how confidential should the recommendation letters be?

[u087183]

Dear friends,

I am really keen to know what is the exact procedure of getting a recommendation letter from ones superiors? All the college websites say that they have an online form which has to be filled up by the prospective recommender.

But is it ethical (even practical) to ask the prospective recommender to share his recommendation with me. This way i will not be in for any surprises during the interview. Also with bosses one never knows how they feel about letting an employee go. I mean i dont want to be cynical or anything but that is how life is.

If someone has already obtained recommendation letters from their superiors i would really appreciate your response.

Best regards to all you wonderful people.

[Stacy Blackman]

You should supply your recommenders with details that you want them to include in their letter. This can help steer the content in the direction that you want it to go. Many schools allow the option to waive your right to see the letter. I recommend checking that box, so the school can be assured that the letter is completely honest. However, if you do not waive your right, you can ethically view the completed letter. Even if you waive you right, many recommenders welcome input and feedback from an applicant while the letter is being constructed. While you may not reiew it in final form, if your recommender wants you to contribute, it is okay to do so.