7 Things You Should Know About the Letter of Recommendation

How important is a letter of recommendation? We analyze below the most common fears and questions about letters of recommendation. These are the most common things that run across people's minds when trying to analyze how to start when you want a letter of recommendation:

1. I have no one to ask for a testimonial

If you've had no previous employer, the best places to look are from previous teachers or college professors that liked you and you got along with. Obviously, don't ask for a letter of recommendation from a teacher you hated or that disliked you! =)

2. I don`t have the courage to ask a letter of recommendation

When asking the former manager a letter of recommendation, you need to know to choose the time and the right wording:

Don't ask for a letter of recommendation before you resign. It'll look very suscpicious and your employer might not want to write anything positive about you. They're afraid to lose you.

Always give two weeks notice when resigning from a job that you'll be needing a letter of recommendation from. Burning bridges never gets you a solid letter to land you the next job.

3. Do they check letters of recommendation?

Sometimes the letter of recommendation is a kind of reading supplement. It is not necessary, but may be a point above the CV. There are many candidates who believe that employers do not lose time reading letters of recommendation. Employers may not read them, but often times just that you got one is enough.

4. READ the letter BEFORE turning it into your new potential employer.

5.Should I send the letter of recommendation including the CV ?

For each resume that you complete at bottom you have a space for references. You should write data to those who can give references about you or should you attach the letter of recommendation? The letter option is the classic: "On demand"

6. Once employed, the letter of recommendation does not matter anymore

Once you're hired, forget about the letter and about your old job. You're the new person now and just because your previous manager liked the way you did things there, doesn't mean your new boss will. A letter of recommendation from a previous emplyer doesn't guarantee recommendation from the present one.

7. Should I keep in touch with people who gave me my letter of recommendation?

The simplest way would be to send one greetings e-mail with the occasion of holidays at the people you have in your base references. In this way "keeping in touch" no longer seems so artificial.

Whatever your situation is, you need to take the problem seriously. However, Even if most of the time nobody read a letter of recommendation, it's always better to be safe than sorry.