Thread: Reference letter

Добрый день!
Если у вас есть минутка, не в службу, а в дружбу, пожалуйста, проверьте эти две рекомендации. Укажите на ошибки и, если можете, добавьте полезных фраз, которые я мог бы также использовать. Да и советы по структуре не помешали бы.
Спасибо заранее.

Hello!
If you have spare time, could you please check this two reference letters for me? If it is possible, please also provide me with advice about some useful phrases and letter structure.
Thank you in advance.


Reference Letter 1
Click here to unfold

Reference Letter 2
Click here to unfold

Originally Posted by sergey.k

Добрый день!
Если у вас есть минутка, не в службу, а в дружбу, пожалуйста, проверьте эти две рекомендации. Укажите на ошибки и, если можете, добавьте полезных фраз, которые я мог бы также использовать. Да и советы по структуре не помешали бы.
Спасибо заранее.

Hello!
If you have spare time, could you please check this two reference letters for me? If it is possible, please also provide me with advice about some useful phrases and letter structure.
Thank you in advance.


To Whom it May Concern:
25, December, 2009
Reference Letter 1
I would like to recommend Sergey Ivanov as a competent specialist in the field of Electronics Engineering. I have known Sergey Ivanov for four years, his performance working as an Electronics Engineer in Some Research Bureau proved that he is an accurate, intelligent, trustworthy and reliable person.
Sergey worked with me on various projects and based on his work I would rank him as a specialist in the field of Electronics Engineering. Sergey is highly intelligent and combines professional knowledge and good communication and people skills. He is a creative engineer who is able to work independently without supervision and can communicate effectively in a group. Sergey showed himself as an expert in embedded software design.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call me +74955550000.
Sincerely,
/Signature/
Anna Petrovna, Principal Engineer of Information and Telecommunication Department of Some Research Bureau.


To Whom it May Concern:
24, December, 2009
Reference Letter 2
I have been working with Sergey Ivanov since 2005 in Some Research Bureau as his supervisor. I know him closely and recommend him as a competent Electronics Engineer.
In April, 1, 2005 Sergey Ivanov started working in our company part time as he was continuing his study at university. During this time he demonstrated a strong interest in, and knowledge of, Electronics Engineering and proved that he has a capacity to quickly gasp new theories and applications. After graduation in April, 1, 2006 Sergey continued working in the company on a constant basis at full time position as Senior Radio Engineer.
Sergey was involved in several projects during his work at Research Bureau. The most important project was the development of a management system for a satellite communication network. His duties in this project were to design, implement, optimize and test monitoring software, electronic device drivers and management software for Linux operating system as part of the management system. He had to design algorithms, accept the structure and the approach of the design, work with microwave communication devices, develop project documentation and provide me with weekly written progress reports. In the final stage he had to conduct the training of the personal who was to administer the system permanently.
Sergey Ivanov is currently holding a paid 20 hours per week position in Some Research Bureau as Senior Electronics Engineer and is engaged in the project of development of transmission and storage data system. He is a leader of the team with two software developers reporting to him. Sergey is well-organized, self-motivated and a determined person and does an excellent job in his position. He has excellent written and verbal communication skills and can work as an effective leader of a team.
Sergey Ivanov is highly recommended as an Electronics Engineer.
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me either by e-mail helloworld@example.com or by phone +74955550000.
Yours Sincerely,
/Signature/
Ivan Vasilievich, Head of Information and Telecommunication Department of Some Research Bureau.

Only minor corrections needed.

Scott

Haha, I have read lots worse recommendation letters written by native speakers.
After the corrections this is absolutely fine. This will do perfectly for whatever purpose that you need it for. Remember that nobody expects a Russian person who lives in Russia to write a perfect English-style recommendation letter in English anyway.

Sergey...

Here are some links about writing business letters:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/02/
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/01/

If by regular mail, the format would be:

FirstName LastName
Your Address
Your City and Postal code
Your Country
xxx@xxx.com


Date

Person's First and Last Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
USA

Dear Mr. or Ms. XXX:

Example:
Anna Petrovna
Your Address
Your City and Postal code
Your Country
Anna Petrovna at gmail.com
ID# xxxxxx

June 30, 2009

Ernie English
1234 Writing Lab Lane
Write City, IN 12345

Dear Mr. English:


If by email the format would be:

Dear Mr. or Ms. XXX:


If by Fax:
Anna Petrovna
Your Address
Your City and Postal code
Your Country
Anna Petrovna at gmail.com
ID# xxxxxx

Date

Person's First and Last Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
USA

(this should be in the center of the page) SENT VIA FACSIMILIE

Dear Mr. or Ms. XXX:

Example:

Anna Petrovna
Your Address
Your City and Postal code
Your Country
Anna Petrovna at gmail.com
ID# xxxxxx

June 30, 2009

Ernie English
1234 Writing Lab Lane
Write City, IN 12345

(this should be in the center of the page) SENT VIA FACSIMILIE

Dear Mr. English:

-------
Note: I used Anna's name and address as she is the one "writing" the letter

Now about your letters...Scott and Johanna both agree that they are fine for folks IN Russia and I will take their word on that as I have never been IN Russia. HOWEVER....IF they are for a US based company, let me know and I will rewrite them for you to be correct for that market.

Best of luck!

Thank you guys!
I used example letters from the Internet but I didn't expect to make such a little amount of mistakes. I asked my teacher to check the letters and he managed to find some inapropriate words and phrases. He also told me that the overall impression was fine though!