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There are seven words I hear from my students all the time that make me anxious: “Can you write me a recommendation letter?”
For nearly 20 years, I’ve worked with hundreds — if not thousands — of students in large programs across two universities, including a writing program that serves majors in business, education, the humanities and more. At the end of every academic year, my colleagues and I all receive a slew of requests from students and alumni asking for letters of recommendation.
Some candidates want endorsements for their first jobs, while others ask for support for scholarships or graduate programs. Often, they won’t be considered for opportunities without these letters, and I take the task seriously.
But I wish the candidates knew that this is also an opportunity for them to step up, take on some of the effort and burden, advocate for their own skills and earn some extra respect and appreciation.
Why recommendation letters matter in the age of AI
Employer recommendations are gaining value as strong signals of candidate quality, according to Judd Kessler, a professor of business economics and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, while cover letters are losing value.
Applicants’ broad use of generative AI to construct cover letters has made it harder for them to stand out in today’s job market, he argues, “substantially degrading [the cover letter’s] ability to showcase that a candidate is a good fit for a job.” In other words, employers are less able to rely on cover letters to differentiate one candidate from the next. In Kessler’s view, employer recommendations therefore “carry more weight than ever before.”
It’s a sound argument. Sharing letters of recommendation from someone who knows and is willing to vouch for a candidate and their work can make all the difference, particularly in a competitive job market and especially for less experienced workers.
That’s why I’m always humbled by the request: It means a lot when a candidate trusts you with helping them achieve their dream. But there’s also an immense time commitment involved.
As someone who’s provided hundreds of these testimonials, I predict that the fall of the cover letter will inevitably mean an outsized burden on those being asked to write recommendations. To make it easier for us to say yes, candidates should learn to be proactive.
Why you should be ready to draft it yourself
I’ll never forget a lesson I learned during a summer internship at a small public relations firm in Manhattan. I was nearing the end of the experience and — since my professors and career advisors had drilled the idea into me and my classmates — I was convinced I needed to secure a recommendation letter in order to pursue my first full-time job after graduation.
I had done exceptionally well at this internship, and I knew my colleagues and bosses liked and respected me. So I knocked on my supervisor’s door and asked her for a letter. She looked me in the eye and said: “You write the letter and I’ll sign it.”
Initially, I balked, uncomfortable with the idea of highlighting my own achievements. Didn’t that make me look boastful, or worse, obnoxious?
But then she explained that writing a letter on my own behalf would be excellent practice in thinking about and articulating precisely what qualities I brought to the table as a professional, which is its own skill. My supervisor’s point was: No one on the planet can advocate for your work as well as you can. She enthusiastically signed off on the final product.
But I think she was also pushing me to consider that taking such initiative is deeply respectful of people who have limited time and bandwidth, something I came to understand when I was on the other side.
One caveat: Don’t send a drafted letter without first inquiring whether someone would be willing to vouch for you and, if so, how they’d prefer to do it. Ask your recommender for their preference, and indicate that you’d be happy to supply a draft for their consideration if they’re limited on time. I might include a line in the request like: “I would be happy to draft a letter so that you have a framework to begin with.”
How to draft your own recommendation letter
Put away the chatbots, disconnect from the internet, open your resume and think about the experiences you can expand upon in a letter:
- In what ways have you been an asset to your professional teams, clubs, departments or educational spaces?
- What moments have defined who you are, how you think and what you bring to the table as a candidate?
- Where did you solve problems or collaborate?
- What can you say about how you handle pressure?
- Which skills and experiences are particularly relevant to the opportunity you’re pursuing, and how can you succinctly highlight them?
Your recommendation letter is a great opportunity to showcase not only technical, but also “soft” and interpersonal skills that are in high demand in today’s workforce, according to leaders and employers, including curiosity, resilience, adaptability, judgment, critical thinking, communication, teamwork and emotional intelligence.
Edit and proofread your draft for substance, spelling and grammar to make it as easy as possible for your recommender to move forward. When your draft is in the best possible condition, invite them to make changes or additions so they can feel confident signing their name to it.
I might say: “Thank you for agreeing to support me in pursuit of my next professional opportunity. I’ve attached my draft of the letter of recommendation. Please feel free to make changes as you see fit and add anything else you might want to share.”
Don’t forget to mention any necessary instructions and deadlines, making sure to give them plenty of time to review and submit.
What you’ll gain
You’ll become fluent in advocating for your experiences, skills and expertise. This ability is important to deploy throughout your career, especially during face-to-face interviews and meetings where generative AI is not likely to be holding your hand.
It’s also invaluable to develop a reputation as someone who takes initiative before asking for someone else’s time and headspace. Being prepared to draft your own recommendation letters is one significant way to show respect for the people you work with and for.
Christina Wyman is a teacher and writer living in Michigan. She is a USA Today bestselling author whose novels include “Jawbreaker,” “Slouch” and “Breakout.” Her upcoming novel, “Mean,” is a middle grade story about what happens when a mean girl takes a prank too far. Her essays appear in Slate, The Guardian, Vogue, New York Magazine, CNN, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, Elle, Marie Claire and other outlets. You can find her on Instagram @christina.wyman.books.
