College students frequently struggle with getting letters of recommendation (LoR) from their professors. When they request LoR from their professors via email but don’t receive it, many students find themselves in a difficult situation. The students are understandably anxious and nervous because they have to submit these letters by a specific deadline. Well, one issue that most students deal with is the professor not responding to email letters of recommendation.
Should they visit the professor at the department to discuss the matter? But what if you don’t find him there? What if he doesn’t want to give you the LoR? Won’t it be awkward to try to meet him in this situation?
When to send a follow-up to a recommendation letter request
Send a follow-up message 10 days before your application deadline. This gives the person who agreed to write you a letter sufficient time to procure any necessary materials. Consider sending a second email to follow up with them if you don’t hear back from your follow-up message after two or three days. You could also decide to call or text the person, depending on your relationship with them. Stay courteous and formal throughout your correspondences to demonstrate that you respect their time and are appreciative of their assistance.
What is a follow-up to a recommendation letter request?
You can send a message to someone who agreed to write you a letter of recommendation as a follow-up to the recommendation letter to see how things are going. Since many professionals are busy, it can be useful to send a follow-up email to let them know when your application deadline is. You can express your gratitude for the person’s assistance and ensure they have all the materials they require to create a strong letter of recommendation for you by sending them a follow-up message.
How to write a follow up to a letter of recommendation request
Here are some guidelines you can use to create a polished follow-up message after asking a member of your network for a letter of recommendation:
1. Address the recipient
Start your follow-up message by addressing the recipient in a formal manner. This can help you make a polite impression. Although the salutation you select will depend on your relationship with the recipient, here are a few examples of common salutations you can use:
Include a brief greeting and introductory statement after you have welcomed your recipient. This can assist you in creating an upbeat tone for the remainder of your email. A few examples you might use include:
2. Explain why youre following up
Explain the main goal of your email in the sentence after that. Make sure the recipient understands why you are contacting them by using clear and concise language. Some examples of sentences you might use include:
3. Provide important information
Remind the recipient of the application deadline and include any other necessary details, such as the position’s title and the organization’s name. Then provide a brief description of the program or role. If the organization requested a letter of recommendation specifically, share any guidelines they may have given you. A copy of your resume and cover letter may also be included. Even if you’ve already shared this information, including it in your follow-up email will help the recipient and ensure that they can access these files without delay.
4. Share your gratitude
Next, express your appreciation by thanking the person for taking the time to compose a letter of recommendation for you. Tell them how much you value their kindness and how much it means to you. You could express your gratitude to the recipient in the following ways:
5. Include a professional closing
Inquire lastly in your follow-up message if the recipient requires any more information from you. Tell them you’re happy to respond to any questions they may have. This can guarantee that they have the tools necessary to create an effective letter of recommendation for you. Then sign off with a professional closing and your name. Several well-known closings for follow-up emails include the following:
What to include in a follow-up to a recommendation letter request
While you can alter your follow-up email in accordance with your earlier request, there are some crucial information you might want to emphasize to make sure the recipient is aware of what should be in the recommendation letter. Heres some important information you might want to share:
Template of a follow-up message to a recommendation letter request
When creating your follow-up message, use the following sample as a guide:
Dear [recipients name],
I hope all is well with you, and I’m writing to check in regarding the letter of recommendation you offered to write for me in support of my application to [organization name]. I recognize that you are extremely busy, so thank you for agreeing to write a letter on my behalf. To make sure you have the information you need, I’ve attached my resume and the job description for the [job title] position I’m applying for once more. Just a friendly reminder that my application has a [due date] deadline.
If you have questions, please dont hesitate to contact me. Once again, thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Example of a follow-up message to a recommendation letter request
Here is an illustration of a formal follow-up message that you can use as inspiration when creating your own:
Dear Mr. Mulberry,
I wanted to follow up with you regarding the letter of recommendation you offered to write for my application to APP Tech Inc., so I hope you’re doing well. I recognize that you are extremely busy, so thank you for agreeing to write a letter on my behalf. To make sure you have the information you need, I’ve attached my resume and the job description for the senior software engineer position I’m reapplying for.
Just a friendly reminder that my application deadline is January 15th. If you have questions, please dont hesitate to contact me. Once again, thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Leslie Carmichael
Follow Up Tips for Recommendation Letters
FAQ
How do you follow up a letter of recommendation after no response?
Email the professor with the request. Make it clear and self contained. Send a polite follow-up email to them after about a week if you don’t hear back from them.
How do you politely remind a professor for a letter of recommendation?
- Follow-up one week to 10 days before the deadline.
- Send a cordial email to inquire about the status of the letter and to remind them of the submission deadline.
- Call them if you don’t hear back from them in two to three days.
How do you ask for a letter of recommendation for the second time?
Good morning Professor* [Last name], I hope all is well. Although I am aware that you have a lot on your plate, I just wanted to remind you that [whatever it is] is due or necessary by [date]. Thank you again for taking time to complete [request].
