Writing Letters of Support Guidelines [+ Templates and Examples]

In a competitive job market, the first thing you need to do is to do everything you can to make your application stand out. Extensive experience, in-demand skills, and a well-written cover letter are essential, but being endorsed by others with a letter of support is a powerful way to boost your applications. This endorsement works both ways, and a well-written letter of support can help you make moves or get expected outcomes in your proposed project. We provide you with guidelines and key points on how to write a persuasive letter of support, example as well as provide some templates to make the process easier.

Letters of support are letters written by someone else who aims to persuade an employer or institution to hire or admit you into a job or program. Simply put, it will strengthen an application of yours. Letters of support are often requested as a way of validating someone’s character, capabilities, or personality in a concise way that a resume often can’t. It can allow candidates to stand out among others by receiving support and praise from someone who has first-hand experiences with them. Scenarios a letter of support might be required include: 

College or University Applications 

A letter of support is often needed and can benefit a university application as university admission boards aim to admit well-rounded and brilliant minds students into their program. A college or university letter of support often includes a testimony of a student’s academic capabilities, and personal traits such as being motivated, a leader, or as validation of certain experiences, responsibilities, or projects they had done.

Job Applications or Professional References

In the competitive job market, a letter of support is sometimes required by employers to validate a candidate's experiences or skills. A resume is written by the candidate, so employers use letters of support as a way of acquiring professional references in the screening stage. A letter of support is most often requested in specific roles like those in high-level positions.

Scholarship or Grant Applications

A supporting letter is often required by scholarship and grant applications, as a way of verifying someone's achievements. A letter of support for scholarships and grants is often written by academic references, such as a professor or lecturer in a relevant specialty. These letters also add credibility to a candidate’s grant application, especially when submitted by an institution or organization.

Nominations for Awards or Recognition

Award nominations require letters of support as a crucial component in persuading judges or voters. These testimonials are instrumental in highlighting a person's achievements and praising their character in ways the nominees may not express themselves. Such letters greatly benefit nominees by setting them apart from their peers in competitive processes, underscoring their potential impact on organizations. These letters play a pivotal role in positioning a candidate favorably for an award.

Legal Matters

In certain circumstances, such as when providing persuasive letters for a character reference in court, a third-party testimonial can greatly benefit the defendant's case. When individuals are called upon to defend themselves in court, they may enlist someone familiar with them to produce a persuasive letter as evidence. This presents a distinct opportunity to offer a personalized perspective on the defendant to the jury in the form of letters, potentially influencing their perception positively. However, it should be noted that these references hold the right to refuse if they choose to do so. If needed, additional details can be addressed in the letters to further explain the defendant's character and circumstances.

Some elements are needed in every letter to ensure that they effectively persuade the committee to consider your application. To ensure you are assisting in their application, remember to include the following in each section:  

1. Introduction

In the first few sentences, use the introduction to give a brief description and identify your connection with the applicant. Mention the organization or institution you both worked together at, as well as how long you have known them. Addressing the specific job, promotion, or scholarship by name, and that you are supporting the candidate in their application for it.

2. Statement of Support

The candidate has likely sent you an outline of the job, award, or scholarship they are applying to. Make sure you read it thoroughly then make a statement that directly supports the commitment, objective, or mission of the organization. Use some keywords from the application and state that you believe that the candidate is capable of achieving the commitment or mission mentioned in the application.

3. Personal Anecdotes

Share one detailed personal anecdote that showcases the candidate's true passion and how it greatly benefited a particular project or endeavor. In this anecdote, emphasize the candidate's credibility and point out how their drive, motivation, and capabilities contributed to the success of the undertaking. By elaborating on these aspects, provide insight into why the applicant would be a valuable addition to their team or organization.

4. Provide Examples

When drafting the letter of support, it is crucial to mention any concrete or objective skills, achievements, or awards that the applicant possesses, as these credentials enhance the credibility and importance of their candidacy. This is particularly pertinent for new initiatives, such as a university, scholarship, or grant application, where demonstrating tangible results can significantly impact one's position.

