How to Get Great Letters of Recommendation

When you are applying for a job or for college or graduate school, you may be asked to provide letters of recommendation, sometimes called reference letters. These letters are a very important part of your application process. You may have no idea who to ask to write your letters or really where to start in getting them written. Here are some ideas to help you obtain the best letters of recommendation possible.

Ask for more than you need. Although the majority of the people you ask to write a letter of recommendation for you will be thrilled to do it and will take care of it in a timely manner, always be prepared to have one "no-show." Whether it was lost in the mail, misplaced beneath a pile on a desk (yours or the letter writer's), or the individual is just not very speedy at getting you the letter, sometimes letters do fall through the cracks. So if you need four letters, be sure to ask five people to write one. If the letters have to be sent directly to the institution or possible employer, just make sure you follow up with the person to make sure the letters have been sent. Don't worry about being bothersome, just make sure they have been written and mailed, and make sure they arrived as well.

Choose your references. You will need to make a decision as to who you want to write your letters of recommendation. If you are applying to undergraduate or graduate college you should most definitely include a past teacher or professor. For college or a job position, a past supervisor is also a must, if you have one. Coworkers make great references as well. Beyond the obvious, try to think of others who might be able to help you out. Ministers, anyone you have worked with as a volunteer, internship supervisors, and extra-curricular coaches or sponsors all make great references.