Letter of Recommendation

Driving Question:  Why is a letter of recommendation important and how do you ask a former employer or mentor for one?

A letter of recommendation is a letter written by someone who can recommend an individual's work or academic performance. It's typically sent to a hiring manager or admissions officer who is deciding whether to employ or admit a candidate.

A letter of recommendation describes a person's qualifications and skills as they relate to employment or education. These letters typically come from previous employers, professors, colleagues, clients, or teachers. They discuss the qualities and capabilities that make the candidate a good fit for a given position, college, or graduate school program.

Learning Targets:

• Understand the purpose of a letter of recommendation.

• Identify the difference between Personal vs. Professional References.

• Compose a communication to ask for a letter of recommendation.

Online Resources:

Personal vs. Professional references 

The purpose of a Professional reference

How to ask for a letter of recommendation

How to write a letter of recommendation

Video Resources:

How to ask for a letter of recommendation A

How to ask for a letter of recommendation B

Do’s & Don’ts of asking for a letter of recommendation

Assignment:

Compose a draft of how you would communicate to an adult mentor, asking for a letter of recommendation.  Place this draft in your Google folder to later submit to your instructor.