Letters of recommendation are valuable for students and graduates, job seekers, and employees who want to advance in their company.

You'll need to decide who to ask. Spoiler alert: If your BFF was also a college professor or interned at her firm, she is probably not a good choice. But you need to know when and how to ask them. Knowing the basics of recommendation letter writing will help you get the correspondence that will impress potential employers or college admissions boards.

This article will tell you what to do to get the letters of recommendation that you want.

The benefits of a letter de recommendation

When it comes to college admissions, letters of recommendation are still the norm, especially for applicants to professional or graduate schools. Letters of recommendation can seem outdated for work-related applications. It might seem ineffective to send a letter of recommendation to a hiring manager in a world that is filled with soundbite tweets and emails via a smartphone or text message missives.

It is impossible to be more truthful.

Although few employers require you to submit a formal recommendation letter with your application, or after an interview, most will be impressed that your took the initiative to request it from a trusted source and send it with your application. Employers will be more interested in learning more about you if you provide more detail about your qualifications and ability to succeed in the job. A solid recommendation letter is a great way for you to stand out from the crowd and strengthen your candidacy.

How to request a recommendation letter

It is much easier than you think to request a letter of recommendation. These steps will help you get letters of recommendation to the right people.

• Decide who should send the letter
• Give the writer all the information that they require
• To request the letter, get in touch with the writer first
• Get in touch with the writer more formal
• Writers should be reminded about the letter and deadlines.
• Thanks to the writer for his help

Who should write the letter?

To get a great recommendation letter, you must first determine who should, will, and can write it. The ideal letter writer will have a good understanding of you on a personal basis and be able speak authoritatively about your character, abilities, and background.

You may not get the support you need from everyone. Your needs will determine the type of letter writer that you choose.

College applications

You can start to think about who you would like to recommend to college-bound students as soon as you finish your junior year in high school. As part of an application process, many colleges will require you to send a letter from your guidance counsellor. These school professionals often write letters to students, but sometimes their letters can seem impersonal or cookie-cutter.

Your letter should stand out from the rest. This is why you should get to know your high-school guidance counselor before you apply to college. Make an appointment to talk about your career and college plans, and arrange for follow-up meetings. Your goal is to meet with your high school counselor to discuss your career and college plans. Then, arrange for follow-up meetings.

It is also a good idea for teachers to establish a relationship with you, especially if they are teaching you classes that you excel in or cover topics you are particularly interested in. Your teachers should be higher up on your "ask" letter list if you have good relationships.

Applications to graduate school

Your starting point will determine who you should include on your letter-writing list if you are destined for graduate school.

If you plan to apply to grad school immediately after your undergraduate studies are completed, it is a good idea to find professors who teach in your chosen area of study. If you are applying for a master's degree in social work, look out for professors who have taught in the same areas as your undergraduate studies. This is because demonstrating excellence in these courses can be transferable to the relevant graduate program.

If you are applying to law school, or any similar professional graduate school, look for professors who required you to demonstrate the skills necessary to succeed in law school.

If you are re-entering graduate education as a working professional, the selection of letter writers for you will depend on how long you have been out of school, and how closely the program to which you apply relates to your work experience. You can write to old professors if you are just a few years out of college or have maintained good relationships. Professional colleagues are also a good option. They will respect your work and be supportive of your career. The more closely the writer's experience matches the graduate program for which you are applying, the better.

Job applications

Job seekers face different challenges when searching for the right letter of recommendation writers. For entry-level positions, you should look for mentors, professors, intern supervisors, mentors, or former employers. This is even if you have not held the job you are applying for. Former bosses, colleagues and mentors can help you move up in your career. If possible, choose letter writers who have extensive experience in the field that you are interested.

Provide the writer with all the information they require

Make it easy for someone to do you favors. If they are writing you a letter of recommendation, make sure they have all the details so they can portray you and your achievements in the best possible light.

This could be as easy as sending them a copy your resume or a link from your LinkedIn profile. You can also create a bulleted list with additional information if you have other accomplishments that you would like them to see. You could include information about articles you have published, board memberships you have sat on, and volunteer work. Send them a copy the job description, and highlight the areas that match your qualifications.

Your litmus test when deciding what information to include is: Are my chances of getting an interview or a job better if I have this information? If you get a yes answer, give it to the letter-writer. Ask them to include it if they can.

If you are still in school but don't have any work experience or other information about yourself, give a list of your best qualities and achievements to your letter-writer. If you are a professor, tell them which class you took and the grade you got. Also, include any interesting facts about you, such as what topic you chose for a paper or how often you participated in class.

This is not the time to be modest. This is a chance to let the letter-writer know that you are confident in your abilities and confidence in them. It's okay to brag.

Get in touch with the writer first to request the letter

It is best to request a letter from a recommendation in person. Then, follow up with a formal request. You can either call the writer to discuss the letter, visit their office, or send the initial request via email. However, give the person enough time to complete the letter. Last-minute requests can be rude and put a burden on the writer.

Remember that teachers and professionals have seen similar requests before. They understand that students applying for school or seeking a job require these letters. Composing letters is often a part of their job, just like school counselors. It is reasonable to assume that the person asking for your assistance has asked for help in the past. Many people will be happy to read your letter and appreciate the personal approach you took to reach out to them.

Get in touch with the writer for more information

After you have received the go-ahead for your informal outreach, it's time to contact the writer informally about the letter. After thanking the writer for agreeing to write the recommendation letter, you will need to give them all the details they require to create the best letter possible.

If you are applying for a job, make sure to include details about the job such as the title and your primary responsibilities. Remind them of your major and school when applying for college or graduate school. Include your resume, or "bragsheet" -- the list of accomplishments we have discussed previously -- and a copy your transcripts, if applicable.

Make sure you include the full name of the recipient, including title, company name, address and email, if applicable. Send the letter by mail using a stamped, pre-addressed envelope. Email is the preferred method of delivery. Make sure that the writer is aware of the preferred format (e.g., in an email body or as an attachment in Word, PDF, or Word format). In your instructions, include a subject line such as "Letter of recommendation for Jane Doe Job Candidate".

Send the link to the website along with the instructions for how to upload the letter and what format it should appear in.

Make sure you provide enough information to allow your writer to write a great letter.

Inform the writer about the letter, and any deadlines

To give the writer enough time, if there is a deadline for the letter you should follow up at least two weeks before the due date. If there is no deadline for applications, but you want the letter to be written quickly, then follow up with them about a week after you made the initial request.

Make sure you thank them for allowing you to send the letter. Also, let them know how grateful they are.

Thanks to the author for his help

It is important to thank the writer after the letter has been sent. A handwritten note of appreciation is appropriate in this instance. It's a thoughtful gesture to show appreciation by handwriting a note. You can follow up via email by expressing the same sentiments, but make sure you send a personal email.

Consider following up with them after you accept the job or get admitted to school, thanking them for their assistance. From the writer's point of view, it's always satisfying to see someone help them move towards their goals.

How do you get the job that you want

The 11 Ways To Make Money team offers a wealth of resources that will help you find a more rewarding career. You'll discover that IWT is a way to take control of your finances and live the rich life you want.