what to write in an email asking for a recommendation letter
When you are completing undergraduate or graduate studies, or accept earned your degree recently, you will probable want to ask a professor or an bookish advisor for a recommendation letter every bit you begin to apply for jobs.
Higher professors, particularly those who have taught you in multiple classes, can provide powerful recommendations for employers and for graduate school. After all, they have observed you lot clarify, write, articulate your views, and present to groups.
Professors can attest to the overall caliber and quality of your work.
Many professors accept an affluence of contacts in the professional world, including ex-students and consulting clients, and they usually accept a high degree of credibility with these contacts.
Who to Ask for an Academic Reference
People familiar with your academic work and functioning are excellent choices to ask for recommendations every bit you begin your career. Y'all may non have a lot of related work experience in your called field, and your professors tin can speak about the knowledge and skills you lot accept demonstrated that volition help yous succeed in the industry you are targeting.
If possible, request a reference letter from a professor or counselor who knows you well and respects your piece of work and character.
Don't request a reference from a professor if you were frequently tardy or absent from the course or did not receive a skilful grade.
Ideally, choose someone who yous've spoken to outside of the classroom—during part hours, for instance, or at departmental activities.
As well, respect people's schedules—if possible, request a reference letter several weeks in advance of when the semester ends or when you'll need it.
How to Enquire for a Recommendation from a Professor
Even if you already have a positive human relationship with your professor, it's of import to exist tactful when request for a recommendation. You demand to proceed in mind that professors teach a great number of students.
Although they may have a very positive full general impression of you, the most disarming references will require them to give a fair amount of detail to back up their positive assertions. You can aid them to attain this by supplying some of this detail when yous make your request.
Prepare a Summary Certificate
Prepare a summary document that lists each grade you took with the professor and references whatsoever papers or projects that you successfully completed. Include the grade for individual projects also equally the overall course for the course.
If you have saved a couple of papers that were well-received—those with glowing comments—supply copies of those documents.
Provide Your Resume
Share your resume to give the professor a summary of your extracurricular achievements and your work feel. Draw in writing the types of jobs you're looking for, and the qualifications that y'all are focusing on. A copy of the chore posting volition make information technology easier for your professor to tailor their reference to the position.
Include a Cover Letter
Including a copy of a comprehend letter can help with this procedure. If possible, point to specific classes or projects where you may take showcased some of the cadre skills you would like the recommendation to emphasize.
Request a Meeting If Possible
If you're still in school or living well-nigh campus, try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the professor. Ask if the kinesthesia member would exist comfortable endorsing yous equally a candidate for the types of jobs y'all're applying to, and then enquire if you tin can stop in during office hours or chat over a cup of coffee to talk over the thing further. And then, follow up with an email or alphabetic character to your prospective faculty reference with the attached documents.
If that'due south non possible, a video conversation, phone phone call, or email commutation works well as well.
Be Clear About What You Desire
Make certain you state precisely what you are asking them to do, such as to write a general letter of the alphabet of recommendation for your credential file, to write a recommendation for a specific job, or for permission to listing them equally a reference.
Give as Much Detect equally You Tin
Requite your faculty members as much accelerate notice as possible. Towards the end of the semester, they may be burdened past grading papers and exams as well as writing recommendations for many other students.
What to Include in an Email Request
When sending the email message, include your name in the subject line. (For case: "Joe Smith - Recommendation Request.")
If you lot don't know the professor or advisor well, brand your connectedness clear in the e-mail.
For instance, y'all can say, "I enjoyed your class on XYZ, which I attended in autumn 2020" It can as well be helpful to include a summary of related coursework and school activities, along with your resume and encompass letter.
The more than detailed data you provide, the easier it will be for the reference writer to endorse yous.
Asking for a Recommendation Template
Here'southward a sample letter asking a professor to provide a recommendation for employment. Download the letter of the alphabet of recommendation template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or meet below for more examples.
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Recommendation Asking Letter Example
Kara Jones
123 Chief Street
Anytown, CA 12345
555-555-5555
kara.jones@e-mail.com
March 19, 2021
Willow Lee
Professor
Meridian University
123 Concern Rd.
Business organisation City, NY 54321
Dear Professor Lee,
I accept greatly enjoyed and benefited from the four classes that I took with you over the past three years. I was hoping that yous might know me well enough and have a loftier enough regard for my abilities to write a general recommendation for my credentials file.
As you can see from the attached embrace letter, I am targeting positions in the publishing industry which will draw upon my writing and editing skills, as well as my organizational ability.
I take included a summary sheet to refresh your memory nearly some of my key papers including my senior thesis. I have also attached my resume which will bring you up to engagement about some of my accomplishments outside the classroom.
Please let me know if y'all are comfortable endorsing my candidacy for jobs in the publishing industry. I would be happy to respond any questions and provide farther information which volition help you to write your recommendation. Can we meet during your office hours to discuss this farther?
Thank you so much for all yous have washed for me and for taking the time to review this request.
Sincerely,
Kara Jones (signature hard copy letter of the alphabet)
Kara Jones
Recommendation Asking E-mail Instance
Subject: Jessica Angel Recommendation Request
Dear Ms. Jones,
I am writing to you to asking that you provide a reference for me every bit I begin my chore search. As you know, I will exist completing my graduate studies this bound, and have establish several exciting opportunities that I am exploring.
As my undergraduate thesis counselor and mentor, I believe that a reference from you lot would provide a potential employer with information to recommend me as a school counselor.
If you demand any additional information, please contact me via email or phone.
Cheers very much for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
Jessica Angel
555-123-4567
jessicaa@aaa.com
Remember to Say Give thanks You
In one case your professor writes the reference, make certain to send a thank-you lot note to your reference, acknowledging the favor. You tin either send a handwritten notation or an email.
Update Your Task Search Progress
Keep your kinesthesia members up to date with your job search equally it progresses. Brand sure to let them know if yous an employer seems to be set to conduct a reference check. You should also provide the professor with a job clarification and copy of your cover letter so they will be prepared should they receive a call.
Source: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-ask-a-professor-for-a-recommendation-2060798