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Make a formal request of your professor (by email or by appointment), asking if he or she would be willing to write a letter or fill out a form on your behalf. Explain the purpose of the recommendation and why you have chosen the professor. Give the professor time to consider your request.
Requesting a recommendation can be a delicate conversation no matter who you choose to ask. People are busy, and it’s always a little awkward to seek praise in the form of a letter. … It’s acceptable to ask your current employer to write you a referral letter for a different job.
Academic advisors, supervisors, professors and colleagues—both present and past—are all appropriate people you can email to ask for a letter of recommendation. The person you approach should be someone who knows you well and has a positive perception of your work.
What to Include in an Email Request. When sending the email message, include your name in the subject line. (For example: “Joe Smith – Recommendation Request.”) If you don’t know the professor or advisor well, make your connection clear in the email.
You’re asking for a favor, and it’s not polite to ask on short notice. Admit that upfront and apologize for it, even if you don’t feel like it’s really your fault. Second, have a good reason for asking so late, and tell it. Not an excuse — an actual reason.
If You Don’t Know Someone Really Well
First, send a cordial email with a subject line that says something like “Saying hi!” or “Checking in!” Start out by asking how they are and about some part of the school or organization that they’d be able to answer. For example, “How’s French class this semester?
Dear [First and Last Name], It’s my absolute pleasure to recommend [Name] for [position] with [Company]. [Name] and I [relationship] at [Company] for [length of time]. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with [Name], and came to know [him/her/them] as a truly valuable asset to our team.
Ask At Least a Month Before Your College Deadlines
Unless your school or teachers set other policies, you should ask for recommendation letters about four weeks before your college deadlines. If your deadlines vary, then ask four weeks before your earliest one.
DO: Be Polite.
This one is a given regardless of who you are asking to write a recommendation letter for you. It doesn’t matter if whoever you are asking is someone that you spend time with outside of your job or school. Manners show that you are serious about what you are doing.
*The subject line should read: “Letter of Recommendation for (your name).” *Let the individual know in the first sentence what the purpose of the e-mail is. So, in other words, directly request the letter. Instead of just asking for a letter of recommendation, ask for a strong letter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McnBFDnlg-E
As the deadline approaches, you may get anxious about whether your referees will submit their letters in time. … By sending a gentle reminder two weeks before the deadline, you give them enough time to compose their letters in way that does not make them feel rushed.
Best way to request a recommendation
Go to the Recommendation section on your profile and click on the Ask for a recommendation button.
You can write a recommendation on LinkedIn for your first-degree connections, such as coworkers, friends, clients, or anyone you worked with in any capacity. … LinkedIn recommendations are available for anyone to see, not just the recommendation’s recipient or the person requesting it.
Some useful phrases might be: “This is in response to your recent request for a letter of recommendation for [name of the person]” or “I am pleased to be able to write this letter of recommendation for [name of the person].” Other possible introductory phrases include “I have no hesitancy in writing a letter of …
A recommendation letter should include information on who you are, your connection with the person you are recommending, why they are qualified, and the specific skills they have. Specifics. Whenever possible, it’s helpful to provide specific anecdotes and examples that illustrate your support.
Recommendations should be one-sentence, succinct, and start with an action verb (create, establish, fund, facilitate, coordinate, etc.). They should use a “SMART” format (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). Each recommendation should be followed by a few sentences of explanatory text.
Each letter should also contain the following six basic sections: address and date, relationship to the candidate, quality of work, individual characteristics, letter summary, and signature.