Letters of Recommendation

[fieryjen]

Since I'm moving soon and about to get a new job, I went back to the high school I'd worked at and picked up the letter of recommendation I'd asked my boss for. This was my first real job, so it's the first one I've gotten.

I know from discussing this my parents a long time ago, that those letters always sound really nice and positive, and that even the negative things are basically written "in code", so they sound good to the untrained eye but any potential new employer can see right through that.

Unfortunately, while I was taught how to correctly interpret many of these standard phrases, I only know the German convention - I'm positive the American one is somewhat different - and I'm quite curious to find out how positive (or not) this letter really is and what it says about me!

Are there any websites that might make sense of the letter for me or is there anyone here who's knowledgeable about this sort of thing?

 

[neonlyte]

Try this http://businessmajors.about.com/od/recommendationletter1/a/GoodRecLetters.htm

 

[Safe_Bet]

Since I'm moving soon and about to get a new job, I went back to the high school I'd worked at and picked up the letter of recommendation I'd asked my boss for. This was my first real job, so it's the first one I've gotten.

I know from discussing this my parents a long time ago, that those letters always sound really nice and positive, and that even the negative things are basically written "in code", so they sound good to the untrained eye but any potential new employer can see right through that.

Unfortunately, while I was taught how to correctly interpret many of these standard phrases, I only know the German convention - I'm positive the American one is somewhat different - and I'm quite curious to find out how positive (or not) this letter really is and what it says about me!

Are there any websites that might make sense of the letter for me or is there anyone here who's knowledgeable about this sort of thing?

I'm rather surprised that you even GOT a Letter of Recommendation.

Now days most companies/organizations are so afraid of being sued for poor references, damning by faint praise (by the employee) and/or being sued (by the hiring company) for "inflated" recommendations that you are lucky if they will even say anything.

 

[fieryjen]

I'm rather surprised that you even GOT a Letter of Recommendation.

Now days most companies/organizations are so afraid of being sued for poor references, damning by faint praise (by the employee) and/or being sued (by the hiring company) for "inflated" recommendations that you are lucky if they will even say anything.

Huh... I did not know about that at all. They still seem to be the norm here, at least I've seen every prospective employer in my field ask for them. But maybe that's just in education?

I really had no idea about that.

 

[fieryjen]

Try this http://businessmajors.about.com/od/recommendationletter1/a/GoodRecLetters.htm

Thanks neon. Not quite what I was looking for, but maybe I can gain some insight looking through it.

 

[CeriseNoire]

Huh... I did not know about that at all. They still seem to be the norm here, at least I've seen every prospective employer in my field ask for them. But maybe that's just in education?

I really had no idea about that.

It is pretty much the norm in education. From my experience, if your employer dislikes you, he/she will pretty much only restate whatever was on your last observation form, with no extra info. If they like you, they'll be specific about your strengths and include things you do that go beyond your job description.

 

[oggbashan]

I had to write one for a retired senior scientist who wanted to work as a part-time laboratory technician in his local High School.

The request came for a reference for "Mr H".

My reply started "Doctor H, FRS (followed by all the other initials after his name), Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at (several Universities), etc. etc. - all of which qualifications and posts he still holds, appears qualified and experienced for the post he has applied for..."

He got the job. The school Science faculty obtained an invaluable resource.

Og

 

[fieryjen]

It is pretty much the norm in education. From my experience, if your employer dislikes you, he/she will pretty much only restate whatever was on your last observation form, with no extra info. If they like you, they'll be specific about your strengths and include things you do that go beyond your job description.

I wasn't really there long enough to be formally evaluated. I think my principal respected me, and the letter does sound nice... but, having seen some of the nice sounding phrases on German letters of recommendation that basically mean "this person can't do shit", I'm skeptical.

I suppose I could post the letter, I'm not really sure whether that would be a good idea though.

 

[fieryjen]

I had to write one for a retired senior scientist who wanted to work as a part-time laboratory technician in his local High School.

The request came for a reference for "Mr H".

My reply started "Doctor H, FRS (followed by all the other initials after his name), Emeritus Professor of Organic Chemistry at (several Universities), etc. etc. - all of which qualifications and posts he still holds, appears qualified and experienced for the post he has applied for..."

He got the job. The school Science faculty obtained an invaluable resource.

Og

That must have looked pretty impressive on paper.

I guess what I'm worried about with mine is that it comes across as... cutesy, and I'm not sure that's good.

