It is an honor to be asked to be someone’s character reference. But even if you are enthused about helping a friend or colleague out, you might feel a little intimidated by the prospect of putting the ...

If you're a young person with college success or a few great internships behind you, how can you convert that experience into an excellent entry-level gig? One key to making that transition is getting ...

Believe it or not, I read the comments that many of you post to my blogs. I read them all. When I covered the Satyam saga, layoff rumors and other topics, the topics generated a lot of comments.

Shortly after becoming a full professor, I asked a colleague who had held that rank for years to name the greatest challenge she had faced in this ultimate chapter of faculty life. Her instant reply: ...

One of the important "service" responsibilities of academics is to write letters of recommendation. For some people, this activity — precisely because of the responsibility it entails — is daunting.

Before you start writing a letter of recommendation for a friend, clarify the purpose of the letter itself. Is it for a job, graduate school, a volunteer position, or something else? Understanding the ...

Applications for research funding, graduate schools and some jobs require that you get someone familiar with your work to write a letter of recommendation. College professors are often inundated with ...

If you’ve been asked to write a letter of recommendation and need guidance, here’s what you need to know to provide a properly structured letter.

Question: I’ve just submitted my Ph.D. and will start the job search shortly. The problem is that I had a particularly difficult relationship with my supervisor (Prof X) and I am unable to trust ...

Are you planning on going to a graduate school or professional school after you graduate? Are you applying for a special program for which you will need a letter of recommendation? Do you know who you ...