{"id":21761,"date":"2021-12-23T02:58:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T09:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/?p=21761"},"modified":"2022-02-03T10:57:37","modified_gmt":"2022-02-03T17:57:37","slug":"how-to-ask-for-a-recommendation-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/how-to-ask-for-a-recommendation-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ask For a Recommendation Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A stellar resume and well-written cover letter can help you land an interview, but standing out from the rest of the applicants can be challenging. One way you can grab a hiring manager\u2019s attention is with a recommendation letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though it\u2019s not common, some companies ask applicants for recommendation letters. And even when they don\u2019t, having a few at the ready can help you land that job. Here\u2019s how to ask for a recommendation letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Recommendation Letter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A recommendation letter is similar to a reference<\/a>, just in written form. It describes your skills, abilities, and qualifications for a role<\/strong> and helps a hiring manager understand why you\u2019re the right person for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s common for colleges to request recommendation letters for students, it\u2019s less common for jobs to request them from applicants. That said, it\u2019s not unheard of for employers to ask for recommendation letters\u2014particularly when the job seeker is new to the field or fresh out of college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Really Need Recommendation Letters?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s far more likely that an employer will ask you for references than recommendation letters. However, including recommendation letters in your application materials or sharing them during the interview can help set you apart from other applicants<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though asking for a recommendation letter is similar to asking for a reference, there are a few differences to be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Should You Ask?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Because a recommendation letter describes your skills and abilities for a job, it\u2019s best to ask someone who can speak to your abilities<\/strong>. But if you don\u2019t have a former boss or coworker you can ask, there are plenty of people who can write a recommendation letter for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about people who can speak to any of your transferable skills. For example, if you volunteer<\/a>, your fellow volunteers or supervisor are a great place to start. You could also ask a teacher who might be able to highlight your time management, problem-solving, or leadership skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give Ample Lead Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who agrees to write a recommendation letter for you will likely need some time to create it. Give the people you ask at least a few weeks lead time, so they don\u2019t feel pressured or rushed or even have to turn you down<\/strong> because they don\u2019t have the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Include the Essential Details<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether you ask in person or via email, make sure you include the essential details the letter writer will need. This includes the type or types of jobs you\u2019re applying for, why you\u2019re qualified for the role, and when you\u2019d like to have the letter by<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, include a \u201cbrag sheet\u201d or resume with a list of your big wins, skills, and anything else that could help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give Them an Out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if it would be a big win to have a specific person write a recommendation letter for you, make it easy for everyone you ask to say no<\/strong>. Not everyone will have the time to write a letter for you, and sometimes people are uncomfortable with it or have a general \u201cno recommendation letter\u201d policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank the Letter Writer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When someone agrees to write you a recommendation letter, thank them at that time, and again when you\u2019ve received it. It\u2019s a kind and professional gesture on your part that goes a long way<\/strong> and will be remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set Yourself Apart with a Great Letter of Recommendation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Setting yourself apart from other applicants is often the key to getting the job. And being the applicant with some standout recommendation letters can help<\/strong> your application materials stand out in the crowd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having a letter of recommendation on hand can really impress hiring managers. Here’s how to ask for a recommendation letter, how to thank the writer, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":21795,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78,86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-search-advice","category-networking"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Jessica Howington","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21761"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21935,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21761\/revisions\/21935"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}