Suitability letter: definition and tips

Author: Louise Ward
Date Of Creation: 5 February 2021
Update Date: 8 May 2024
Anonim
Suitability letter: definition and tips - careers
Suitability letter: definition and tips - careers

Content

Some companies limit themselves to the absolutely essentials when applying. Cover letter, resume, done. Other employers, on the other hand, would like complete and extensive documents. Work samples, certificates, a letter of motivation and sometimes a Letter of suitability are required or at least have a positive effect on an applicant's chances. Some job seekers have problems with the letter of suitability, as it is rather the exception and not one of the fixed components of every application. If you are genuinely interested in the position, however, you cannot avoid submitting a letter of suitability if the company requests it. We explain what is behind a letter of suitability and what you should pay attention to with one ...

Letter of suitability: what is it anyway?

Do you know what a letter of suitability is? Should be the answer No loud, you are certainly not alone in this, but in the good company of many other applicants. Therefore there is two main reasons: On the one hand, the letter of suitability in German-speaking countries has not yet advanced that far and is only required occasionally by companies for the application process. On the other hand, the document is also known as a letter of recommendation or letter of reference.


The different names come from the fact that the letter does exactly what the terms suggest: It is a recommendation to the potential employer that this candidate is a good employee. At the same time it certifies that Suitability and qualifications of an applicant and declares that he or she has the necessary knowledge and qualifications for the position.

With the letter of suitability, the company receives from another source an assessment of a candidate's skills. In addition to the logically optimal presentation of yourself by the applicant himself, the letter of suitability adds the view of an outsider - an additional objective view of things.

Who prepares a letter of suitability?

There are many people who can write a letter of suitability. However, it is questionable who is responsible for the current situation make the most sensible contribution can and should therefore best be included in the application. It can also be decisive whether you are looking for evidence of specific competencies or, for example, want to include an advocate for your social behavior.


Employees and colleagues from your last job, the boss or the management under whom you have already worked, maybe even professors from the university who, for example, have taken on the supervision of your bachelor's or master's thesis. Customers with whom you have worked closely may also be asked for a letter of suitability to confirm your competencies.

Each letter of suitability can have a positive effect and round off the picture you show of yourself in the application. Some recruiters let the word out higher-ranking references are given greater importance and value its credibility somewhat higher.

When can a letter of suitability be requested?

Each company can decide for itself how exactly an application process works and which documents are required and rated positively. In theory, a letter of suitability can be requested for each position. In America in particular, recommendations are an essential part of applications, in Germany this trend has not yet caught on quite as strongly.


Still there is some situationsin which a letter of suitability is requested more often. You can also attach one of your own as an additional document in order to stand out from other candidates and to provide further information.

For example, if you are qualify for a promotion and want to apply or aspire to a management position, an aptitude letter can have many advantages. You underline your ambitions once again and have them and your personal suitability confirmed again.

On the other hand, a letter of suitability can be used at the beginning of the career be an important factor. At this point, there is still a lack of professional experience to prove your qualifications; a letter of suitability from a colleague or boss from a completed internship can fill this gap.

Suitability letter: content, structure and tips

The letter of suitability will be sent as a official document used for your application and should meet the relevant criteria. This increases the professionalism and also the credibility of the writing. The basic structure of a letter of suitability is based on business correspondence.

In any case, it should contain the information about the exhibitor in the letterhead. This includes name, address as well as the company and the position there. It is also important to be able to contact you, preferably a telephone number. HR managers are happy to ask again, have the letter of suitability confirmed over the phone and thus convince themselves once again of the impression they have gained.

The classic structure includes before the actual text of the letter of suitability Date and subject as well as the (if possible handwritten) signature at the end of the document.

When it comes to the content of a letter of suitability, the author largely has a free hand. After all, it's about his personal perception and judgment. There is therefore no precise specification, but there are a few tips that should be taken into account when writing a letter of suitability:

  • Description of yourself

    At the beginning, the letter of suitability should briefly state who the exhibitor actually is. In this way, the HR manager can get an idea of ​​who wrote the document and the relationship between the applicant and the exhibitor. This introduction does not have to be long, but it has to contain the essential aspects: Who is the reviewer? Where did the connection come from? What was the relationship during the collaboration?

  • Explanation of the reason for the exhibition

    The reason why the letter of suitability is drawn up should also be briefly stated. In most cases this is the applicant's decision to look for a new position, which is why the collaboration was terminated.

  • Description of the subject to be assessed

    The main part of the letter of suitability consists of the subjective assessment. In the case of such a letter, this is written in the first-person form, as it is about the perspective of the assessor. Above all, the focus should be on the skills and competencies that are particularly relevant for the new position and that are required by the employer.

  • Applicant's recommendation

    In addition to the pure qualifications, a direct recommendation should also be made. The exact formulation is up to you, but in essence it should be about suggesting to the company that this applicant is an employee you would like to have on your own team. However, this recommendation should not be exaggerated, otherwise it can damage the credibility.

Read more application tips & dossiers here

Application tips

✔ Application checklist
✔ ABC of application tips
✔ Application templates
✔ Sample application
✔ Application folder
✔ Cover letter
✔ Application photo
✔ Cover sheet
✔ Short profile
✔ Profile page
✔ Third page
✔ Application flyer
✔ Write an application
✔ Professional application
✔ Application coaching

Tips on the résumé

✔ Resume checklist
✔ Resume templates
✔ CV in tabular form
✔ American CV
✔ Professional resume
✔ Detailed curriculum vitae
✔ Online resume
✔ Internships in the résumé
✔ Hobbies on the résumé
✔ Unemployment on the résumé
✔ Gaps in the résumé
✔ Breaks in the resume
✔ Thin resume?

Tips for covering letters

✔ Cover letter
✔ Introductory sentence in the cover letter
✔ Final sentence in the cover letter
✔ Application letterhead
✔ Headline
✔ Subject line in the cover letter
✔ Interests in the cover letter
✔ Strengths in the cover letter
✔ Formulate salary expectations
✔ Justify job change
✔ Mention the starting date?
✔ PS: An application trick
✔ Attachments

Special application formats

✔ 11 application forms
✔ Unsolicited application
✔ Unsolicited application
✔ Brief application
✔ Letter of motivation
✔ Informal application
✔ Application according to DIN 5008
✔ Guerrilla application

Tips on job references

✔ Evaluate your job reference
✔ Reference formulations
✔ Interim report
✔ Job description
✔ Letters of recommendation
✔ References & samples
✔ Reference list

Application tips specials

✔ Application without professional experience
✔ Internal application
✔ Apply discreetly
✔ Applying with a disability
✔ Email application
✔ Online application
✔ Online application folder
✔ Application for the internship
✔ Application for an apprenticeship
✔ Application as a temporary worker
✔ Application for mini jobs
✔ Application as a working student
✔ Application with a bachelor's degree
✔ Application after termination
✔ Strategies for the long-term unemployed
✔ Employment agency job exchange
✔ No response to the application
✔ Put off employers?
✔ Application rejection
✔ Withdraw application
✔ Thank you letters
✔ Data protection
✔ Application assistance
✔ Deduct application costs
✔ Application forms

Apply abroad

✔ Application in English
✔ CV in English (sample)
✔ Interview in English
✔ Application in French
✔ Application in Spanish


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