Writing a reference for a peer is weird. It just is. Usually, you’re used to grabbing coffee or complaining about the broken printer with this person, and suddenly you’re tasked with being the "official voice" of their professional destiny. Most people panic and Google a sample recommendation letter for coworker to copy-paste. Don’t do that yet.
If you just swap out the names and hit send, the hiring manager is going to smell the AI or the template from a mile away. It’s boring. It’s generic. Honestly, it might even hurt your friend’s chances because it makes them look like they don’t have anyone who actually knows them well enough to write something real.
Think about the last time you read a Yelp review that just said "The food was good and the service was nice." Did you believe it? Probably not. You want the review that says "The spicy tuna roll changed my life, and the waiter, Greg, remembered my nut allergy without me saying a word." That's what a recommendation letter needs to do. It needs to be specific.
Why Peer Recommendations Actually Matter More Than Bosses Think
Hiring managers are tired of the "boss" perspective. Managers see the finished product, the KPIs, and the quarterly reviews. They see the "best behavior" version of an employee. But you? You see the trenches. You know if this person is the one who actually fixes the spreadsheet errors at 4:30 PM on a Friday or if they’re the one who keeps the team from melting down during a PR crisis.
A peer recommendation carries a different kind of weight. It’s about cultural fit and reliability. According to LinkedIn's own data on professional endorsements, peer-to-peer validation is often a higher signal for "soft skills" than a top-down review. It proves the person isn't just a "kiss-up" to leadership; they are actually liked and respected by the people they work with every single day.
If you're looking for a sample recommendation letter for coworker, you have to start by identifying the "Superpower." Everyone has one. Maybe they are the "Chaos Whisperer" or the "Data Surgeon." If you can't name their superpower in five seconds, you shouldn't be writing the letter.
The Anatomy of a Recommendation That Doesn't Suck
Forget everything you learned in high school English about formal five-paragraph essays. A great letter of recommendation is a narrative. It’s a story with a beginning (how you met), a middle (the "oh no" moment where they saved the day), and an end (why the new company would be stupid not to hire them).
The Hook (But Keep It Professional)
Start with how long you’ve worked together. "I’ve sat across from Sarah for three years" is better than "I am writing to recommend Sarah." It establishes proximity. It says you've seen her on her good days and her "I haven't had enough coffee" days.
The Evidence
This is where most people mess up. They use adjectives like "hardworking," "diligent," or "team player." These words are dead. They mean nothing now. Instead of saying they are a team player, tell a story about the time they stayed late to help you finish a deck even though it wasn't their project.
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The Specificity
You need to name-drop a project. Use real nouns. "The Q3 North American Launch" or "the migration to the new CRM." This anchors the recommendation in reality. It makes it harder to fake.
A Sample Recommendation Letter for Coworker (The "Real Person" Version)
Here is a template you can actually use, but please—for the love of your coworker’s career—change the details to fit your actual life. This is an illustrative example of what a high-impact peer letter looks like.
Subject: Recommendation for [Name] – [Current/Former Coworker]
To the Hiring Team at [New Company],
I’ve spent the last [Number] years working side-by-side with [Name] at [Company], and honestly, it’s going to be a huge bummer not having them in the office anymore. We worked together in the [Department], specifically on [Project or Daily Task], and I can say without any hesitation that [Name] is the person you want in the room when things get complicated.
Most people are good at one thing—either the technical side or the people side. [Name] is that rare person who actually handles both. I remember back in [Year] when we were facing [Specific Problem]. Everyone else was spinning their wheels, but [Name] spent the weekend [Specific Action They Took] and basically saved the account.
What I appreciate most isn't just that they get the job done; it's how they do it. They have this way of [Describe a Personality Trait, e.g., making everyone feel heard/staying calm under pressure] that keeps the whole team grounded.
I’m genuinely jealous of whoever gets to work with [Name] next. If you have any questions or want to hear more about why they’re great, just give me a shout.