"Students liked being in her classes..."
"It is obvious that she enjoyed what she was doing..."
"...as I believe she will do an admirable job."

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

That must have looked pretty impressive on paper.

I guess what I'm worried about with mine is that it comes across as... cutesy, and I'm not sure that's good.

"Students liked being in her classes..."
"It is obvious that she enjoyed what she was doing..."
"...as I believe she will do an admirable job."

Those are specific and direct enough that I would say they are definitely positive. I'd say they wrote your best traits and are recommending any other prinicpal to hire you.

 

[fieryjen]

Those are specific and direct enough that I would say they are definitely positive. I'd say they wrote your best traits and are recommending any other prinicpal to hire you.

Well, it does say she recommends me without reservation for any position for which I am qualified... I just wasn't sure what that meant.

Oh yes, and she also mentioned "tremendous amount of enthusiasm". Another cutesy phrase that I've seen mean some pretty negative things on a German letter. "Enthusiasm has shit to do with how well someone does the job. A hack can be totally enthusiastic, and the fact that they mention it means they've got nothing better to say." That's what the crash course I got from my dad taught me, anyway.

 

[rgraham666]

My last letter of recommendation.

"Rob isn't very respectful of hierarchy, is not popular with his peers, doesn't pay close attention to his paperwork and isn't much of one for clock watching.

But his work's very, very good."

Yay for me. I'm good at the important stuff.

 

[fieryjen]

My last letter of recommendation.

"Rob isn't very respectful of hierarchy, is not popular with his peers, doesn't pay close attention to his paperwork and isn't much of one for clock watching.

But his work's very, very good."

Yay for me. I'm good at the important stuff.

I'd hire you on that

 

[rgraham666]

Even though I have a long history of severe mental illness?

 

[PMI]

Yes Rob -
trust me. I have had employees that were respectful of the hierarchy, popular with their peers and were not worth a bit. I am still trying to correct the mistakes of one who was being paid $70K per year.

ETA: If her work would have been worth it, she would have had a job waiting, next year when she returns from Geneva.

 

[fieryjen]

Yes Rob -
trust me. I have had employees that were respectful of the hierarchy, popular with their peers and were not worth a bit. I am still trying to correct the mistakes of one who was being paid $70K per year.

ETA: If her work would have been worth it, she would have had a job waiting, next year when she returns from Geneva.

I agree. Respectful of hierarchy doesn't tell me much when it means that the person won't speak their mind. I'd rather have someone who is respectful to those he can learn from, hierarchy or otherwise, and someone who is willing to speak their mind to a boss. Then again, you need the right boss (one that doesn't have a stick up his ass) for this to work. I'd like to think that I appreciate honesty more than sucking up.

Being popular with ones peers - well, it's not like we're electing a homecoming queen here. If you don't work in the service industry and get paid to have a fake smile on your face, I don't see what that should matter either.

 

[CeriseNoire]

That must have looked pretty impressive on paper.

I guess what I'm worried about with mine is that it comes across as... cutesy, and I'm not sure that's good.

"Students liked being in her classes..."
"It is obvious that she enjoyed what she was doing..."
"...as I believe she will do an admirable job."

I see. Having been a mentor teacher last year (and sitting on review meetings with admin), to me, it means "she's a little green but has great potential", which is about as good as it gets since you mentioned not having a lot of experience.

 

[fieryjen]

I see. Having been a mentor teacher last year (and sitting on review meetings with admin), to me, it means "she's a little green but has great potential", which is about as good as it gets since you mentioned not having a lot of experience.

That's true, I really don't have much experience at all. This was my first real job and they could only keep me for one semester. Thanks for putting your interpretation on that for me, it's a lot more than I would have been able to read into this. I can't really complain about that assessment.

 

[emap]

Unless schools have changed since I actually went to one you got the highest praise a teacher can get, students like being in her class. Schools are all about keeping students in the class and in school, where they get the funding from.

In a way they are set up the same way as a restaurant or bar, they all want people to come stay there, come back and spend money. Granted different in who is spending the money but otherwise same idea. As a waitress i can tell you the only thing you wanted to hear previous employers saying about you was people loved being waited on by her, well hard worker was also good but the waited on part was far and away the most important. Sorta went hand and hand with hard working.

There is something else to students loved being in her class. When students enjoy the class they learn things, every school wants teachers who create enjoyable classrooms because they can get more students with higher GPA's and more money from the government because they are doing well.

