Who should write the letter?

Someone who knows the candidate’s work well, such as a professor, manager or mentor. Candidates can prepare a draft, but the recommender should review, edit and sign it.

What makes a recommendation letter strong?

Concrete examples and results — a project, a ranking or a measurable impact — rather than general praise. Ask the AI to add specifics you provide.

Can I use it for a job instead of admissions?

Yes — change the recipient to the hiring manager and the subject to the role, or ask the AI to rewrite it for a job application.

Career

Letter of recommendation generator

A formal recommendation letter for a job or university application, on the recommender’s letterhead.

A good recommendation letter is specific: how you know the candidate, what they achieved and why they will succeed. Give PDFgen a few facts about the person and the program or job, and it drafts a formal letter on your letterhead that you can edit and sign.

Professors, managers and HR teams who write many letters can save the template and change only the candidate details each time.

Generate a Letter of Recommendation PDF via the API

POST your data to /api/v1/generate and get a PDF back. Copy-paste an example, swap in your API key, and loop over a list to render thousands — one letter of recommendation per record.

curl -X POST https://pdfgen.com/api/v1/generate \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer pdfg_live_xxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "data": {
      "recommender": {
        "name": "Dr. Sarah Okafor",
        "title": "Associate Professor of Computer Science",
        "organization": "Westbrook University",
        "email": "s.okafor@westbrook.edu",
        "phone": "+1 (617) 555-0193"
      },
      "date": "2026-10-28",
      "recipient": "Graduate Admissions Committee\nNorthbridge University",
      "candidate": {
        "name": "Aarav Mehta",
        "program": "MS in Computer Science"
      },
      "greeting": "Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,",
      "paragraphs": [
        "I am delighted to recommend Aarav Mehta for your MS in Computer Science. I have known Aarav for three years, first as a student in my Algorithms course and then as a research assistant in my lab.",
        "Aarav finished in the top 3% of a class of 180. More impressive than his grades was how he thinks: he asks sharp questions, tests his ideas carefully and explains complex results clearly to others.",
        "In my lab he built a data pipeline that cut our experiment turnaround from two days to four hours, and he co-authored a workshop paper on efficient graph search. He worked independently, met every deadline and was generous in helping newer students.",
        "Aarav has the ability, curiosity and maturity to excel in graduate study. I recommend him without reservation and would be glad to answer any questions."
      ],
      "closing": "Sincerely,"
    },
    "format": "A4",
    "engine": "handlebars",
    "html": "<div style=\"max-width:700px;margin:0 auto;padding:56px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#111827;line-height:1.7;font-size:14px;\">\n  <div style=\"border-left:4px solid #b45309;padding-left:16px;margin-bottom:30px;\">\n    <h1 style=\"font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0;\">{{recommender.name}}</h1>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#b45309;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:12px;\">{{recommender.email}} &middot; {{recommender.phone}}</p>\n  </div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 18px;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{formatDate date}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 22px;white-space:pre-line;\">{{recipient}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-weight:700;\">Letter of recommendation for {{candidate.name}}, {{candidate.program}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;\">{{greeting}}</p>\n  {{#each paragraphs}}<p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;color:#374151;\">{{this}}</p>{{/each}}\n  <p style=\"margin:24px 0 0;\">{{closing}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:30px 0 0;font-weight:700;\">{{recommender.name}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n</div>"
  }' --output recommendation-letter.pdf

import fs from "node:fs";

// The Handlebars template (edit once, reuse for every render).
const template = "<div style=\"max-width:700px;margin:0 auto;padding:56px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#111827;line-height:1.7;font-size:14px;\">\n  <div style=\"border-left:4px solid #b45309;padding-left:16px;margin-bottom:30px;\">\n    <h1 style=\"font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0;\">{{recommender.name}}</h1>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#b45309;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:12px;\">{{recommender.email}} &middot; {{recommender.phone}}</p>\n  </div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 18px;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{formatDate date}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 22px;white-space:pre-line;\">{{recipient}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-weight:700;\">Letter of recommendation for {{candidate.name}}, {{candidate.program}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;\">{{greeting}}</p>\n  {{#each paragraphs}}<p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;color:#374151;\">{{this}}</p>{{/each}}\n  <p style=\"margin:24px 0 0;\">{{closing}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:30px 0 0;font-weight:700;\">{{recommender.name}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n</div>";

