Advice for Requesting Letters of Recommendation

The best recommendation letters don’t just say you’re great—they show it. Strong letters give concrete examples:
“Ben is a clear thinker, which he demonstrated when tackling project X. He designed Y approach, which led to A, B, and C.”

Comparisons help: how you stack up against others at your level or in similar roles. The strongest letters don’t just praise your work—they make it clear that your mentor would keep working with you if you hadn’t outgrown the role.

Ask people who know your work well and have credibility. A detailed letter from a respected name is ideal, but if you have to choose, substance beats prestige.

Requesting a letter from me

I write letters by starting from a draft that you prepare, then editing it into my own letter. You know the details of your work better than anyone, so your draft is the best way to make sure the concrete examples above make it into the final letter.

When you ask me for a letter, I’ll send you my letter template. Then send me one email with:

Your CV. Include your education, technical skills, experiences, and achievements.
The key qualities you’d like me to highlight. For example: leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, creativity.
Your draft letter, written using my template.
Every deadline and submission link, in one list. Note which program or position each letter is for and how it gets submitted (portal link, email, etc.).

Please ask at least 3 weeks before the first deadline.

Tips for your draft

Be specific. Name the project, your role, the methods you used, and what changed because of your work. Numbers help (“reduced runtime from X to Y”).
For collaborative projects, be clear about your part and how it fits with what others contributed.
Don’t be modest. Write what’s true and let me calibrate the tone; it’s much easier for me to trim than to invent detail.