Expert advice for helping an applicant’s chances of acceptance by choosing the right words and phrases As a teacher, professor, or an employer, you are often called upon for letters of recommendation--and probably as often find yourself stumped about what to say. It can be a daunting task when someone’s future is in the balance. This book, written by a writing expert, will help you find the right words--and avoid the pitfalls--of creating a letter of recommendation. Author Paul Bodine explains what makes a recommendation letter good and also what can make it ineffective. The book contains paragraph-length examples of effective recommendation letter writing for all types of situations.

Letters of recommendation are a part of every standard school or job application. As an employer, professor, colleague, peer, or friend, chances are that at one point or another, you will be asked to put a person on paper and every word counts. How to Write Successful Letters of Recommendation is your one-stop source for painting the perfect picture in just one short letter. You will learn everything you need to know about writing the perfect letter of recommendation that will get your friend, colleague, or student accepted or hired. The most effective letters of recommendation are accurate, succinct, descriptive, and powerful, and include realistic evaluations of performance and capability. With ideas about how to start your letter and topics to include, this complete guide will teach you how to do just that, as you construct the perfect letter from start to finish. Outlined in ten easy steps, this complete guide gives you the tools you need to write reference letters that your employees, colleagues, students, and friends will appreciate. This book is filled with tips and tricks for personalizing the letter and making your friend, student, employee, or coworker shine. With a word bank of powerful phrases and descriptive words, you ll have everything you need to make your letter stand out at your fingertips. Sample letters of recommendation are also included, along with explanations of why each one is effective and tips for replicating these letters in just minutes. You will learn about the different types of recommendation letters, from employment to academic to volunteer, and how to direct your letter to the appropriate audience. You ll even learn what to do if someone you haven t worked with closely asks you to be a reference, or how to deal with being asked for hundreds of recommendations at once. This exhaustively researched book will even teach you how to politely avoid writing letters for those people you aren t quite comfortable recommending. The Companion CD-ROM is filled with templates, examples, word banks, and worksheets, so that you can easily learn to verify experience, confirm competence, build credibility, and bolster confidence with just a simple letter. A recommendation is more than just a letter; it s often make-or-break in a candidate s application for school, volunteering, or employment. With the step-by-step instructions and writing guidelines in this book, you will learn how to write introductions; opening statements; the body, including a well-written, vivid assessment of character and work ethic; and a strong conclusion. This new book will also teach you how to appropriately sign your letter, and will provide you with tips of re-reading and editing it to make sure you gave an effective recommendation. We spent hundreds of hours interviewing high school teachers, college professors, employers, and more who have nailed the art of composing effective communications. With How to Write Successful Letters of Recommendation, your employees, colleagues, students, and friends will see you as their go-to source to helping them succeed in their next big venture.

The Right Phrase for Every Situation . . . Every Time You know that how you begin a business conversation or meeting sets the stage for success. But coming up with just the right words can be another matter. Perfect Phrases for Icebreakers has hundreds of ready-to-use phrases to get your interactions off on the right foot. From jump-starting meetings to motivating teams to turning any situation into a positive networking event, this streamlined guide provides you with the right words to: Highlight important topics in meetings or conversations Motivate people to share resources and support Add levity to personal or group interactions Inspire collaboration and creativity Pique curiosity about your message

Offers advice and suggestions to educators on how to write powerfulletters of recommendation for students with post-secondary plans, and featuresfifty-two sample letters that highlight the special skills or qualities ofdifferent types of students.

Whether it's interviewing for a job, evaluating employee performance, setting goals for the future, or keeping customers happy, the Perfect Phrases series has the tools for precise, effective business communication. Distilling complex ideas into specific phrases that diplomatically and honestly depict the concepts at hand, this invaluable series provides: Ways to enhance customer service in any business Dialogues and scripts to practice interactions with customers or employees--tailorable to any industry or company culture The best answers to a wide range of interview questions Tips for documenting performance issues and conducting face-to-face reviews The ideal reference for anyone trying to create the most professional and polished cover letter possible, this book offers phrases that help create a strong first impression for prospective employers.

THE RIGHT PHRASE FOR EVERY SITUATION . . . EVERY TIME Precise language in a fundraising campaign is an absolute must. The words you choose can make the difference between having your appeal read . . . or tossed. Perfect Phrases for Fundraising provides everything you need to craft a message that recipients will read and respond to. This quick-access guide is packed with time-saving tips, message-crafting strategies, and ready-to-use phrases sure to get results in any campaign. Master the right language for: Telephone soliciting YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter One-on-one meetings Board of director appeals Organization website campaigns

Whether it’s writing a proposal, motivating employees, or reaching out to customers, the Perfect Phrases series has the tools you need for precise, effective communication. Distilling complex ideas into specific phrases that diplomatically and honestly depict the concepts at hand, this invaluable series provides: The best techniques to communicate messages and goals in business letters and proposals Tips for bringing out the best in every employee in every business Dialogues and scripts to practice interactions with customers or employees—tailorable to any industry or company culture Phrases for each step of the sales process