Whether you’re a household employee looking to move on to a new post, or an employee who has been asked to write a letter of recommendation, it is important that you include all of the essential information that an employer may expect to see. As the experts in recruiting household staff across the Chicagoland area, read on to find out what you should include in your letter of recommendation.

What is the purpose of a letter of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation are very similar to a reference from an employer. However, an employee can ask for a letter of recommendation which they can then compile alongside an application. Recommendation letters are a great thing to include in your agency application and nowadays, many prospective employers request to see them. A good recommendation letter is also useful when working for a high net-worth employer or someone that is not easily contacted so that you have an easily-accessible reference. In this particular case, obtaining a letter ensures that your employer is making a written account of your performance while it is fresh in their mind, rather than asking them to account the details of your employment 1 year, 2 years or even 10 years later. This is vital as references from 10+ years ago are usually not very strong or effective because naturally, your employer might not remember the details well enough.

What should be included in a letter of recommendation for an employee?

Letters of recommendation can be quite short and ultimately serve the same purpose as a reference. Therefore, it is essential that you include: dates of employment, specific job responsibilities, character strengths. It is best practice that you only write a letter of recommendation for staff that have left on good terms so that it is a positive reference for your employee.

Think about the format of your letter - it should follow the standard professional letter format. Begin it with a salutation like Dear Sir/Madam, follow it with required information (listed above), then include your contact details before finally signing off. For a letter of recommendation sample for your nanny, read this great example from Indeed.com.

Sometimes in a letter of recommendation, an employer can explain the terms in which you parted ways with an employee. This may or may not be relevant depending on if they have taken a career break, moved roles frequently or especially if they’re moving from your current post into the one they’re applying to. For example, if you hired a nanny when your children were young and they have now grown up (which is why your nanny is no longer required,) make sure you include this as it could help a prospective family feel more comfortable in hiring your employee.

Is a letter of recommendation useful when using a household staffing agency?

Yes! Whether you’re using a household staffing agency to hire a new member of staff, or using it as a candidate, a letter of recommendation is incredible useful. A strong letter highlights specific skills a domestic employee (house manager, estate manager, nanny, personal assistant) might have used during their time in a specific role.  For example, house manager duties can vary depending on the size of the household and so a letter from an employer can detail exactly what a member of staff did and how well they did it. A letter of recommendation from a former employer can not only verify your employment history, but it can speak to some of the complex household duties you may have assisted with, like developing a household manual, overseeing vendors, transporting children, meal preparation, or being entrusted with a family credit card. All of these things make it a lot easier for household staffing agencies like My Household Managed to ensure we place the best candidates in the various roles we advertise.

When is the best time to ask my employer for a letter of recommendation?

If you’re an employee, be sensitive when asking for a letter of recommendation. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to leave your current role when asking for a recommendation letter but If you ask too soon into a new role, your employer will not have much to say and naturally, they will think you are already looking at new jobs.

Generally, the best time to ask for a letter of recommendation is when you are leaving a job on good terms and you have a tenure of working for them. If a family can confirm that you worked for X years, that they are sad to see you go and that potential employers can contact them with any questions, that is the ideal scenario.

For a sample of a letter of recommendation request, consider the below example:

“Hi (name of employer),

As we discussed, your needs are changing and you no longer need me to work full-time. Because of this as you know, I am looking for other roles. Thank you for being so understanding of my search for a new opportunity. Would you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me speaking to my character and type of work I did for your family?”

How should I give my employee a letter of recommendation?

Most letters of recommendation can be sent to your employee digitally, but if this is the case, make sure it is a PDF file to avoid any compatibility issues. Alternatively, you could give your employee a printed copy of a typed document on formal letterhead paper with contact info for your family.
Employees need to be able to prove the legitimacy of this document so make sure that you have signed any physical copy that they have to verify that it isn’t fraudulent or was written by an employee’s friend or family member. 

Avoid:

• blurry cell phone images of a wrinkly piece of paper

• sending a .doc file (Apple computers/phones don’t always open these types of files)

Changing jobs can be stressful for household staff, particularly when he/she is leaving a job role that they love and only due to your needs as an employer changing. A letter of recommendation can serve as the best kind of thank you to your nanny or house manager and one of the best ways you can leave your employment relationship.

You’ve got enough on your plate in your day-to-day life — let us make your life easier by handling your unique household staffing needs.

If your house manager, estate manager, or nanny is moving on to a new role and you would like help in hiring new household staff , submit an application with My Household Managed.

If you are looking to leave your current position as a professional house manager, estate manager, or other household employee, apply at My Household Managed.