Thursday, November 21, 2019
How to gracefully ask someone for a letter of recommendation
How to gracefully ask someone for a letter of recommendation How to gracefully ask someone for a letter of recommendation So, youâre applying for grad school or a new job. Maybe youâre even going for a volunteering gig. Most likely, those adventures require letters of recommendation. If youâve never asked for one before, going about it can seem⦠tricky.Follow Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Laddersâ magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and more!Do you catch up with the person first? Or do you use the more direct approach? Hereâs the best way to ask someone for a letter of recommendation.If You Know Someone Really WellWhether itâs a favorite former boss or your thesis advisor, you should casually email or give this person a call if you feel close enough.A phone call sounds more personal, and if you donât feel comfortable cold-calling, you can always email beforehand and ask for a reasonable time to chat.Catch up for a bit, and then say something like, âIâve decided to pursue X, and I feel that we had a great working relationship and you can speak to my work ethic and achievements.Would you be willing to write me a letter of recommendation?â Easy, right? Well, if theyâre really that close to you, asking wonât be so nerve-wracking asâ¦If You Donât Know Someone Really WellSometimes, you gotta pull from a boss you had a few years back or a professor who worked with you on a certain project but wasnât super close to you. Itâs important to warm them up before asking, mainly because youâll want to refresh their memory on everything you did together.First, send a cordial email with a subject line that says something like âSaying hi!â or âChecking in!â Start out by asking how they are and about some part of the school or organization that theyâd be able to answer.For example, âHowâs French class this semester? I know around this time, we were covering tensesâ¦âThen, after they reply, feel them out. Itâs important to be honest with yourself about how you think this exchange is going. If they donât seem super interested in speaking, maybe you shouldnât ask them for a letter of recommendation after all, especially if youâre getting the vibe that they wouldnât have much of substance to say about you.But if it feels right, respond to whatever they said, and then go into your spiel: âIâve decided to pursue X. I loved working under you, and I believe you can speak to the projects I accomplished with your guidance.Would you be willing to write me a letter of recommendation? Thanks so much and looking forward to hearing from you soon!âThe Bottom LineUltimately, itâs just a question. But taking the time to speak with someone genuinely before asking a favor of them is really important. Even more important: If they agree to write you one, write them a great thank-you note, either in person or in an email, for helping you.The personal touch goes a long way.This article first appeared on Swirled.
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