It can be very dejecting to receive no response when you’ve asked for a reference letter from your boss or professor.
However, you should never give up!
In this article, we’ll show you how to follow up on a letter of recommendation request using 6 different phrases.
6 Ways to Write a Follow-up Email for a Letter of Recommendation
Check out these 6 ways to follow up after you’ve requested a reference letter:
- Could you possibly provide an update on my letter of recommendation?
- Is there any further information I can provide?
- I wanted to enquire about the status of my reference letter
- Have you had a chance to work on my reference letter?
- Would it be possible to complete my reference letter by [date]?
- I am writing to follow up on my request for a letter of recommendation
1. Could You Possibly Provide an Update on My Letter of Recommendation?
When writing a follow-up email after you have requested a reference letter, it’s important to keep things polite!
Although it can be frustrating to not hear back from your professor when you are ready to enter the job market, being impatient may strain your relationship.
This, in turn, could jeopardize the content of the letter altogether!
Therefore, you will be making a safe choice by asking could you possibly provide an update on my letter of recommendation.
This phrase is very tentative. Moreover, it gently reminds the receiver of your request and prompts them to either respond to you with an update or to get on with writing your letter.
Have a look at how we’ve used this phrase in an email sample:
Dear Professor Achebe,
Could you possibly provide an update on my letter of recommendation?
Thank you very much for your time.
Kind regards,
Geraldine Melchior
2. Is There Any Further Information I Can Provide?
The phrase is there any further information I can provide allows you to indirectly remind your boss about your request for a recommendation letter.
After all, this alternative is an offer to contribute to the letter. This will make you appear patient but proactive as opposed to desperate.
You may know full well that your boss doesn’t require any information from you. However, asking whether they need anything will hopefully prompt them to get the letter back to you quickly.
In short, you can use this phrase when you think your boss may have forgotten about your request without seeming frustrated by the delay.
Consider this email example:
Dear Mr. Fillion,
Is there any further information I can provide to assist you in the drafting of my reference letter?
Please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Kind regards,
Peter Gunn
3. I Wanted to Enquire About the Status of My Reference Letter
I wanted to enquire about the status of my reference letter is another great alternative to use when you are reminding your professor about a letter of recommendation that they promised to give you.
This phrase has a rather formal tone, which makes it very suitable for an academic setting.
In addition, it is polite and lacks urgency.
Essentially, you are asking whether your prof has made any progress on your letter rather than asking for them to provide it immediately.
This shows that you are considerate of your professor’s busy schedule and that you don’t intend to rush them.
Let’s see a sample email that includes this phrase:
Dear Professor Kinnaman,
I wanted to enquire about the status of my reference letter.
Can I expect to receive it this month?
Kind regards,
Nana Tsuda
4. Have You Had a Chance to Work on My Reference Letter?
If you’re unsure how to politely remind your boss about a letter of recommendation request, this alternative is sure to help.
The phrase have you had a chance to work on my reference letteris a less formal synonym for the phrase above.
Although this phrase is less flowery, it is still very tentative.
This makes it an appropriate way to phrase your follow-up request. After all, you’ll want to stay on your boss’s good side before they write your letter!
Check out this email sample to see what we mean:
Dear Tinashe,
Have you had a chance to work on my reference letter this week?
Many thanks for your willingness to assist me on this.
Kind regards,
Mayling
5. Would It Be Possible to Complete my Reference Letter by [Date]?
It can be daunting to ask for a reference via email. However, the pressure increases tenfold if you’re on a tight deadline!
For example, if you are applying to a master’s course at a university, a good letter or recommendation from a former professor can make all the difference.
However, there is only a limited time available to you to apply, meaning you may need your letter stat!
In this situation, it’s good to be as transparent as possible with your professor. If they know about your deadline, they will be more likely to get to your letter as soon as possible.
See this sample request for a letter of recommendation from your professor for your master’s application:
Dear Professor Robinson,
I have recently learned that the deadline for my master’s application is at the end of March.
As such, would it be possible to complete my reference letter by March 25th?
Kind regards,
Akio Ôtsuka
6. I Am Writing to Follow Up on My Request for a Letter of Recommendation
If you’re unsure how to follow up on a request for a letter of recommendation after receiving no response from your boss, you can try our final alternative.
The phrase I am writing to follow up on my request for a letter of recommendation is clear and straightforward.
This works well in a professional setting.
In addition, this phrase has a very neutral tone. This ensures that you won’t seem angry about the fact that your boss hasn’t replied yet.
Have a look at our final email example to see this phrase in action:
Dear Melanie,
I am writing to follow up on my request for a letter of recommendation.
Would you be willing to provide one?
Kind regards,
Mikaela Agee
Can I Write a Follow-Up Email for a Letter of Recommendation?
It’s perfectly okay to follow up on your request for a letter of recommendation, whether from a university professor or your employer.
After all, a good reference letter from your professor may ensure that you find work after graduation.
Similarly, many new employers will want to hear about what kind of employee you are from your previous boss.
It is appropriate to follow up when the recipient of your request has failed to respond. Likewise, it’s a good idea to check in on their progress if they have agreed to write you a reference letter.
After all, professors and employers are only humans, with plenty of work on their plate. Therefore, they may have gotten caught up with work and forgotten about your request.
