Strategies For Receiving STRONG Letters of Recommendation

Some students seem to stand out in classes and consequently they are also remembered better when a faculty member is asked to write a letter of reference. There are behaviors and activities that a student can engage in while in school that will help a faculty member remember them when it is time to write a letter of reference. Some of these behaviors and activities that are remembered by faculty members are listed below.

Strategies to Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation
Strategy 1 (in order of importance from most to least)	Strategy 2 (not in order of importance
Interact effectively with a variety of people. Display appropriate interpersonal skills. Be attentive and listen carefully and accurately. Demonstrate initiative and persistence. Manage your time effectively. Demonstrate high ethical standards and expect the same of others. Handle conflict successfully. Speak articulately and persuasively. Work productively as a member of a team. Plan and carry out projects successfully. Think logically and creatively. Discuss, do not argue, remain open-minded during controversies. Know and actualize your personal potential. Write clearly and precisely. Know and follow organizational rules and procedures. Comprehend and retain key points from written materials. Gather and organize information from multiple sources, and do not ask “How many references do we need?”	Demonstrate a positive attitude. Get involved in your major and the extracurricular activities associated with your major such as honor societies and clubs. Demonstrate your initiative and interest as well as your capacity for independence and creativity by conducting your own research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Demonstrate your leadership skills in and out of the classroom. Take an interest in the profession of psychology, join associations and get involved. Be dependable. Be a self-starter. Take responsibility for your own actions. Be self-confident but modest. Be polished and professional in all that you do. Above all else, be genuine and honest. Demonstrate perseverance. Demonstrate that you can work effectively as a team member with others. Display initiative and motivation by doing more than is expected of you.

Adapted from: Landrum E. R. & Davis S. F. (2003). The Psychology Major: Career Options and Strategies for Success, 2^nd ed., Pearson Education Inc.: Upper Saddle river, NJ.