,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Graphic Designer Formal Recommendation Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

It’s a pleasure to recommend {employee’s name} for a graphic design position on your team. S/he worked with us at {your company’s name} for {length of time}, and I had the chance to collaborate with {him/her} on many creative projects.

{Employee’s name} has a strong eye for design and a real knack for translating ideas into beautiful visuals. S/he helped us with everything from brand materials to web graphics, and their work always came out polished and on point.

One of the most impactful contributions was {specific project or campaign}, which helped us boost engagement by {metric/percentage}.

S/he is also great at taking feedback and iterating quickly—a huge help when we’re on tight timelines. I’m confident {employee’s name} would be a great creative asset to your team.

Let me know if you’d like to chat more—I’m available at {phone number}.

Best,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Operations Manager Formal Recommendation Letter

Dear {hiring manager’s name},

I’m writing to give my full recommendation for {employee’s name} for the role of Operations Manager at your company. We worked together at {your company’s name} for {length of time}, and {he/she} reported directly to me.

{Employee’s name} brought structure, consistency, and a calm leadership style to our operations. From improving workflows to managing vendor relationships, s/he kept things running smoothly.

One specific example was when {he/she} led the rollout of {project or process}, which helped us cut operational delays by {percentage/timeframe}. S/he also fostered a great team culture—encouraging collaboration and mentoring newer team members.

{Employee’s name} is hands-on, sharp, and has a great sense of ownership. I truly believe s/he’ll bring real value to your team.

If you’d like more detail, feel free to call me at {phone number}.

Warm regards,
{Name}
{Position}
{Your company’s name}

Conclusion

Great teams are built on great people—and sometimes, all it takes is one strong hire to spark real change.

The individuals recommended here brought dedication, growth, and excellence to our organization, and I’m confident they’ll do the same wherever they go next.