Ask a professor to write a recommendation letter.
A recommendation letter plays a large role when looking for employment, acceptance into college, or entrance into graduate, medical or law programs. Be smart when selecting your writers. Their advice needs to be supportive and provide examples of your work ethic, academic and professional achievements while providing strong examples of your skills and strengths. Use these tips as guidelines when searching for recommendation letters after graduation, turning an arduous task into a simple one.
Instructions
1. Do not impose on a professor.
Calculate the best time to ask someone for a letter of recommendation. Never approach a professor casually after class or randomly stop by his office. This imposes on his time and creates unnecessary tension. Instead, arrange an appointment, guaranteeing an uninterrupted visit when you can have his complete attention. If he has retired, switched schools or is no longer employed, ask the school if he left contact information.
2. Tell a professor why you are coming.
State your purpose when scheduling the meeting. This will help the professor dig up records and information he has on file. Have information such as the year you graduated and classes you took from him readily available. Participation in committees, sponsorships, advising, and thesis topics will help him recall details about you. Email him as a last resort; an email eliminates personal interaction and can be detrimental when asking for a recommendation because of mistakes in punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
3. Schedule your meeting in advance.
Ask your professor for a meeting at least six weeks in advance of your deadline, and give him a deadline when discussing a recommendation letter. The more time he has to write your recommendation letter, the better it can be. Allot more time if summer months or holidays will be included in the writing time. If he is pressed for time or involved in multiple activities, offer to write the recommendation yourself. Give him the letter and let him edit and reword it to his liking. If possible, ask for copies of his version to use for future references.
4. Bring beneficial information to help your professor write the recommendation letter.
Arrive early to the meeting with information to help the instructor write a well-informed recommendation. Items such as a cover letter, transcripts, essays, portfolio, and projects performed in their class are excellent. Have all information prepared in a binder or folder categorized and tabbed to make it easily accessible. Leave information with the instructor after the meeting, and put the due date in a visible place alongside contact information.
5. Do not push your professor to write a recommendation letter.
Pay attention to your professor when asking for a recommendation. If he seems irritated, perplexed, or annoyed, beware. Your recommendation letter should set you apart from the crowd, with glowing attributes and actions that encourage people to contact you. If a professor says no, don't push it; you do not want to talk him into writing a recommendation letter that will not be beneficial.
6. Shake hands and thank him for his time.
Prepare yourself before asking for a recommendation. The professor may question you about aspirations and objectives of both your career and ultimate goals. Give him an idea of who you are and who you want to become. Speak of his recommendation as a vital point of success, and thank him for taking the time to meet. Shake his hand when leaving and smile, even if he declined to write a letter. Drop off a thank-you note one to three days later. This will make him smile while reminding him to write your recommendation letter.
Tags: recommendation letter, recommendation letter, write recommendation, your professor, asking recommendation, professor write