Some
employers will request two-three letters of recommendation from
someone that you know such as a reference. Letters of recommendation
allow the coordinators to form an idea of who you are as an
individual through someone else's opinion. These letters can
be extremely important, and they should reveal information about
you that is not necessarily mentioned in your application, resume,
etc. A good letter of recommendation can often be persuasive
to the coordinator, especially if there is a “borderline”
decision between you and another applicant.
Who to Ask to Write a Letter of Recommendation
Ask people who have known you in different situations (i.e.
job supervisor, professor, coach, religious leaders, etc.) so
they may speak about your various qualities. A diverse group
of letters can create a broader and more accurate picture of
you as a person. Unfortunately, your parents/guardian and all
family members are excluded.
In
general, the best letters of recommendation are from people
who:
•
Have
worked with you closely (i.e. teacher, coach, supervisor)
•
Have
known you long enough to write with authority (i.e. academic
advisor)
•
Are
well known (i.e. a departmental chair, head coach, principal,
instructor)
•
Have
a positive opinion of you and your abilities
If you are not sure whether prospective letter writers know
you well or have a positive impression of you to write a good
letter, there is nothing wrong with asking them whether they
would be able to write a good letter. After all, if you are
going to compete with other applicants who have glowing letters
of recommendation, a bland or somewhat positive letter from
someone who does not really know you, besides your name on a
roll call, can actually do more harm than good.
Advice
and Tips
Once you have 3-4 letter writers, there are several things
you can do to increase your chances of receiving glowing
letters of recommendation:
•
Start
Early
Give your writers plenty of time to write a good letter
and not to miss any application deadlines. If you are
going to ask a teacher or someone at school, you must
ask them early, since their schedule gets busier throughout
the school year. Make sure to give your writers as much
time as possible before the application deadline. A minimum
of three or four weeks is customary and will allow you
to check back a few days before the deadline to ensure
that the letter was completed and has been sent to the
scholarship provider according to their guidelines. In
some cases, letter writers may request the applicant to
write the first draft.
•
Internship/Co-op
Details
Give each reference information about the organization,
internship/co-op position, guidelines, eligibility requirements,
deadline, and specific instructions (if any) regarding
the letter of recommendation.
•
Give
Your Input
You can help your letter writers create a good letter
of recommendation by providing them with useful information
about yourself, especially if you have not worked with
them for several months. This information will also refresh
their memories with details of your goals, skills, work
habits, and achievements. A good letter of recommendation
should be not longer than two pages in length.
Below is the type of information letter writers often
find helpful when writing recommendation letters:
• Career Objective
• Education
• Academic/Athletic Achievements
• Extracurricular Activities
• Work Experiences
• Resume
