REFERENCES
- Choose your references with care. They should be current.
- Employers, religious leaders, community leaders, teachers and instructors can serve as excellent references.
- Your references should have known you for at least six months.
- Avoid using members of your family, best friends or roommates.
- Advise your reference of what award you are applying to and inform them of specific criteria for the award so that , if required, they may indicate why you are a suitable candidate. They should always try to address your current attributes and skills.
- Give your reference with TWO or THREE weeks notice before you require your letter. It is hard to find time to write letters and it is unfair to ask someone to write a letter for you two days before you need one.
- Provide your reference with the REFERENCE LETTER REQUEST FORM or make your own document that contains the same type of information. This form helps the writer create a well rounded letter and serves as a reminder of your request.
- Follow-up a week before you need your letter to ensure they have not forgotten. People are busy and it does happen.
- Ask 3 to 5 people to write you letters. You will be able to choose the best letters and/or the most suitable letters for the awards you are applying for. Some awards require one community and one school. Some awards always require a letter from a school administrator.