“Are you serious?” my twenty-two year old client Brittany (named changed) said, and then rolled her eyes. “You’re going to make me ask people to write recommendation letters? I thought that was ...

Letters of recommendation from your colleagues describe your professional traits and qualifications for a position. A glowing recommendation from the right person can cement a job offer. A poor one ...

For some jobs, especially in academia and high-profile positions, employers sometimes request that top candidates submit letters of recommendation as part of the decision-making process. In some ...

Here is a common scene: A supervisor agrees to write your letter of recommendation with one condition—you draft it. Shocker. We, too, were surprised the first time this happened to us. We assumed ...

With inflation eroding paychecks, more workers are looking for better-paying jobs — an undertaking that typically requires references from people who can vouch for your skills and character. Employers ...

A letter of recommendation provides evidence that letter's author was satisfied with the project, product, services or performance of the person the letter is written about. The letter is typically ...

Most application processes for graduate schools, undergraduate transfer, and fellowships/scholarships require letters of recommendation. Typically, internship and job ...

Reference letters come in many different shapes and forms, so don’t think that one size fits all. I’ve written in the past about how to request reference letters in different situations, be it from ...

Asking someone to be a reference or write a letter of recommendation can feel really awkward. But it's an inevitable part of landing a new job, applying to graduate school and taking the next step in ...

A character reference letter can make or break an applicant’s chances. Here’s how to write a great one. A character reference letter can make or break an applicant’s chances Before the days of ...

Letters of recommendation are often essential to achieving funding opportunities. Asking someone to write a letter on your behalf can seem daunting, but here are some tips and resources to be ...

The Vault is Slate’s history blog. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @slatevault, and find us on Tumblr. Find out more about what this space is all about here. In 1863, as he considered ...