1、 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Three types of recommendation letters1.Employment recommendationlFrom:employerlUsual purpose:getting a job 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Three types of recommendation letters(Cont.)2.Academic recommendationlFrom:teacher,professor lUsual purpose:getting into college or graduate school,re
2、ceiving a scholarship or fellowship 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Three types of recommendation letters(Cont.)3.Character reference lFrom:friend,relativelUsual purpose:getting a job,winning an award,child adoption,court hearing,etc.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Employment Recommendations lWhether you are laid off or
3、leave your job on your own accord,a letter of recommen-dation from your employer can be a valuable tool for finding a new job.Such a letter is often preferable to listing your supervisor and his or her phone number on your resume.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 A reference letterlProvides an organized analysis
4、 of your attributes and abilities lIs a fresh when written appraisal not clouded by time lSaves future employers the effort of interviewing your former supervisor lSaves your former supervisor the time and trouble of being interviewed 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 A reference letter(Cont.)lImportantly,obtain
5、ing a written letter also gives you insight into how your former employer perceives youon balance either favorably or unfavorably.With this information in hand you can spotlight a good reference or downplay a poor one.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Academic Recommendations lLetters of recommendation are requi
6、red for acceptance to the vast majority of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.Often applicants must provide three or more letters.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Points of potential interest to graduate admissions committees lHow good are your research skills(of great interest to most graduate pro
7、grams)?lDo you offer thoughtful contributions to class discussions?lDo you have good interpersonal skills that enable you to get along with faculty and other students?lDo you exhibit strong leadership skills?lHave you contributed to the various extracurricular activities of the Department?外语教学与研究出版社
8、外语教学与研究出版社 Character references lCharacter reference letters are a special category of recommendation because they are usually written by friends,neighbors or relatives.These letters meet a variety of non-employment and non-academic related needs.Everything from gaining memberships and winning award
9、s to child custody and adoptions.Character reference letters can also be useful in job seeking.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Who to asklGiven a choice about who to ask,ask someone wholIs comfortable writing a letter for you lCan write well and write easily lHas experience writing letters of recommendation lI
10、s familiar with your work lKnows you well enough to be able to include personal anecdotes in the letter lHas the highest and/or most relevant job title 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Dont write a letter unless.Never agree to write a letter of recommendation unless you:lhave the time to write it lknow the indi
11、vidual well enough to discuss him or her in a tangible way lhonestly feel comfortable writing the letter 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Formulaic Recommendation Letters lThat the more personalized a letter of recommendation is the more effective it will probably be.lWriting a letter involves a certain amount
12、of creativity.In terms of their underlying dynamics,what they cover and how they are organizedletters of recommendation are almost always the same.In other words,good recommendation letters are highly formulaic.lApproaching your letter from this context will not only make your writing easierit will
13、make your recommendation more useful.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Put Yourself in the readers shoeslThe reader of your letter will most likely have read hundreds of recommendations before,and will have only limited time to devote to it.lThe business reader will have the applicants resume.The academic reader
14、 will have the applicants transcript and his or her standardized test scores.Additionally,both types of readers will have the opportunity to interview their respective candidate.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 What they need from you are four things:lA sense that your credentials are meaningful and therefore w
15、hat you say in your letter is worth listening to lA sense that you know the candidate well enough to form sound judgments lA sense of whether or not you are vouching for the candidate lInsights into the candidates personal dimensions.Insights that cannot be gleaned from a resume or transcript,and of
16、ten not from an interview.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Guidelines for recommendationslRespond only to written request.lProvide only job-related information.lAvoid vague or ambiguous statements.lSupply specific evidence for any negative.lStress facts.lState that your remarks are confidential.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研
17、究出版社 Structure for a recommendation Recommendations often have three parts:lOpeninglBodylConclusion 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Openinglto give the name of the candidate and the position sought.lState that your remarks are confidential.lSuggest that you are writing at the request of the applicant or say th
