A letter of reference is one that endorses a candidate for a position as a student, employee, coworker, or colleague. A letter of reference, or LOR, is another name for it. When given to a student, this letter enables the admissions panel to learn more about the candidate. It goes without saying that this is a terrific tool for highlighting the applicant's strengths and most important information as seen through the mentor's, superior's, advisor's, or faculty member's perspective.

What are the types of LOR?
Letters of recommendation are broadly classified into two categories. They are as follows:

Academic LOR
A letter of reference from a professor at your present or former educational institution is known as an "academic LOR." You will often need to submit two or three LORs from your previous institution to universities. This might be professors from your college if you're applying to master's or doctoral programs, or it could be your school's instructors if you're taking undergraduate classes. The substance of the Letter of Recommendation (LOR) format from the faculty frequently varies. It calls for the professor to highlight the applicant's successes as a course participant.

Professional LOR
The majority of colleges abroad have established guidelines for required job experience. So they ask their immediate boss for a professional letter of recommendation. The format of a professional letter of recommendation (LOR) from a supervisor differs from an academic LOR. A professional LOR emphasizes the applicant's capacity for teamwork, exposure to the field, and leadership skills. These are attributes required for the course for which it is being submitted.

Why are Recommendation Letters important?
Universities frequently use your letters of recommendation as confirmation of the accomplishments listed on your résumé. LORs can provide concrete evidence of your involvement with a company or your time spent in education because they are typically sought on business letterhead.
A letter of recommendation also discusses your character and other pertinent qualities that are crucial for students. Universities typically require an academic LOR, which serves as confirmation of your academic abilities. Additionally, it supports traits like discipline, commitment to your studies, and your behavior or interaction in class. In essence, what you write in your LOR gives another professor the perspective of a professor, which strengthens your application as a potential student.

Who writes a letter of recommendation for me?
A candidate will frequently have their recommendation written by someone with whom they have a good rapport and who is easy to deal with, rather than by a strict mentor who is challenging to work with. It is crucial that you have a thorough conversation first and discuss the necessity of a recommendation letter before making a formal request for one. Before drafting your letter of recommendation, the recommender should have a quick note, a summary of the course, and an understanding of your areas of interest. Just be careful to include dates of association that are exact and clear.
In a word, the finest recommendation letters are written by people who willingly agree to do so and are not under any pressure. For instance, what good is asking someone to write a recommendation if they don't have time or are too busy and only manage to write 50 words instead of 200–250? It is bad form to write a letter that is hazy, sloppy, and hurried. A recommendation ought to come from a person with the required standing; this would lend the letter more authority. Therefore, choose someone carefully when asking them to write a letter of recommendation for you.