Students & Alumni

Requesting Letters of Recommendation

Candidates for employment, graduate school, scholarships, or any activity for which others will evaluate their talents and abilities will need to request letters of recommendation. The content and quality of these letters, as well as the caliber of the people who write them, are critical to the selection process. With this in mind, let’s look at the steps you should take to obtain good letters of recommendation. 

Selecting People to Serve as References 

• Select individuals whom you feel are knowledgeable of your skills, work ethic, talents, and future capacity. Be sure they also desire to do whatever they can to help you succeed. Do not choose people who are not committed to you, or who are not very familiar with your background. 

• Never assume someone will want the responsibility of serving as your reference. Make an appointment to discuss your career goals and the purpose of the letter of recommendation. Determine if the person would want the responsibility of serving as your reference, which involves not only writing a letter supporting your skills, but also handling any phone inquiries and responding to other questions that may be posed by a selection committee. People who serve as references have responsibilities that go beyond the words they put on paper. They should feel strongly about your success and desire to do whatever they can to assist you in reaching your goals. You have come too far to let someone jeopardize your future.

• Once you have determined their interest in you, you must assist them so they can do the best job possible. Provide them with a copy of your current resume, job descriptions for the type of employment you desire, or other detailed information related to the purpose of the letter. List any achievements or skills exhibited with the person who will be writing the letter. They may not remember everything you did under their supervision or in the time spent with you.. Finally, provide them with a statement of future goals outlining what you want to accomplish in the next few years. 

• Each situation will dictate the appropriate number of references that will be required. The average would be three to five letters of recommendation. Generally, references are from people whom you have known professionally; they should not be from family and friends. When selecting people as references, choose people who know you well and who would have the most to say pertaining to the purpose of the letter. One person may be very appropriate for a reference for employment, while another would be best for use in admission to graduate or professional school. 

• If you are an Education Major, you are encouraged to request a letter from your cooperating teacher, supervising teacher, professor(s) in your major, and a current or former employer. 

• Give your reference writers ample time to complete their letters and provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Don’t require your reference provider to search for the proper return address and a stamp. Follow up with your letter writers and let them know the status of your plans and search. They will want to know. You never know when you will need their assistance again, and it is just good manners to keep those who care about you informed of your progress. 
  
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