References and letters of recommendation are important documents that support job, internship, volunteer, fellowship, and graduate school applicants. A reference provides information about an applicant's skills and qualities from a manager or colleague, while a letter of recommendation includes strengths, achievements, and qualities from a professor supporting fellowship or graduate programs. When asking for a reference or letter, it is best to meet in person rather than email, and give at least two weeks' notice for a reference and one month for a letter. Choosing strong references requires asking if they know you well enough to provide a balanced perspective and if they are willing and have time to support your application.

1. Tips On References And Letters
Of Recommendation

2. References and Letter of Recommendation are important statements which
supports the person who is applying for a job, internship, volunteer work,
fellowship or graduate school.
A reference can be your manager or colleague who will give a clear idea about
your skills, qualities, abilities and your overall personality for a job, whereas
letters of recommendation is a statement which is given by your professor that
includes your strengths, qualities, achievements etc. and this supports your
application for a fellowship program or a graduate school.
While asking for a reference or a letter of recommendation it is necessary to have
the conversation with the person, it can be direct or indirect. Direct approach is
when you are meeting in person and indirect approach is via email or text.
Since it is you who needs the favor for your job or fellowship, so it is
recommended to meet in person rather than sending an email.
The person who is going to be your reference for a job or your fellowship
program should have a positive impression of you. It is better to ask the person
atleast two weeks before giving their name in your reference list and one month
time for the letter of recommendation to get prepared.

3. Criteria for Selecting A Reference
Since you already have 3-4 people in mind who can be your reference or can write
a letter of recommendation for you, it is essential to ask some questions and be
sure before talking with the person to be your reference. Here are some list of
questions which can help in getting a clear picture as to who should be your
reference-:
● Whether the person is willing to be your reference?
● Does the person know you well enough that they can give a balanced perspective
about you?
● Does the person has time to be your reference or write a letter of
recommendation?
● Is the person willing to say things which can help in forming a positive
impression of you?

4. Points To Remember
● Prepare a list of job description, fellowship program to which you are applying
with a copy of your resume indicating your achievements, projects, skills
qualities etc. and then sending it to the person who will write the letter of
recommendation or be your reference for a job or fellowship program.
● Ensure that the person has given the permission to be your reference.
● Confirm their contact information.
● Informing the person and update them about the progress of your job and
letting them know if they will get a call.

5. ● It is advisable to have atleast 2-3 references.
● Sending a thank you note to all the references gives an indication that you
acknowledge their support.
These are suggestions which are useful for a person asking for a reference or
the letter of recommendation.

6. ● It is advisable to have atleast 2-3 references.
● Sending a thank you note to all the references gives an indication that you
acknowledge their support.
These are suggestions which are useful for a person asking for a reference or
the letter of recommendation.