The importance of letters of references/recommendations

Most jobs today are going to come from connections and networking; who you know really does matter. However, that does not mean you do not have a shot at an open position, and that is where recommendations come in handy. Specifically, timely and relevant recommendation.

I cannot count the number of times I have been asked to write a letter of reference, and my rules on this are simple:

1.      Please give me a template on what they are looking for so I can properly frame the recommendation

2.      Try and avoid asking me for a last-minute letter of references/recommendations

3.      If I say yes, I will do it almost immediately.

The last part is important because someone’s application could be getting held up because of that one letter of reference, especially when computers are tallying up everything nowadays. Having experienced that particular phenomenon, I can tell you it is not a pleasant feeling when someone flakes on their promise of a letter of reference. Worse still, you write someone a letter of reference or recommendation with the understanding they will do the same for you; and they never do.

Do what you say you are going to do, and do it in a timely manner because a person’s job could be on the line. It is simple professionalism.


Lessons from a communication and human resources class.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Comments

Post a Comment

Please be respectful, thoughtful, and relevant with your comments:))

Popular posts from this blog

Do you truly understand what you are saying?

Image
  Buzzwords disguised as hate, acronyms which are actually initialisms (do you know the difference?), and people putting themselves in boxes that they do not understand the true meaning. The world has not suddenly become interesting, this has been a slow but gradual descent into madness. Why do I use the word descent when we have all these tools and technology? Because tools and technology do not immediately make the world better; right now they are covering up deficiencies. The basics such as reading and writing, courtesy and compromise are forgotten or are being lambasted as weak. Those with the most want more and are getting more, those with less are very visible; we go to a place of religion on Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays and put a few bills in the tithe and think we are doing good. I do not write this from a place of despair, but actually, from a place of hope because I do believe in the fundamental goodness of people, I do believe that a semblance of order will alwa...
Read more

Linkedin question: How do you design and deliver engaging and relevant leadership development content?

Image
  Designing and delivering engaging and relevant leadership development content requires a thoughtful approach that considers the needs, interests, and learning styles of the participants. 1.      Identify Objectives : Start by defining clear objectives for the leadership development program. What skills or competencies do you want participants to develop? What organizational goals are you aiming to support through leadership development? 2.      Know Your Audience : Understand the backgrounds, experiences, and current skill levels of your audience. Tailor the content to their needs and aspirations. Consider using surveys or interviews to gather insights into their preferences and challenges. 3.      Content Development : Create content that is both informative and interactive. Use a variety of formats such as videos, case studies, simulations, role-playing exercises, and group discussions to cater to different learn...
Read more

The importance of handwriting

Image
There is enough documented evidence out there that shows students who take hand-written notes retain more than those who use a computer. http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/take-notes-by-hand-for-better-long-term-comprehension.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/taking-notes-by-hand-could-improve-memory-wt/ There are also enough studies out there that suggest student’s ability to spell is getting worse because of reliance on spellcheck versus simply learning to spell. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9280203/Over-reliance-on-technology-is-undermining-spelling-skills.html http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/spellcheck.html Imagine you see your favorite movie star or sports hero, and you want an autograph: can your tablet or smartphone be used as a pen? What happens if you need to write something down quickly and your electronic device is powered down or out of power? Now back to the problem of education; my p...
Read more