How to Best Get a Letter of Recommendation as a DEV
During the job search, you may find that employers in certain industries - or those who hire professionals to work on highly sensitive projects and programs - additionally expect a letter of recommendation before considering your application. But even if it's not directly requested, a recommendation definitely opens doors.
It can be a little awkward to ask former bosses, mentors, or colleagues for a letter of recommendation, especially if you haven't done so before. There are also some etiquette rules to know and follow for this. These tips will help make the process more efficient and professional.
Plan the recommendation in advance
It should be noted that writing a recommendation letter is not an easy task. "It takes a lot of time and effort to properly draft such a letter."
As a rule, the writer of the letter should be given a week or two, pushing and stress are out of place here - for example, you should not ask for the recommendation the night before the upcoming interview. A short thank you or a timely friendly reminder already helps a lot here.
The more personal, the better
When it comes to recommendations, it's always best to ask people who know you well and are also likely to rate you positively. While it may seem easier and time-saving to quickly fire off an email to a potential referrer, a phone call is more personal and therefore more likely to yield more favorable results. An email can always be written otherwise - should the phone route prove difficult.
Of course, the "ask strategy" should be based on how well you know the person. If you haven't spoken to someone for a while, it may even be useful to meet directly, for example over coffee, to discuss your job search and goals. Only when the relationship has been "restored" to some degree should you ask for the letter first.
"The right flattery will get you everywhere." Explain that you value the referrer's opinion and how important it is to a potential employer if you also have their endorsement.
Although most people are quite agreeable to the request, it takes time to write a detailed - and persuasive - letter. You should definitely give the person some time to consider the request; you shouldn't be eager for an immediate response.
You might put it something like, "I know how busy you are. So, of course, you can say no. But if you have time, I'd really appreciate it if you could write me a recommendation."
"Make it easy for the person to say no," we recommend.
If you actually get a rejection, don't get upset. Just thank them for their time and move on. For this reason, it's always good to have a long enough list of potential candidates in mind for your recommendation before the job search starts.
Recommend yourself
The more detailed and personal a letter of recommendation is, the more likely it is to leave a strong impression on a prospective hiring manager or recruiter.
To make sure the letter is the right fit, you should even provide the content yourself. Also, sometimes a former manager needs to be gently reminded of your skills. They may not know exactly what qualities and experience are relevant to the position you're seeking.
For example, provide a summary of the job requirements, the recipient's name and title, and a timeline for submitting the recommendation, and also provide a copy of your resume and cover letter. Details are important; the recommender may also want you to be more specific about what qualities, skills, or accomplishments you yourself would like to have in the recommendation.
A busy recommender may also expect you to do some of the actual writing yourself. Sometimes it is helpful to have a template or draft of the letter ready before you approach someone. Therefore, offer a first draft once, because a few changes and additions are done much faster than the complete writing of a letter.
Keep in touch
Be sure to send the writer a thank-you note. You can also keep the writer of the recommendation letter informed about the further progress of the job search or the new job.
Should you need a recommendation in the future, a former boss or colleague will continue to be a valuable source of support by staying in touch and sharing details about career progress and accomplishments. By no means should the request for a letter of recommendation be considered a one-time thing; rather, these are relationships that you will definitely want to maintain over the longer term.
