How To Ask For a Reference and/or

Letter of Recommendation

(If you are building a Credential File, please review additional information here: Job Search)

1. Plan ahead to request letters of recommendation from professionals who can comment on your skills and qualifications (not simply your character). Whoever you choose, be sure that they know enough about you to write a strong, positive recommendation (or provide a strong, positive phone reference). Who might you ask?
   • College Faculty
   • Your College Advisor
   • A Club/Organization Advisor
   • Previous Employer
   • Cooperative Education Supervisor
   • Student Teaching Cooperative Teacher
   • School Principal or Superintendent
   • College Supervising Teacher
     
2. Explain to each reference (in person and/or in writing) the areas about which you would like them to write. By doing this, you can assure that each letter will speak to different skills and attributes which will help hiring officials get a complete picture of your talents. Employers need specifics and people writing letters may need reminders about special projects, activities, responsibilities, events, etc. in which you were involved.
   
3. Give each of your references a copy of your current resume as well as any other information which might be helpful to them as they write your letters or provide phone reference.
   
4. Keep your references abreast of your job search. Provide those writing letters to individual employers with specific names, titles, addresses, etc, to which they need to address their letters.
   
5. Provide your references with deadlines (respectfully requested, of course). Professionals are used to working under time constraints and deadlines will be appreciated.
   
6. Provide your references with correctly addressed (typed) envelopes and postage.
   
7. Write your references thank-you notes to let them know you appreciate their time and effort.

If you believe that personably identifiable information (such as GPA, grades, etc.) obtained from your student record will be included in a letter of recommendation, you should provide your reference with a Recommendation Letter Request Form.  Please click here to obtain this form: http://www.lcsc.edu/registrar/Forms/Recommendation%20Request.pdf.  

For other job search tips and information, please refer to Job Search or Other Great Sites for Career Information. For an example of what you will find, Click here for the Relocation Salary Calculator. This is a fun way to determine the salary you will need in various locations within the United States in order to maintain your current standard of living!

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Contact us at: Career & Advising Services
Lewis-Clark State College
Reid Centennial Hall, Room 110
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Phone 208-792-2313
Fax 208-792-2298

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