# Recommendation Letter Workflow

> Use when creating or maintaining a repository of recommendation letters for applications, especially Quarto-based .qmd letters rendered to PDF. Use for bootstrapping a new repo, adding a new institution folder, editing an existing letter, or rendering final PDFs from application-specific materials.

- Skill: `wolf5996/recommendation-letter-workflow` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add wolf5996/recommendation-letter-workflow`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/wolf5996/recommendation-letter-workflow/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Docs & Writing
- Author: wolf5996 (https://skillmd.com/u/wolf5996)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/wolf5996/recommendation-letter-workflow

---


# Recommendation Letter Workflow

Use this skill for the full recommendation-letter pipeline: repository setup, dated folder naming, QMD drafting, description notes, and PDF rendering.

## When To Use

- A new recommendation-letter repository needs to be created.
- An existing repository needs a new institution/application folder.
- A .qmd letter needs to be edited, rendered, or archived.
- Supporting application material needs to be turned into a referee letter or questionnaire answer.

## Core Workflow

1. Inspect the current repository state first.
2. If starting fresh, create the standard folder structure from [repository conventions](references/repository-conventions.md).
3. Name application folders `YYYY-MM-DD_institution/`.
4. Duplicate the template QMD into the new dated folder and tailor recipient details, date, and body text.
5. Create a `description.qmd` that records what was changed and why.
6. Render with `quarto render <folder>/<file>.qmd`.
7. Check the PDF for placeholders, date accuracy, recipient accuracy, and layout issues.

## Editing Rules

- Keep the repository organized around dated application folders plus a shared `template/`.
- Use the repository's existing prose and formatting patterns unless the target institution requires a different tone.
- Replace institution-specific placeholders in both opening and closing paragraphs.
- Keep claims grounded in the applicant information already available in the repo.
- If a questionnaire is requested, answer directly in the same style as the letters and save the final text in Markdown.

## Output Expectations

- For new work, create the repository structure, template, application folder, `qmd`, and `description.qmd`.
- For existing work, update only the relevant dated folder and its rendered PDF.
- Prefer concise, reusable text that can be adapted across institutions without inventing new facts.

## Additional Guidelines

For letter content quality standards (section limits, specificity rules, superlative caps, and formatting constraints), see [editorial guidelines](references/editorial-guidelines.md).

## If You Need More Detail

See [repository conventions](references/repository-conventions.md) for the exact folder layout, naming patterns, and template structure used in this repository.