Writing Your Own Reference Letters for an Assistant Professor Job
In this weeks post, discover what elements to include in your letter to make it successful, and see two sample recommendation letters that you can use for inspiration as you write your own recommendation letter.
Recommendations can carry weight in a job candidate's application, so it's important to write an effective letter of support. Your letter will support the applicant's candidacy and can help them secure an offer.
Where To Start?
1. Make a list of 5–10 individuals best suited to write your recommendation letter
- She knows you well and can answer positively. Choose an individual who you have spent time with outside the classroom if possible. They should also be familiar with your career goals and hold a favorable view of you.
- Has known you for quite a while. A letter of recommendation for graduate school carries more influence if the person has known you for months or years instead of months. If you can, find someone who knows you from various contexts, such as a professor who is also your advisor.
- Can speak to your strengths in your graduate program. Choosing a finance professor to write your recommendation letter for a Ph.D. program would be a good idea because they can write about the qualities that will aid you in pursuing an Assistant Professor job and a broader career in Academic research.
- Has substantive stories to share about you. Who was fortunate enough to see you succeed in an academic, extracurricular, or professional setting? Having someone write your LOR who has good stories to share about you will benefit you more than someone whose class you took with two hundred other students.
2. Talk to each individual directly about the reason for the recommendation
2A. Which information does the recommender need?
The recommender should be given sufficient time to write (and confirm) the letter. If it has been a while since you were last in contact, sending a background information file will make things easier. Include the following information so that the recommender can use a few details to bolster their letter:
- Classes the student has taken with the recommender
- Experiences you have shared
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Research experience and internships
- Awards and achievements
- Academic/career goals
- Relevant professional experience
In addition to background information, make sure that the recommender has the information required to plan the writing prompt and target the letter as much as possible:
- Graduate program application due date
- Copy of recommendation forms (if applicable)
- Instructions for submitting LORs (hard copy, soft copy, or direct to school)
- Details about the program and school the student are applying to
3. Letter of recommendation request sample:
"Dr. XX
I hope you're doing well! I'm currently working on an application for [institution or company name]. A letter of recommendation from someone who can expertly comment on [insert qualifications needed, research works, skills, and record of applying for external funding] is required as part of the application. Based on our XX years of working together, I am asking if you will be able to write a compelling, impactful, and memorable letter on my behalf.
I've attached the beginning of a reference letter I drafted for your convenience. I would be grateful if you could edit the attached letter and highlight the vital work habits I've demonstrated since we've known one another.
[Date] is the deadline for submitting the letter. If you cannot provide a letter before the deadline, please let me know as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Dr. XX"
4. Words to use in writing a reference letter:
The Opening:
Example: "I am Dr. [Name], a [Title] here at [University], and I am honored to write this letter of recommendation for Dr. [Your Name]."
Example: "I am Dr. Jones, an Associate Professor at Northwestern University, and I am pleased to write an endorsement for Dr. Jennifer Henderson."
Example: "I have supervised Dr. Kimberly Foreman for two years now, and I am o write a character reference for her."
The body:
Example: "I have worked with Dr. Emily Henry for six months and am thoroughly impressed by his commitment to his role. Without a doubt, his greatest quality is that he is dependable, to a fault."
Example: "I am positively certain she would be a valuable asset for your department."
Example: "She is an exceptionally driven young woman and very goal-oriented."
Example: "She is highly qualified for the position thanks to her three years of experience as a postdoctoral researcher."
5. See two sample recommendation letters that you can use for inspiration as you write your own recommendation letter.
Figure 1. Sample of Academic Letter of Recommendation for an Assistant professor (source Google images, author unknown)
Figure 2. Example of LOR from a professor for a grad student (source Google images, author unknown)
Good Luck, scholars!
~JTTT
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