What is a recommendation letter? How do I ask for one? Who do I ask for one? Who will read it? What do I do if someone asks me to write one?
If you are like us, you have probably asked yourself these questions and many others when tackling this seemingly elusive genre.
Recommendation letters are an important component of most applications in the world of academia, whether for a school, summer program, grant, or job. They can make an application stand out or fall apart and often feel like a leap of faith with a lot of judgment at the end. Hardly anyone, however, has been taught formally how to read, write, or interpret them.
The WCC Mentorship Program Team invites you to our "All About Recommendation Letters” pop-event on Thursday, March 10 at 3:00pm EST where we try to demystify the mechanics, best practices, and uses of recommendation letters.
Topics covered:
The purpose and uses of recommendation letters
Choosing a recommender
Approaching potential recommenders
How to ask for a recommendation or reference letter
What information to give a recommender
Difference between a recommendation letter and a reference letter
What to include when writing different types of recommendation and reference letters
Format and mechanics (e.g. length, whom to address, whether to use letterhead)
This event welcomes students and professionals from all career levels and disciplines. Volunteer mentors from our On-Demand Mentorship Program will serve as panelists and facilitate breakout room discussions on the following subjects:
Writing non-academic recommendation letters (e.g. what employers and institutions are looking for; how to leverage transferable skills)
Writing recommendation letters for undergraduate and graduate students (e.g. letters for summer programs, travel scholarships, and graduate school)
Writing recommendation letters for the job market (e.g. the difference between a tenure-track, Visiting Assistant, and postdoctoral letter; letters for tenure promotion)
Attendees will be allowed to move between the rooms. In addition to these, we plan to have a “hangout room” where current members, mentors, and mentees can meet each other and have more informal discussion.
Facilitator: Cassandra Tran
Panelists: Deborah Beck, Al Duncan, Suzanne Lye, Kirk Ormand
This event is open to members and non-members.