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Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Phone/Email]
The Mistakes That Get Your Letter Deleted
I’ve talked to recruiters at places like Google and small startups. They all say the same thing: if a letter sounds like it was written by a lawyer, they ignore it.
- Being too formal: Using words like "heretofore" or "commensurate." Nobody talks like that. It sounds like you're hiding something.
- Too much fluff: If the letter is three pages long, no one is reading it. Keep it to one page, maybe 400 words max.
- Vague praise: "He is a nice guy." Great. Is he going to help us hit our revenue targets?
- The "Double-Edged Sword" compliment: Don't say "She's much better now than when she started." That just reminds the recruiter that she used to be bad. Focus on the "now."
Real-World Example: The "Action" Pivot
Look at the difference between these two sentences:
- "John is very good at communication."
- "John managed to explain our complex API logic to the marketing team so clearly that they actually stopped asking for impossible features."
The second one is a winner every time. It shows a result. It shows a specific pain point (marketing asking for impossible things) being solved.
How to Ask Your Coworker for the Right Info
If you’re the one asking for a letter, don't just say "Hey, can you write me a recommendation?" That’s a lot of work for your friend. Give them a "cheat sheet."
- Remind them of a specific project you did together.
- Tell them which job you’re applying for so they can tailor the tone.
- Give them a deadline (make it a few days before you actually need it).
If you are the one writing it, don't be afraid to ask the coworker: "What's the one thing you want me to highlight?" Maybe they are trying to pivot from sales to project management. In that case, your sample recommendation letter for coworker shouldn't focus on their "closing" skills; it should focus on their organizational skills.
The Ethics of the "Meh" Coworker
What if the person asking is... okay, but not great?
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This is the hard part. If you can't honestly recommend them, it's better to say no. A lukewarm recommendation is often worse than no recommendation at all. It signals to the hiring manager that you’re just doing it out of obligation.
But if they were a good person who just struggled in a specific role, focus on their character. Focus on their punctuality, their attitude, or their willingness to learn. You don't have to lie. Just find the truth that helps them.
When to Decline
If you genuinely didn't work with them closely enough to have an opinion, just say that. "I’d love to help, but I don't think I can give the specific examples of your work that would make this letter strong." Most people will respect that. It’s better than writing a flat, useless note.
Technical Formatting for 2026
If you're sending this via email, the subject line is your only chance to get noticed. Don't just put "Recommendation." Put "[Name] Recommendation - From [Your Title] at [Your Company]."
If you’re uploading it to a portal, save it as a PDF. Word docs can get messy with formatting, and you want this to look clean. Use a standard font like Arial or Calibri. No one wants to read your "creative" font choices when they are trying to hire a software engineer.
Making It Stand Out in the "AI Era"
We are living in a world where everyone is using bots to write their stuff. To stand out, you have to be human. Use a bit of humor if it fits the culture of the company. Use contractions. Write like you’re talking.
The best sample recommendation letter for coworker is the one that sounds like it came from a real desk, in a real office, from a real person who is going to miss their teammate.
Actionable Next Steps
- Brainstorm the "Big Save": Before you write a single word, write down one time this person saved a project or solved a problem. That is the heart of your letter.
- Check the Job Description: Look at the job your friend is applying for. If the job asks for "attention to detail," make sure that phrase (or a better version of it) is in your letter.
- Keep it Brief: Aim for 3-4 short paragraphs.
- Verify the Recipient: If you can address it to a specific person (like "Dear Mr. Henderson") instead of "To Whom It May Concern," do it. It shows you actually put in the effort.
- Send a Draft to the Coworker: Ask them, "Does this accurately reflect what you want to highlight?" It gives them a chance to correct any technical errors before it goes to the recruiter.
A peer recommendation isn't a legal document. It's a character witness. Treat it like you're telling a friend why they should date someone you know. You wouldn't list their "proficiencies in household management"; you'd say they're funny, they show up when they say they will, and they’re great in a crisis. Apply that same logic to the office, and your coworker will be ten times more likely to get the gig.