How to Ask a Professor for a Recommendation

A recommendation from a professor or mentor can help with jobs and higher studies. How you ask affects what they write.

Choose someone who knows your work, not only the most senior person. A mentor who saw your project can write real details.

Ask at least two weeks ahead. Ask politely if they feel able to recommend you, which gives them an easy way to say no.

Make it easy for them. Send your resume, the purpose, the deadline and a short list of work you did with them.

Thank them afterwards and tell them how it went. Never write a letter yourself and sign their name without permission.