Course i may be totally off, but I don't think you can really get a more glowing letter of recommendation than that.

 

[fieryjen]

Unless schools have changed since I actually went to one you got the highest praise a teacher can get, students like being in her class. Schools are all about keeping students in the class and in school, where they get the funding from.

In a way they are set up the same way as a restaurant or bar, they all want people to come stay there, come back and spend money. Granted different in who is spending the money but otherwise same idea. As a waitress i can tell you the only thing you wanted to hear previous employers saying about you was people loved being waited on by her, well hard worker was also good but the waited on part was far and away the most important. Sorta went hand and hand with hard working.

There is something else to students loved being in her class. When students enjoy the class they learn things, every school wants teachers who create enjoyable classrooms because they can get more students with higher GPA's and more money from the government because they are doing well.

Course i may be totally off, but I don't think you can really get a more glowing letter of recommendation than that.

Thanks. Now that definitely made my night. Apparently I really was a little too skeptical, huh?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Unless schools have changed since I actually went to one you got the highest praise a teacher can get, students like being in her class. Schools are all about keeping students in the class and in school, where they get the funding from.

In a way they are set up the same way as a restaurant or bar, they all want people to come stay there, come back and spend money. Granted different in who is spending the money but otherwise same idea. As a waitress i can tell you the only thing you wanted to hear previous employers saying about you was people loved being waited on by her, well hard worker was also good but the waited on part was far and away the most important. Sorta went hand and hand with hard working.

There is something else to students loved being in her class. When students enjoy the class they learn things, every school wants teachers who create enjoyable classrooms because they can get more students with higher GPA's and more money from the government because they are doing well.

Course i may be totally off, but I don't think you can really get a more glowing letter of recommendation than that.

Well if you knew what the sexy teacher looked like you wouldn't mind being in her class either...wowsa.

to Jen.

 

[emap]

Your welcome and usually best to not even worry about what they are saying, your the only one who can sell yourself, if you go into a job appointment down on yourself you don't get the job, you go in chipper and happy you get the job. Unless your not qualified for what they got open.

Zeb your silly it takes more than a hot body and pretty face to keep..... OK nevermind that is all it takes for high schoolers.

 

[oggbashan]

One of mine:

He's intelligent, informed, bloody-minded, resistant to change except by logical argument, determined and won't stop a course of action until it is completed.

He's a great boss, an impossible subordinate unless you are capable of directing him appropriately, opinionated and right almost every time.

His output is greater than most peoples and more useful.

Og

 

[only_more_so]

Well, it does say she recommends me without reservation for any position for which I am qualified... I just wasn't sure what that meant.

Oh yes, and she also mentioned "tremendous amount of enthusiasm". Another cutesy phrase that I've seen mean some pretty negative things on a German letter. "Enthusiasm has shit to do with how well someone does the job. A hack can be totally enthusiastic, and the fact that they mention it means they've got nothing better to say." That's what the crash course I got from my dad taught me, anyway.

Actually, adding the qualifier about qualification makes the recommendation more compelling. It shows that the person writing the review isn't just saying things to make you sound good. It also shows that the letter isn't generic.

As for what it means, I think a couple of others mentioned it, but it says that you are very good at your job, but the breadth of your experience is limited.

Also, having a tremendous amount of enthusiasm is a very good thing in the education field. Too many teachers get burned out, or at least lose their enthusiasm. In a lot of fields enthusiasm doesn't matter, but in education and many other interpersonal occupations it does. Teaching perhaps not as much as say a fitness instructor, but an enthusiastic teacher does inspire children.

 

[fieryjen]

Well, my sister-in-law just stopped by, she's got much more experience with this stuff than I do (she's quite a bit older than me as well) and she said that this was a glowing recommendation. She said it was very professionally written and apparently, the things that sound nice really are nice.

Now I'm finally convinced, and happy. And very excited that my boss apparently liked me so much.

She said I

- displayed professional behavior
- had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm
- related well with adults and students
- enjoyed what I was doing
- took pride in setting high standards for myself
- was an effective team player
- played an active role in developing curriculum
- made appropriate and productive decisions
- am dependable
- communicate well
- am respectful of all people and dignify all of my students

Sorry if I sound like I'm bragging now, but if this really is as good as it sounds it's making me very, very excited about having made such a good impression. Especially because the head of the education department at my college predicted several times that I would be a horrible failure as a teacher. So it feels very nice to be proving her wrong.