5. Closing Statement and Contact

Craft a compelling conclusion underscoring the applicant's proficiency and integrity, aligning seamlessly with the criteria for funding, resource allocation, and addressing future needs. Express your firm belief that the applicant embodies the essence of the award, job, or scholarship, and unequivocally merits it. Extend an invitation for further inquiries by providing your contact details, including your email, and specify your job title and company to establish your professional connection with the endorsed individual for the organization to see.

Follow this outline below as guidelines to easily make letters of support that will provide value to the candidates' application:

To assist you with writing your letter of support, we’ve made some example letters for common scenarios that you should take into consideration, vary from the grant proposal, and partnership to fund projects, which might require letters of support for inspiration: 

Student College Application Letter of Support

Reference for Job Application Example

Support Letter to Endorse a Coworker for a Promotion

Support Letter for a Scholarship or Grant Proposal

As you can see from the examples above, there are many ways to write letters of support. We’ve collected some extra tips, so don't need to do the research yourself, for ways you can make your letter of support stand out for the applicant: 

Highlight Strengths and Achievements

Including the achievements and strengths of the applicant is the main focus of the letter. Always link these achievements to the goals or skills outlined in the application or scholarship. If there are objective or numerical data to back up these achievements, mention them as well.

Positive, Sincere Tone

Always write letters of support with a positive tone. Mention achievements and potential impact, and outline the applicant’s character genuinely and sincerely. To achieve this, use your personal experiences with the applicant to emphasize your points, and use emotional words to highlight the positive influence or how the applicant can be of good resources.

A sincere tone sounds warm and genuine to discussing the applicant. For example: 

An average tone sounds distant and unfamiliar with the individual you are writing about and can come across as generic. For instance: 

Employ Endorsement Language

Use action words that emphasize your support of the candidate. Use words that project the candidate's credibility. Some endorsement words and phrases include: 

Be Specific

Use concrete anecdotes and examples to support your claims. If there is a concrete numerical or objective result or achievement, mention it as well. Mention a job, project, or scenario where the candidate shone, instead of making random and generic claims.

Being specific involves providing useful detail about the candidate or situation, for instance: 

Being generic leaves out details, and does not show how the candidate provided value, for example: 

Here are some common and up-to-date FAQs about writing support letters, and their answers!

Should the person who writes the support letter be the one who submits it?

Generally speaking, yes. For many academic applications, such as for university acceptance or scholarship awarding, there is usually a designated system for uploading support letters. For internal promotions or job applications, it should be sent by the person who writes it directly to the appropriate person’s email address.

Should the letter of support be generic, or should it be customized for each occasion?

Letters of support should be customized to the specific occasion. Every letter should include all of the essential elements, but the anecdotes and details of the applicant's character should be customized to reflect the application.

What is the typical length of a supporting letter?

Two pages are considered too long. Hence, it should be approximately 250 words or within one page.

Should I allow the person being supported to read the letter beforehand?

You can if you like. The candidate might want to check the letter before it is submitted to ensure that it reflects the objectives of the job, scholarship or promotion. 

Can I co-write the supporting letter with someone else, or should it be a single-author document?

To avoid confusing the reader, it is best to write the supporting letter by yourself. A supporting letter should detail one specific anecdote and outline one point of personal connection with the candidate, instead of many different experiences.

Some final details before wrapping up: overall, a supporting letter serves as a means to endorse someone in their pursuit of a new job, scholarship, or promotion. Address all the required elements as mentioned in the guidelines above, and using a personal connection to back up your supporting statements, you can ensure the candidate will stand out in any programs he or she is applying for. Being sincere in your tone and avoiding generic language will persuade the reader even more, and if there is any objective or numerical data to back up your claims, don't forget to include them! Follow our templates outlined in the article or browse CakeResume for more!

--- Originally Written by Bronte McNamara ---