Letters of Recommendation
Like most graduate programs, some professional positions require letters of recommendation. Although your letters will not be made public, it is important that you follow a few guidelines to get best results.
- Understand the requirements. Make sure to follow all of the directions listed when seeking out letters, especially how the letters should be submitted and when.
- Choose writers wisely. Make sure you know who would be the best person to write a letter for you. Academic references like faculty are commonly expected for graduate programs, but employers are looking for work-related references as well. Make sure to choose someone who knows who are and your work ethic very well. You want to choose someone who can really make a case for your success in the position.
- Provide lead time. Be sure to give your writer at least one month lead time so that you are not disappointed.
- Help your writers help you. For a courtesy, you should provide your writers with an overview of your goals, a copy of your resume, and some information about the requirements of the letter so they can tell how to frame what they write.
