paleonet Letters of recommendation

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The recent debate over Dr. Dini's policies has made me consider letters of
recommendation in general. So far as I know, no one is taught how to write
these letters; one is expected to pick it up. Strange, considering how
important personal recommendations can be for students who are trying to
find a job. In my case, I didn't really know what was expected until I
became an assistant professor and started to read letters sent in support of
applicants to posts at my own university. Have conditions changed so that
people are better prepared for this task now?

A few other thoughts:

Judging from results, I write fairly persuasive letters of recommendation
now. I didn't at first, though I learned quickly. A lesson for students:
Experience counts.

Not being a professor now, I don't write many letters of recommendation, so
I tend to put a good deal of thought into each one. Lesson 2: Think twice
before asking the busiest professor.

I also negotiate the letter of recommendation with the student first. For
example, I say, "I can write about your character and how it would be suited
to this job, but I can't say anything about your coursework because I wasn't
one of your teachers," and this usually works to the student's advantage
because others can cover the missing areas. Lesson 3: Choose recommenders
with a strategy in mind.

Sometimes a recommender will hand a copy of the letter to the student. This
has several benefits. It helps to teach the student how to write a letter of
recommendation, gives the student some moral support at a difficult time,
and also lowers tension by making the process transparent -- in the same
way, and for the same reasons, as for manuscript reviews. I wouldn't go so
far as to say that this should usually be done, and the student should not
expect it as a right, but it is one option for the recommender.

Andrew K. Rindsberg
Geological Survey of Alabama