I have written many recommendation letters and currently find myself annoyed at the formality of the whole thing. YES, it is appropriate in most cases but in others I feel extreme formality takes away from the message you are to convey to the employer. While I understand the level of professionalism these must carry, I also find that a more relaxed redaction may tell the employer far more about the individual being recommended than a more rigid and formal method. Any employer out there that can provide some feedback?
In my experience of giving a recommendation letter, writing the letter would help but isn't really the point of the "recommendation". That's why some schools or employers ask for a recommendation letter is to know the person in a much personal level. I think it would be hard to still be formal if you would be writing about a person in your personal point-of-view. Whenever I write my letters, I would mention the accomplishments of the person but I usually would delve more into the character. Achievements and accomplishment stuff, well, I assume the person would provide documents regarding those but the personal point-of-view...now that's unique to you. So for example, I would mention if the person is easy to get along or funny since these are characteristics that employers or schools would like to know.
Though I am not an employer but I will like to express my view in PhD or Post Doc perspective. I think it's nothing more than a formality and I am not even sure that the concerned authority even read that, because it must have been a positive recomendation otherwise the sender might have not send that. In my opinion we must come out of unnecessary formalities.
I have long-term experience with recommendation letters and I may suggest that recommendation letter is not so formal. First of all, it is important who is writing and signing the letter, how responsible and familiar is the authority - employer or supervisor. Then, the content of letter is also significant to have clear opinion or view point about the person - applicant for position or grant.
It should be more on the formal side as your future employer wants to know more about your academic/work/research skills. Recommendation letters usually ends with some personal notes which reflects whether a person is easier to work with or not (i.e. team player).
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