const res = await fetch("https://pdfgen.com/api/v1/generate", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    Authorization: "Bearer pdfg_live_xxx",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    html: template,
    engine: "handlebars",
    format: "A4",
    data: {
      "recommender": {
        "name": "Dr. Sarah Okafor",
        "title": "Associate Professor of Computer Science",
        "organization": "Westbrook University",
        "email": "s.okafor@westbrook.edu",
        "phone": "+1 (617) 555-0193"
      },
      "date": "2026-10-28",
      "recipient": "Graduate Admissions Committee\nNorthbridge University",
      "candidate": {
        "name": "Aarav Mehta",
        "program": "MS in Computer Science"
      },
      "greeting": "Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,",
      "paragraphs": [
        "I am delighted to recommend Aarav Mehta for your MS in Computer Science. I have known Aarav for three years, first as a student in my Algorithms course and then as a research assistant in my lab.",
        "Aarav finished in the top 3% of a class of 180. More impressive than his grades was how he thinks: he asks sharp questions, tests his ideas carefully and explains complex results clearly to others.",
        "In my lab he built a data pipeline that cut our experiment turnaround from two days to four hours, and he co-authored a workshop paper on efficient graph search. He worked independently, met every deadline and was generous in helping newer students.",
        "Aarav has the ability, curiosity and maturity to excel in graduate study. I recommend him without reservation and would be glad to answer any questions."
      ],
      "closing": "Sincerely,"
    },
  }),
});

fs.writeFileSync("recommendation-letter.pdf", Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer()));

import requests

# The Handlebars template (edit once, reuse for every render).
template = "<div style=\"max-width:700px;margin:0 auto;padding:56px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Segoe UI,Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#111827;line-height:1.7;font-size:14px;\">\n  <div style=\"border-left:4px solid #b45309;padding-left:16px;margin-bottom:30px;\">\n    <h1 style=\"font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0;\">{{recommender.name}}</h1>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#b45309;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n    <p style=\"margin:2px 0 0;color:#6b7280;font-size:12px;\">{{recommender.email}} &middot; {{recommender.phone}}</p>\n  </div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 18px;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{formatDate date}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 22px;white-space:pre-line;\">{{recipient}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-weight:700;\">Letter of recommendation for {{candidate.name}}, {{candidate.program}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;\">{{greeting}}</p>\n  {{#each paragraphs}}<p style=\"margin:0 0 14px;color:#374151;\">{{this}}</p>{{/each}}\n  <p style=\"margin:24px 0 0;\">{{closing}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:30px 0 0;font-weight:700;\">{{recommender.name}}</p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;color:#6b7280;font-size:13px;\">{{recommender.title}}, {{recommender.organization}}</p>\n</div>"

res = requests.post(
    "https://pdfgen.com/api/v1/generate",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer pdfg_live_xxx"},
    json={
        "html": template,
        "engine": "handlebars",
        "format": "A4",
        "data": {
            "recommender": {
                "name": "Dr. Sarah Okafor",
                "title": "Associate Professor of Computer Science",
                "organization": "Westbrook University",
                "email": "s.okafor@westbrook.edu",
                "phone": "+1 (617) 555-0193"
            },
            "date": "2026-10-28",
            "recipient": "Graduate Admissions Committee\nNorthbridge University",
            "candidate": {
                "name": "Aarav Mehta",
                "program": "MS in Computer Science"
            },
            "greeting": "Dear Members of the Admissions Committee,",
            "paragraphs": [
                "I am delighted to recommend Aarav Mehta for your MS in Computer Science. I have known Aarav for three years, first as a student in my Algorithms course and then as a research assistant in my lab.",
                "Aarav finished in the top 3% of a class of 180. More impressive than his grades was how he thinks: he asks sharp questions, tests his ideas carefully and explains complex results clearly to others.",
                "In my lab he built a data pipeline that cut our experiment turnaround from two days to four hours, and he co-authored a workshop paper on efficient graph search. He worked independently, met every deadline and was generous in helping newer students.",
                "Aarav has the ability, curiosity and maturity to excel in graduate study. I recommend him without reservation and would be glad to answer any questions."
            ],
            "closing": "Sincerely,"
        },
    },
)

with open("recommendation-letter.pdf", "wb") as f:
    f.write(res.content)

Working in another language? Follow a full guide for your stack:

Node.js Next.js React Python Django Ruby on Rails Laravel PHP Go

What you can build

Professors recommending students for graduate programs
Managers recommending a former team member for a new job
Students preparing a draft for their recommender to review
Scholarship and fellowship applications

Frequently asked questions

Who should write the letter?: Someone who knows the candidate’s work well, such as a professor, manager or mentor. Candidates can prepare a draft, but the recommender should review, edit and sign it.
What makes a recommendation letter strong?: Concrete examples and results — a project, a ranking or a measurable impact — rather than general praise. Ask the AI to add specifics you provide.
Can I use it for a job instead of admissions?: Yes — change the recipient to the hiring manager and the subject to the role, or ask the AI to rewrite it for a job application.

Related templates

Career

Ship your letter of recommendation PDF endpoint today

Generate this template with AI, tweak it to match your brand, then render at scale with a single API call — no headless browsers to babysit.

Letter of recommendation generator

Generate a Letter of Recommendation PDF via the API

What you can build

Frequently asked questions

Related templates

Resume / CV

Cover Letter

Invoice

Ship your letter of recommendation PDF endpoint today