Workshop Leader: Ellen Mueller, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
We will cover the basic structure and guidelines for writing letters of recommendation for individuals in a variety of situations (students applying for jobs/scholarships/grad school, colleagues applying for academic jobs/non-academic jobs/residencies, including when recommenders ask you to write your own letter of recommendation). We will identify ways to streamline the letter-writing process, including providing guidelines to students and colleagues for requesting letters of reference, and establishing a basic letter format to follow for various scenarios. We will also address ways of limiting unconscious bias, avoiding jargon, and troubleshooting difficult letter requests. Participants will be encouraged to arrive prepared to compose a letter of recommendation during the workshop (bring a copy of the person’s resume of major accomplishments to reference for content). Everyone should be ready to share the generic context of their letter (Is it for a student they have known for four years or one semester? Is it for a major grant or an academic job?). Workshop participants will provide feedback to each other as we go through the letter-writing process. Participants are also encouraged to bring any tools/templates they would like to share with the group. We will create a shared online folder of various resources and notes generated during the workshop.
Workshop Specializations: Networking and Career Promotion, Job Search: Applications and/or Interviewing Strategies, Funding: Grants-Fellowships-Fundraising-Scholarships
Required Workshop Materials: Charged laptop/tablet for typing, word processing software, materials for writing a letter of recommendation (bring a copy of the individual’s resume to reference for letter-writing), and note-taking materials.
