Tips for Asking for a Letter of Recommendation

Tips for Asking for a Letter of RecommendationTips for Asking for a Letter of RecommendationIf youre interviewing for a new job, you should expect to haveyour references checkedprior to getting an offer. Having good references can make or break the possibility of a job offer, so review these tips for asking for a letter of recommendation. In addition, check out these sample reference lettersso you know what kind of information you need to send to the person wholl be providing your recommendation. Be sure to choose the right people to ask forletters of recommendation, and ask them far enough in advance so that youre notlage rushing them. If you plan ahead and compile alist of referencesso that you can get your recommendation letters now, it will ensure youre prepared when aprospective employer requestsa reference letter, or two. Who to Ask for References On average, employers checkthree referencesfor each candidate. However, you cant have too many people in your corner, and it can be helpful to have a selection of people vouch for you who are knowledgeable about different aspects of your abilities. That way you can choose the best references for each type of company youre applying to. Select People Who Will Give You a Strong EndorsementIts important to know your references well. You need to select responsive people who can confirm where you worked, your title, your reason for leaving, detailsregarding your strengths, and why you would be a good employee. Its also important to have a good idea of what references are going to say about your background and your performance. Make sure that any information provided by your references corroborates what you have written in your resume and talked about in your interviews. Inconsistent information can jeopardize your chances at a job offer, or evencause it to be withdrawn. References Dont Have to Be from EmployersIts perfectly acceptable to use references other than past employers. Business acquaintances, professors or academic advisors, customers, and vendors can all serve as references. In addition, if you volunteer, you can use leaders or other members of the organization aspersonal references. Get Recommendations in WritingWhenever you leave a position you should askfor a letter of recommendationfrom your manager, especially if you had a good working relationship. Its a good idea to ask right away because as time passes and people move on, its easy to lose track of previous employers and the memory of exactly how vital you were to an organization during your tenure may fade. If you have letters in-hand in advance, youll have written documentation of your credentials readily available to give to prospective employers. But what about those supervisors you didnt ask for a letter of recommendation when you moved on? Its perfectly acceptable to contact them now to ask for a letter to include in your personal files. How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation Dont simply ask, Could you writea l etter of referencefor me? Just about anyone can write a letter. Its better to ask, Do you feel you know my work well enough to write me a good recommendation letter? or Do you feel you could give me agood reference? That way, your reference writer has an easy out if they are not comfortable writing a letter. Conversely, youll be assured that those that say yes will be enthusiastic about your performance and will write apositive letter. Always offer to provide your updated resume including information regarding your skills and experiences, so the reference writer has current information to work with. Additional Letter of Recommendation Tips If your recommendation writer asks you to provide a sample of the kind of reference letter you need, here are somerecommendation letter samplesyou can provide. In addition to references, you may be asked to provide contact information for your present supervisor. Most prospective employers realize that you may not have shared the details of yo ur job search with your current employer, and will ask your permission beforecontacting your supervisorto avoid jeopardizing your current position. Dont forget to thank your reference writers with a thank you notenzeichen. People like to feel appreciated and when they know theyve been a big help to you, they may be more likely to help you in the future. An email thank you note is fine, but a hand-written thank you note may appear to be more thoughtful and might make a bigger impression.