I could use your help

[cornerofmadness]

especially those of you in the teaching field. I'm starting my search for a new college. The problem comes in where I need at the least THREE letters of recommendation. Previous to this I had three doctor friends do it for me (and pretty much gave me free rein). Now that I've been teaching I think it would look curious that I didn't have at leat a couple other professors in there.

That's where the problem is. I don't want anyone HERE knowing I'm looking around for obvious reasons (Unlike before I'm not applying everywhere and anywhere, just to places I think i'd actually like to stay. I have experience now). I could ask my former boss and a coworker who left but my problem is, they aren't really the chatty keep in touch type. I know they'd do it...but do i ask them for five letters every week (well hopefully less but you never know)? It's a lot of busy work to inflict on someone

Argh why can't they just be happy with the name and phone number of my references and just CALL/Email them? I find letters of recommendation silly. Would I ask someone who didn't like me?

Any thoughts and suggestions? Thanks guys.

Comments

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

Definitely ask your Wisconsin colleagues. That's what they are there for and it would look really bizarre if you had no one from your last two jobs as references. In terms of work, it's really just one letter with minor adjustments for the particular job. I'm sure we all expect to do this for others at some point, you know? A necessary job evil.

Also, everything I've ever read says that it is nearly impossible to keep your current school from finding out you're on the market. Search committees very often contact current colleagues, with or without your permission. If there is one person you could talk to in your department that you could trust a)not to freak out and b)to keep your search confidential, it might be worth it to approach that person now and use them as a reference. Just something to think about.

Good luck Dana!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Definitely my former boss (who helped me very much in getting this job) and my former coworker would be big helps. And really I suppose this time i won't be needing so many letters.

You make a good point. I'm just not sure who to trust. I have one person in mind but...you know this rather sucks. I'm not used to search committees i think. They're not supposed to contact your current employer if you tell them no but i'm sure they will. And I can be honest about it, it's not the school, it's the locale.

[makd.livejournal.com]

Ask your former boss and the coworker who left. Tell them your situation - and that there may be about 6-12 letters you'll need. They should keep it on their hard drive (or disk), and just run it off, sign it, and send it on.

I've done exactly that for former colleagues who are now happily ensconced in other positions. It's okay to ask. :-)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks.

that's what I'm going to do. Hell i just depressed the living hell out of myself looking at the job pages at the Chronicle...me NOT having a research ph.d limits me severely

[ninerva.livejournal.com]

Definitely okay to ask. I'm sure they've been in the same position anyway. I'm always quietly chuffed when I get asked.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah i'll have to. It's just that I'm not used to asking, not since I was an undergrad. This is NOT how we do things in medicine so..

[ex-chaos-by-699.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to wish you good luck in your job search. Unfortunately, I have no advice for you as I'm not in your field.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks. i appreciate it. luckily two people who are in my field have already chimed in. that's the good thing about lj, you feel less alone

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't they only have to write one letter of recommendation each? Then you just copy and attach it to all of you applications. I've never had to have original letters for each application before, but then I've never worked at your level.

If it were me, I'd ask them for one letter each. See how they react with that, then go from there.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

it depends. Usually YES however some insist that it comes with the postmark of the sender. It's like stupid. My former boss will get stuck with this duty no matter what being a former boss (and a good drinking buddy)

[sand-and-shadow.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to give you a personal letter of recommendation, but I'm not sure if that helps you at all.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Thanks. You know there are some that DO require not only the three professional but also personal ones to prove i'm a moral person (quit laughing)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that's what I'll be doing, thanks

[mzzgoddessblue.livejournal.com]

i'm surprised they're still asking for letters of recommendation - over here, there's a bit of a trend away from that, mainly for liability reasons. You give someone a good reference, and they turn out to thieve from the new job, and you can be held liable. Ridiculous I know, but that's the way it is. When I send resumes out, I just put names and phone numbers down.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I never THOUGHT of that. I DO know here that giving a BAD letter of recommendation can get you sued so again WHAT is the point