Document Guide

Recommendation Letter

An expert explaining what you did and why it matters

Last updated Oct 6, 2026

Educational only — not legal advice.

What it shows

A recommendation letter is a signed statement from someone qualified to judge your work. Its value lies in specific facts about your contribution and its impact, not in praise.

Strong vs. weak

Strong

Written by a recognised expert, ideally one who has not worked with you directly
Names specific work, what was new about it and who uses it
Explains how the writer knows your work and gives their own credentials

Weak

General praise with no examples
Several letters with near-identical wording
Letters only from your own supervisors and colleagues

How to prepare it

Give each writer the facts and documents they can refer to, and let them write in their own words
Mix independent experts with people who saw the work first-hand
Attach each writer's CV or biography

Common mistake

Template letters. Officers notice repeated phrasing, and it weakens every letter in the set.

Where this evidence is used

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