Letters of recommendation too often do not tell recipients what they need to know about a candidate. The letters may address irrelevant qualities of the candidate or they may discuss only vague generalities. Faced with this problem, many employers prefer telephone interviews; however, people in higher education continue to rely on letters of recommendation. Some suggestions for writing effective letters that have been offered by experienced letter readers are: (1) don't rely on a predetermined list of questions; (2) explain your relationship to the candidate; (3) learn about the candidate's career goals; (4) compare the candidate to others; (5) tailor the letter to the specific position or program being applied for; (6) back up your remarks with details; (7) decline the candidate's request for a letter if you feel uncomfortable about writing it; (8) elaborate on the limitations of the candidate's current position; (9) avoid sexist or racist remarks; (10) watch for phrasing which could be misunderstood; (11) volunteer to provide further information by telephone; (12) keep the letter brief; and (13) end on an upbeat note. (DC)