Friday, October 22, 2010

Digging Inside the Portfolio. Part 2: Letters of Reccomendation

Going deeper into the explanation of each individual piece you want to include in your portfolio or even just to have prepared for future interviews, there are few guidelines and tricks you can apply to selecting letters of recommendation.
The Value of Letters of Recommendation: Getting your foot in the door is always about who you know, and letters of recommendation can speak volumes to employers.  You may not have gotten the greatest grades compared to the others you’re competing against, but when it comes to personality traits that set you above the rest such as enthusiasm, initiative and creativity, you can display these through your recommendations.
Where to Get Your Letters: When preparing to ask others for recommendations think about who you have worked closely with and who knows you personally.  For example, if you are a leader in an organization and have a faculty advisor they would be an excellent source.  Ask those who have had authority in your academic career, who you have learned from, as well as those who have a positive opinion of you and your capabilities.  Look for those you know who are warm and supportive and who don’t mind giving you a little reinforcement during your job-hunt. 
The Content: After you have selected and received feedback from your sources, outline the job you are applying for so they can cater the content toward that specific position.  Give them a copy of your resume so they can have something of reference to work from.  Make sure your letters verify experience, confirm competence, build credibility and bolster confidence.
Next step, working on your resume! Look for an upcoming post from Kayla about how to build an outstanding resume. 
Posted by: Taylor Ray


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