Asking for a Letter of Recommendation: Do’s and Don’ts

Resume and Interview Guide

Job Interview Tips & Tricks

Home
About

Phone Interview Tips

Employers use telephone interviews as a way of identifying and recruiting candidates for employment. Phone interviews are often used to screen candidates in order to narrow the pool of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews. They are also used as way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates. While you're actively job searching, it's important...

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation: Do’s and Don’ts

The letter of recommendation is a critical component of your graduate school admissions application, yet is entirely dependent on someone else -- your professor. How you request a letter influences professors' responses and ultimately the quality of your letter of recommendation. Dont ask for a recommendation letter by email. Don’t spring it on the faculty member. Don’t ask before or...

Interview Questions and Answers

Job interviews are always stressful - even for job seekers who have gone on countless interviews. The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the "standard" interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Then take the time to research the company. That way you'll be ready with knowledgeable...

Job Interview Thank-You Letter Formula

Why don't more job-seekers write thank-you letters? Some say it's simply too hard. Nonsense. It's not any harder than writing your resume or preparing for the interview. More importantly, it's one of your last chances to sell the employer that you are the perfect person for the job! Job-seekers should ideally send thank-you letters within 24 hours after a job interview -- and certai...

Resume submission tips and/or tricks?

Question: What are the top tricks for getting an interview? I've heard of people doing some crazy things to insure that the resume makes it to the hiring manager and past the "gate keeper" Answer: Great question! Before outlining the tricks that I have found over the years, note that before using these tips, the job seeker should evaluate the position they ...

Job Interview Tips Job Interview Tips and Advice

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier - even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know. Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively. Proper preparation which help alleviate some of the stress involved in job int...

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation: Do’s and Don’ts

Posted By: admin on December 31, 2009 in Recommendation Letter - Comments: No Comments »

The letter of recommendation is a critical component of your graduate school admissions application, yet is entirely dependent on someone else — your professor. How you request a letter influences professors’ responses and ultimately the quality of your letter of recommendation.

Dont ask for a recommendation letter by email.

Don’t spring it on the faculty member. Don’t ask before or after class, in the hall, or at any other random time.

Arrange an appointment, explaining that you wish to discuss your plans to apply to graduate school. This gives the professor a heads up and a chance to think about whether he or she can write a helpful letter on your behalf.

Don’t ask, “could you write a letter?” Instead ask, “Do you feel that you are able to write a letter supporting my application to graduate school.” Ask whether the faculty member feels that he or she can write a “helpful letter.” You don’t need any old letter – you need a good letter.

Prepare. Be prepared to discuss the type of degree you seek, programs to which you applying, how you arrived at your choices, goals for graduate study, future aspirations, and why you believe the faculty member is a good candidate to write a letter of your behalf.

Give the faculty member enough time to write a good letter. Writing a letter of recommendation isn’t easy. Ask at least a month before the due date. Earlier is better.

Remember to tell the professor the application due date.

Don’t make faculty rush as it will result in an average or even mediocre letter. When every recommendation letter an admissions committee receives is stellar, average will hurt your application.

Give the professor what he or she needs to write an informed letter, including recommendation forms, transcript, essays, and other essential information.

Print out information for each program so that faculty have the information they need to tailor your application to the program.

Find Premium Finance Jobs on Doostang. Start Now! www.Doostang.com

Be neat. Place all of your documentation in a folder and neatly label each item. Clip each recommendation form to supporting documentation, relevant admissions essays, and a stamped envelope. Use a sticky note to mark the deadline on each. Neatness counts because it gives faculty the impression that you are organized and it makes their job easier.

Ask for input on your choices and overall advice. If the faculty member offers to review your admissions essay, take him or her up on it – and use their advice to improve your essay.

Pay attention to signals that faculty member does not want to write a letter on your behalf. Anything other than a glowing letter can harm your application. You don’t want a lukewarm letter – it’s the kiss of death.

Take no for an answer. If a faculty declines to write you a letter, don’t push. He or she is doing you a favor

M	T	W	T	F	S	S

	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31

Asking for a Letter of Recommendation: Do’s and Don’ts

Leave a Reply

Categories

Recent Posts

Featured Sites

Archives

Meta