Recommendation letter
What is a Recommendation letter?
A Recommendation letter at the university is typically written by one of the lecturers, professors or the head of the program who can recommend you for further studies, positions or any admission process.
Recommendation letters are typically requested on an individual basis and are written directly to the employer, hiring personnel, an admissions committee or officer, or department.
Who to ask for a Recommendation letter?
The Recommendation letter typically is a "kind of" personal document, which also describes your personal qualities and skills.The person who is writing the letter should be familiar with your skills, working habits, results, and feel strongly positive about you and the process. Think of this letter as the recommender persons' vote of confidence in You.
Due to this, you should ask for a Recommendation letter from a person with whom you have worked with. For example, in the case of a lecturer, you may have worked on a common project together, you have finished your project work or diploma work under his/her supervision, etc.
We have to emphasize, that it is not enough that you have simply attended the class of a lecturer. For example, if you have achieved a passing or an average result in a class, then it would be difficult for the lecturer to recommend you, based on that result. If you have achieved an excellent result in the class, unfortunately that still may not be enough, because it is still possible, that the lecturer will not know your personal qualities. He/She can write that you have achieved an excellent mark in the class, but maybe he/she can only write about that. Such a Recommendation letter would not be too good and too helpful for you.
Please also note, that even if you have worked with a lecturer, he/she may decline to write a recommendation letter for you. Remember, that he/she has to feel positive about you and the process.
How to help the process of writing a Recommendation letter?
It can be helpful, if you prepare a list of qualities and accomplishments You’d like to highlight in the letter. Please do not present these to the recommender as a requirement, you should include them in an e-mail as a guide rather.
For example, you can politely communicate with the recommender that, "I know, that the company is particularly interested in candidates with ... skills, so if you feel positive about my contribution on ABC project, that could be mentioned in your letter.”
What is a Reference letter?
A Reference letter is a general document, and it is not too specific. It can be sent out to many companies, positions and it does NOT contain any recommendations. In comparison to a Recommendation letter, a Reference letter does not describe background, prior excellence, or highlights of skills or personal attributes and so on.
In summary
- Recommendation letter: Ask a lecturer with whom you have worked with and who feels positive about you and the process!!!
- Reference letter: Ask the International Office, Vice Dean for education, or head of the program.
