Does your ex-boss owe you a letter and you don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, we’ll explain to you
In the wild world of recruiting, where your CV competes with a hundred others in a recruiter’s inbox with three coffees on it, there is a document that can make your profile shine brighter than the latest iPhone: the job recommendation letter. Yes, that paper that seems like a reliquary from another era but, spoiler alert, is still the definitive hype to get a job. Basically, it’s the professional equivalent of your best friend telling your crush how amazing you are, but with letterhead and (hopefully) fewer emojis.
Legally, and this is the closest thing to a plot twist in the boring world of law, your former employer is obliged to give it to you if you ask for it. This is what the Federal Labor Law says, in its article 132. In other words, it is not a favor that it does you while sighing deeply, it is your right. The goal is for someone with authority to certify that you not only warmed the chair, but that you were the person who saved projects at midnight and knew how to restart the office router.
The art of being spoken well of (in writing)
Writing one of these letters can be more uncomfortable than silence in an elevator. So that it doesn’t sound generic and boring like the terms and conditions that no one reads, it needs structure. Think of it as the biography of your professional time at that company, but written by your number one fan.
First, the header: here goes all the formal data (place, date, details of who recommends you). Then, the introduction, where you are introduced with your name, surname and your position of past glory. The body is your time to shine: it is where your skills, epic achievements and those qualities that made you indispensable are displayed. Did you lead a project that increased sales? Were you the Excel guru? Forward! Finally, the formal closing with the contact information and signature, which gives the touch of seriousness “yes, this is real.”
Your salvation in one click: the downloadable format
We know that between doomscrolling and watching reels, time is money. Therefore, the smartest option is to download a predefined and editable format. On platforms such as Consultas El Universal they have a ready model, in Word or PDF, that only requires filling in the blank spaces. It’s life hacked: you avoid the paralyzing blank document and make sure to include all the key points with a professional air.
And yapa, in that same portal you find an arsenal of digital tools for your adult life: from consulting your RFC or CURP, to calculating your bonus or settlement. Basically, it’s the “easy mode” button to navigate bureaucracy and work life without losing your sanity.
Ready to have your letter of recommendation ready? Don’t let your next job go to someone with less talent but better documentation. Share this tip with that person who is looking for a job and explore more formats and guides that will make your professional life much easier.
