Try to come up with at least 5-7 possibilities.
Copy of your transcript Writing sample or portfolio of work Statement of purpose or cover letter Curriculum Vitae or resume Name of the institution Degree or fellowship program applying for Name of the contact at the institution receiving the letter Address and dates for sending the letter Any necessary letter forms, prompts, or the URL to complete and upload the letter
A good rule of thumb is making first contact a semester ahead of time to gauge their willingness to write a letter, and then making sure they have all materials at least a month or two before the deadline.
Potential employers do not want personal references, such as from friends or family. If you are a recent graduate with little related professional experience in your field, recommendation letters from former professors and academic advisors will carry more weight than letters from former supervisors or co-workers in jobs you may have held that are unrelated to the position you seek.
Give your reference a description of the job for which you interviewed so that he or she can tailor the recommendation letter to address the qualifications and expertise necessary for the position. If a hard copy of a letter of recommendation will be submitted rather than an electronic version, provide your reference with a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope as a courtesy and to expedite the mailing of your letter of recommendation.
If you’ve already interviewed for the position, let your references know what kinds of questions were asked of you, so they might know what to expect from the call.
