CHM Undergrads - Career Prep: Requesting a Letter of Recommendation, SuccessWorks
Contents
Requesting a Letter of Recommendation
- Please request a letter of recommendation at least 3-4 weeks in advance of when you will need the letter.
- Please request a re-send of a letter that is already written at least 1 week in advance of the deadline.
Davidson Undergrad Students, Interns, Volunteers
A Letter Sent Through an Online System
This is the most common option.
- Send an email to your direct supervisor and Richard Davidson (rjdavids5@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.com) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) requesting a letter of recommendation.
- Include what you're applying for and the deadline for the letter in the email.
- Navigate to the online letter submission system.
- List "Richard Davidson" as the author of the letter.
- List your direct supervisor's email as the author's email. Do NOT list the emails of Richard Davidson, Nicci Fite, or Jennie Nguyen.
- Your direct supervisor will write the letter of recommendation.
- Your direct supervisor will send a copy of the letter to Richard Davidson, Nicci Fite, and Jennie Nguyen for approval/signature.
- Your supervisor will submit the approved/signed letter to the online system on behalf of Richard Davidson.
A Letter Only
- Send an email to your direct supervisor and Richard Davidson (rjdavids5@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.com) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) requesting a letter of recommendation.
- Include what you're applying for and the deadline for the letter in the email.
- Your direct supervisor will write the letter of recommendation.
- Your direct supervisor will send a copy of the letter to Richard Davidson, Nicci Fite, and Jennie Nguyen for approval/signature.
- Once the letter is signed/approved, you are responsible for supplying your supervisor with the recipient email address.
Davidson Staff*, Graduate Students, Postdocs
*If a staff member is directly supervised by someone other than Richard Davidson, please see "Davidson Undergrad Students, Interns, Volunteers" for instructions.
A Letter Sent Through an Online System
- Send an email to Richard Davidson (rjdavids5@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.com) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) requesting a letter of recommendation.
- Include what you're applying for and the deadline for the letter in the email.
- Include your current CV and a research statement if applicable.
- Navigate to the online letter submission system.
- List "Richard Davidson" as the author of the letter.
- List your Jennie Nguyen's email (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) as the author's email. Do NOT list the emails of Richard Davidson or Nicci Fite.
- Jennie Nguyen will submit the approved/signed letter to the online system on behalf of Richard Davidson.
A Letter Only
- Send an email to Richard Davidson (rjdavids5@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.com) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) requesting a letter of recommendation.
- Include what you're applying for and the deadline for the letter in the email.
- Include your current CV and a research statement if applicable.
- Jennie Nguyen will send you the letter of recommendation after it is signed and approved.
Grant Support, Awards, Promotions, Travel Awards
- Send an email to Richard Davidson (rjdavids5@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.com) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) requesting a letter.
- Include what you're applying for and the deadline for the letter in the email.
- Consider including the following items to help in the writing process: a past letter Richard Davidson has written for you, your current CV, and a research statement if applicable.
Note: If you are additionally requesting Richie to be a key personnel on your grant with a specific effort, you will need to contact Isa Dolski (isa.dolski@wisc.edu) to see if this is possible.
Letter of Recommendation Instructions for Supervisors
Davidson Undergraduate Students, Interns, Volunteers
- Write the letter of recommendation. Include your electronic signature as co-signer
- Email the letter to Richard Davidson (rjdavids@wisc.edu) and CC Nicci Fite (nicci@hminnovations.org) and Jennie Nguyen (jhnguyen5@wisc.edu) for approval/letterhead/signature. The undergrad is responsible for supplying you with the recipient email address.
Note: You should write the letter as a proxy for Richard Davidson – meaning you write it as if he’s writing it but with the detailed info that you know about the applicant. Write your version as if it is the final version. Richie will read it carefully and may make minor editorial changes but it should be ready to go. It is also acceptable to have only Richard Davidson's name/signature. If multiple versions are needed (with different emphasis or grad school vs. medical school, etc.) prepare separate copies and send all to Nicci/Jennie.
Note: On the salutation line (i.e. Dear Dr. Smith,) tab over to the right and add RE: First Last (the name of the person the letter is being written about, i.e. RE: Joe Smith). This is standard letter of recommendation formatting that helps the reader quickly see who the letter is referencing.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks is an organization of the College of L&S with the mission of "driving undergraduate student engagement in career readiness activities to increase job and graduate school outcomes for every L&S student’s success." SuccessWorks provides many services to undergraduate students including advising, career communities, career/internship fairs, courses, and guides on common employment and involvement topics (writing a resume, networking, interview prep, etc).