Letters of Recommendati on Who to Ask and How to Ask

What is a Letter of Recommendation?  A written statement supporting your application for a specific internship program, school, scholarship, or job opportunity

Deciding Who to Choose  Consider the following:  Is the individual willing to provide strong, favorable information about you?  Does the individual know you well enough to say substantive praise about you?  Does the individual have time to write a letter?  Is the individual a family member? (Never ask a family member)

Possible Candidates  Current or previous work supervisors  Teachers, advisors, or coaches  Leaders in organizations where you volunteer  School counselors  Principal or vice principal

For HS Students  Teachers are generally the best resources to comment about your academic skills.  Coaches, counselors, community and church leaders are quality sources to comment about your talents and skill sets.  Accept “No” for an answer and find someone new.

When Asking  Give enough time  Give your writers plenty of time to develop their letter; they will need it to build up their ideas and write a thoughtful letter.  Give your writer some insight on what it is you are applying for  Provide:  Deadline information  A copy of your résumé, activities, accomplishments, and achievements