Recommendation from Employer

[miss_liza_ann]

Hi everyone!

For those who requested recommendations from employers, did you email them documents such as your transcript or a copy of your statement of purpose for them to review while writing the recommendations on your behalf? I'm applying to several programs via CSDCAS. I asked my supervisor and a special education teacher I worked with to write me letters. Do they need supplement items in order to write me a stronger recommendation? Or would it be better if I just submit the request form to them without those items? 

I would love feedback about this.

Thank you

[Rowboat47]

I think it depends on the kind of strengths/qualities you're looking for an employer to comment on.  Sending an employer your statement of purpose is a great idea - it will give them a sense of what your grad school and eventual employment goals are (i.e., which population you'd ideally like to work with), which can help them better frame their letter.  In terms of your academic performance, that could potentially be an area that they could comment on if they took a look at your transcript, but they may not be qualified to comment on academics in the sense of capacity to succeed as a graduate student in the same way that an instructor could.  

I asked 2 professors and 1 former supervisor to write letters for me.  My professors covered academics, and I asked my supervisor to focus more on qualities that would be transferable to the field of SLP that she observed when I worked in her department (i.e., interpersonal skills, leadership skills, organizational skills, etc.).  I provided her with an updated CV (including shadowing/volunteer work) and my statement of purpose.  Let me know if you have any other questions!

[Jordyn_M463]

I had an employer write one of my LORs. I sent her a packet of information. 

• Letter of intent
• Transcripts
• Resume
• List of institutions I was applying to
• Due dates 
• Where the letters need to be sent 

I found this was helpful because she could then try to highlight the things I had already mentioned in my letter of intent and resume. 

[SpeechGal1234]

I would send the supplemental information! It certainly can't hurt and it can help jumpstart their writing. I agree that it will also help them focus on the things you focused on in your letter of intent, which is helpful! They can certainly choose not to use it, but I would recommend that you should provide them with all the resources to help them. 

[AngelSpeechie]

Hi! I had two LOR’s from work, 1 from my boss who is an excellent writer and 1 from another high up individual. The person who wasn’t my boss asked me to write the letter myself so that everything I wanted to be in it would be covered and then he signed it and sent it in! It worked for me. Depends on the person that you ask and their preferences and time availability.