18、at you are complying with the request.lDescribe your relationship with the candidate.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Opening 1Dear Mr.Villas:This is in response to your recent request for a letter of recommendation for Maria Hillman who worked for me up until two years ago.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Op
19、ening 2To Whom it May Concern:Scott Smith worked for me at XYZ Technologies for three years as a senior technical instructor.I am writing this letter of recommendation to confirm that his recent layoff from XYZ was not in any way tied to his performance,and to highly recommend him as an employee wit
20、h your organization.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Make sure the opening matches the tone of the rest of your letter Sample opening words:lThis letter is in reference tol This serves as a letter of reference forlI am pleased to write this letter of recommendation forlI am pleased to recommendlIt is a genuine
21、pleasure and honor for me to recommend Opinion of individuallVery lowlFairly low lAverage lFairly high lVery high 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 BodylDescribe the applicants academic or job performance and potential.lYou can focus on such traits as communication skills,organizational skills,interpersonal skil
22、ls,ability to work with a team,dependability,loyalty and initiative.lBe sure to back up your description with evidence.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Body 1 I was quite impressed by James ability to complete all work assigned to him on time,if not before it was due.His research was always thorough and
23、comprehensive,and his fact checking always accurate.We sometimes allow our editorial assistants to do some writing,but James talents prompted us to assign him more pieces than the norm.His writing is clear,concise,and evocative.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Body 2 Michael is an enthusiastic,dedicated
24、employee with reliable work habits.He often does not need guidance or supervision,but willingly accepts it when offered.He is consistently successful in improving his skills,and he works hard to do so.Michael is always willing to pitch in to help the team,and he gets the job done right the first tim
25、e.He is efficient in planning 外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Body 2(Cont.)projects,punctual in meeting deadlines,and conscientiously adheres to company standards and guidelines.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Conclusion lYou should offer an overall evaluation.lIndicate how you would rank this person in relation t
26、o others in the organization.lIf you are strongly supportive,you may summarize the candidates best quality.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Conclusion 1 Holly is an invaluable asset to any technical communications department,and I highly recommend hiring her.If youd like to discuss her attributes in more
27、 detail,please dont hesitate to contact me.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Sample Conclusion 2 Always,in his work,Kaya is consistent,dedicated and passionate,enthusiastic,cheerful,and a pleasure to work with.I highly recommend him for any position of work,leadership,education,or any other capacity in which he
28、can spread his excitement and share his talents with others.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Writing your own letter Since writing a letter of recommendation can easily consume 1 to 2 hours,it is not unusual for a busy manager or professor to hand all or part of the writing task back to the individual making a
29、request.If you find yourself composing your own recommendation keep in mind:You have two audiences,the signer and the recipient.While you must satisfy both,外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Writing your own letter(Cont.)the signer is more important.So try to write from his or her perspective.lFollow the letter o
30、f recommendation format outlined above.lAddress several personal dimensions.Obviously you want to emphasize your strongest points,but be aware that too much attention to one or two things is often perceived as a lack of breadth.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Writing your own letter(Cont.)lBe honest with yours
31、elf about your strengths and weaknesses.Dont let overcompensation for weaknesses drive what you say.lUnless asked to do otherwise,only deliver a complete,polished version of the letter one theoretically ready for signing.If the signer nevertheless wishes to add or delete something,accept his or her
32、changes gracefully.外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 Practice Billy Bob is now working as a Philosophy Instructor at Neverland Community College.Wendy Darling,one of Billy Bobs students,is seeking employment at a local library and has asked Billy Bob to write her a letter of recommendation.Actually Wendy worked
33、as his Teaching Assistant two years ago.According to Billy Bobs knowledge,外语教学与研究出版社外语教学与研究出版社 PracticeWendy was not a good student.She often arrived late for class.She was absent-minded during class hours,and she showed no genuine interest in the TA job.Bob talked with her several times,but the talks were not productive.Finally,she was dismissed from her TA job.If you were Bob,how should you handle this letter of recommendation?
