Paragraph 1 – remind them of who you are. Letter of Recommendation Request for Sally Jones Request a letter of recommendation from a person who knows your work and will emphasize your strengths. They may be perfect on paper, but if they have negative comments or simply nothing positive to add, it could seriously hinder your resume. A recommendation letter from a company superintendent who you barely spoke to, or a job that you haven’t worked at in 8 years may not add value to your application.īefore sending out your request, you should take a moment to evaluate what this person is going to say about you.

The person you choose to request a recommendation from should be someone who’s worked with you directly and can attest to your experience. For example:Ī professor that you really clicked with in a related subjectĪ supervisor at an organization you volunteered with A character reference can come from anyone who knows you in a professional atmosphere.

Even though your best friend may have a lot of great things to say on your behalf, it’s best to keep it to individuals who can attest to your work skills.Īlthough you should steer clear of family and friends, ‘professional references’ doesn’t necessarily mean only your last boss. When applying for a new job, it’s strongly preferred that references be professional. Recommenders fall into two categories: professional and personal references. Who to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation The goal is advocacy to have one more person saying you’re more than qualified for the job position. It’s a testimonial from a trustworthy source about your work ethic, skills, and reliability. Somewhere along the process of being hired by your new employer, it’s likely you’ll find yourself needing a letter of recommendation from a past supervisor.Ī recommendation letter acts as your professional character witness. Applying for a new job can feel like a highway without any exits.įilling out an application, creating an outstanding resume, and nailing an interview.

Letter of notification