Job Search Letter Help: Letter of Recommendation

General

Sep 26

Today I heard from a college student, Sarah, who is concerned about the letter of recommendation her college professor wrote. Sarah thought that she had a nice rapport with the professor and was surprised the letter was so impersonal and short. Below is the letter that he wrote.

She is correct to be concerned. The professor merely states the facts of his contact with her and gives luke-warm praise of her accomplishments and skills. This is not a letter that I would advise Sarah to use in her job search. It reads like a canned form letter. However, I do not fault the professor.

Sarah can turn this situation around to acquire letters of recommendations that will impress hiring managers. Sarah actually has more control over the situation than she realized. You do too. Here are a few tips for getting letters of recommendation that sing your praises and are relevant to your career goal.

Tip One: Professors are very busy and are asked by many students for recommendations. They are not required to write a letter for you. Ask professors with whom you have a strong rapport to provide a letter. Always make the request in person and at least four weeks before you need the letter. If the professor declines, thank him for his consideration and move forward to the next person on your list.

Tip Two: Make the job easier for the professor. In addition to your resume, provide the professor with a one-page overview of your accomplishments and your current career goal. Include your academic achievements, example of an area in which you have developed during your college career, your characteristics (such as strong communication skills, persistence, or diligence), your reason for choosing your field of study, and lastly, your career goal and how it relates to your studies.

Tip Three: Send a thank you letter to the professor. It is courteous to be appreciative in a formal manner. Also, showing gratitude builds relationships. When you land your job, send an email to those that recommended you. They will be delighted to have contributed to your success.