-October 27, 2017
College recommendations are a crucial part of your application. Also, once you start applying for internships and jobs, it’s very likely that you’ll need a reference. You can ask these by email or a handwritten letter, but either way, you’ll want to put ask for this carefully and professionally. Here are tips on how to ask!
- Consider someone from your FW Internship
- A recommendation or reference from your summer internship is a great start
- Many of our Internship Partners have written recs in the past
- Always include a greeting
- Dear/Good morning/Hello followed by the Person’s Name
- Introduce yourself
- Make sure the person knows who you are
- They may know you but have never received an an email from you before
- How are you doing?
- Don’t immediately ask them for a favor
- Ask how they are doing OR express that you hope that they are well
- Recount an interaction
- Bring up a particular experience or memory you have of them
- It was so great to see you at the FW Celebration, I will always appreciate the advice you gave me/the time you’ve spent with me/showing me around last summer, etc
- State why you are reaching out
- Tell them what you are up to – in the college process, applying to summer internships, etc
- Ask for a recommendation politely
- You can also mention why you thought they would be an ideal person to write your recommendation or be a reference
- Provide any necessary details
- Let them know of any details that will help them complete it without any problems
- Due date, where to submit the letter, who they might have to speak with, etc
- Allow them to decline
- Acknowledge that they’re busy and may not be able to help
- It is better to have a person decline a rec/reference, than to write a halfhearted or not very positive review
- Sign off
- Always sign off in polite way
- Sincerely/Kindest Regard/Best followed by your name
- Re-read!
- Make sure that the email flows nicely
- Look out for any typos or errors
- Reply as quickly as possible
EXAMPLE EMAIL
Below is an example of the structure and wording you could use for your email:
Dear (MENTOR/SUPERVISOR NAME),
I hope this email finds you well! I had an incredible experience interning at (COMPANY NAME) and learned that I want to focus on (COLLEGE/CAREER INTEREST) in college. I wanted to ask you if you would do me the great honor of writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf for the colleges I’m applying to. The deadline for my applications is (DATE). If you are able to write a letter for me, I’ve included instructions below:
[List any relevant instructions here such as formatting requirements, website to visit to submit letter, or that the recommender will receive a link from COLLEGES/PROGRAMS]
I would be grateful for your support on my college application, but I understand that you are very busy, and I appreciate your consideration. If you don’t feel you are able to write me a letter, please let me know.
Thank you again!
Kindest regards,
YOUR NAME