Who Are Good People to Get Letters of Recommendation From?

The right recommendation letters can get you a job interview.

Changing jobs or embarking on your first career is one those events in life that requires hard work and planning. In careers where letters of recommendation are needed, it is necessary to find individuals who will give you a positive endorsement that will get your application noticed and potentially get you a job interview. Knowing who to seek and why helps you narrow down the list of potential candidates.

Educators

Whether you go to college or not, it may be likely that you have had at least one teacher with which you have had some rapport during either your high school or college education. Those who have gone to college typically have an academic advisor that they work closely with during a four-year span. These advisors should have a strong feel for your intelligence and capabilities. In other cases, you can also rely on professors or teachers with which you may have had a good academic experience. Teachers and professors tend to be well-respected leaders in the community whose opinion carries some weight.

Spiritual Leaders

Pastors, church clergy or spiritual leaders also tend have a reputation for being well-respected members of the community. Seeking a letter of recommendation from a pastor or spiritual leader will indicate a number of different things about you that employers will find attractive. For instance, the fact that your pastor knows enough about you to comment on your character and your commitment shows potential employers how you may also behave and approach your job.

Business Leaders

If you are member of the business community and have been properly networking throughout the duration of your career, seek a letter of recommendation from a colleague who holds a high-level or senior position within the business community. A letter of recommendation from someone who is well known and successful in the field of business in which you plan to enter can go far toward providing your application with the impetus it needs to get you a job interview or even the job itself.

Recommendations

When seeking a letter of recommendation, provide plenty of time between when you request the letter and when you need it for prospective employers. Michael Ernst at the University of Washington recommends that you allow at least two weeks and preferably a month for the person writing your letter to complete it. Provide the person writing your letter with your current resume and other materials like your academic transcripts if possible. Also, ensure that the person you request the letter from has a favorable opinion of you and will give you a positive recommendation.

References

• University of Washinton; Requesting a Letter of Recommendation; Michael Ernst; October 2002
• Social Psychology Network: Advice on Letters of Recommendation