Daughter applying for first real post-college job; need rec letter advice

Parent Cafe
1

My daughter graduated from college in 2014 and has done several internships and temp (seasonal) jobs. She is about to apply for a job that would be a potential career-starter. We have been having an extended discussion about whether she should submit a letter that an intern supervisor wrote when she submits the application. I realize that in the business world, it is generally frowned upon to submit rec letters with the application. However, the job she is applying for is a research position with a university and specifically asks for a cv, which she has taken to mean that it can (and should) be longer than a page and should include things like research presentations, as well as a list of references (which I also understand is somewhat frowned upon in the business world).

The letter that her former supervisor wrote really is a glowing, “this is the best intern I have ever had” letter, from someone with a fairly high position in a federal government agency. My thinking is that if it hurts her application, it will only hurt it slightly, but if it helps, it could help a lot – that is, I don’t think her application is going to get tossed because of the letter, but I do think it could get pulled out for more consideration because of the letter.

Wise CC parents, what do you think – submit the letter or not?

2

I think they ask for recs if they want them. If they do, she should provide it.

3

The job description does not say to submit references. The university-wide job application website allows for uploading of “supporting documentation such as licenses/certifications, employment references, writing samples, etc. to include with your resume.”

4

If she is applying on the university wide website and since it allows for references, I don’t see why she shouldn’t upload. Good luck to her

5

If I remember correctly (from seeing one of my kids apply for a job through on-campus recruiting), the university job site has places for you to upload many documents. Then, when you apply for a particular job, you select the appropriate documents and submit them to that particular employer.

So if this employer doesn’t ask for references, the company won’t see that letter, even if the student uploads it to the university’s job site.

6

I don’t ask for reference letters with an initial application, but we do not discourage them and they can sometimes move an applicant from one pile to another (e.g., possible interview to definite) by indicating that transcripts/etc. may not be giving the full picture of the applicant’s skill set. Especially for an entry-level position, I would include the letter.