Before you start writing a letter of recommendation for a friend, clarify the purpose of the letter itself. Is it for a job, graduate school, a volunteer position, or something else? Understanding the ...

A few years ago, I wrote “A Letter to College Students (From All Profs)” in which I provided advice to students about how to ask for letters of recommendation. Interestingly, just as students do not ...

It is an honor to be asked to be someone’s character reference. But even if you are enthused about helping a friend or colleague out, you might feel a little intimidated by the prospect of putting the ...

Letters of recommendation are a standard part of many employment and educational applications. Applicants naturally choose people to write letters of recommendation who are likely to give them a good ...

If you're a young person with college success or a few great internships behind you, how can you convert that experience into an excellent entry-level gig? One key to making that transition is getting ...

Shortly after becoming a full professor, I asked a colleague who had held that rank for years to name the greatest challenge she had faced in this ultimate chapter of faculty life. Her instant reply: ...

If there’s a “High School Teachers’ Most Thankless Tasks” list out there, then “writing college recommendation letters” has to be near the top. It has nothing to do with the students, most of whom do ...

Question: I’ve just submitted my Ph.D. and will start the job search shortly. The problem is that I had a particularly difficult relationship with my supervisor (Prof X) and I am unable to trust ...