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  • How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation are important, so

  • target your approach by identifying the right people and keeping timing in mind. You will

  • need A list of key individuals People skills Communication skills Sufficient timeframes

  • A fact sheet and an "out". Step 1. Make a list of the most influential

  • people you know who are also familiar with you professionally and personally. Include

  • those who have authored recommendation letters for others. Choose a highly regarded current

  • or past supervisor, a professor, or a high-level business person who knows you well enough

  • to cite specific examples and anecdotes. Step 2. Schedule a timeframe for getting the letters

  • to prospective employers. Factor in one or two months for each writer to satisfy your

  • request. Step 3. Assess the comfort level of the individual before you ask for the recommendation.

  • Knowing the person you are asking is essential to deciding how, when, and if you should ask.

  • Step 4. Ask for the recommendation politely and with confidence. Be forthright and let

  • the individual know why you need this recommendation and how important it is to you and your success.

  • Step 5. Offer the individual a fact sheet about yourself to help them compose the letter,

  • including as biographical data, employment, academic, and volunteer history, and awards.

  • Step 6. Offer assistance with the composition of the letter, if needed. Step 7. Allow your

  • potential writer an "out," or a graceful way to say no. This allows them to avoid embarrassment.

  • Just don't make it too easy for them to decline! Step 8. Say thank you in advance, and send

  • them a gentle reminder, either via phone or e-mail, a couple of weeks before the recommendation

  • is due. Did you know Did you know? A study found that recommendation letters for women

  • applying for faculty positions at a medical school were significantly shorter than letters

  • for men.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation are important, so

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