Can I take recommendation from someone I met at a conference?
I met a faculty (from a university in the UK) at a conference. She liked and praised my work and we are in touch after conference. She has an impressive profile and her research work is similar to mine. Is it okay to take a recommendation letter from her to seek postdoctoral position overseas? Will it help?
conference postdocs recommendation-letter
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
add a comment |
I met a faculty (from a university in the UK) at a conference. She liked and praised my work and we are in touch after conference. She has an impressive profile and her research work is similar to mine. Is it okay to take a recommendation letter from her to seek postdoctoral position overseas? Will it help?
conference postdocs recommendation-letter
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
add a comment |
I met a faculty (from a university in the UK) at a conference. She liked and praised my work and we are in touch after conference. She has an impressive profile and her research work is similar to mine. Is it okay to take a recommendation letter from her to seek postdoctoral position overseas? Will it help?
conference postdocs recommendation-letter
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
I met a faculty (from a university in the UK) at a conference. She liked and praised my work and we are in touch after conference. She has an impressive profile and her research work is similar to mine. Is it okay to take a recommendation letter from her to seek postdoctoral position overseas? Will it help?
conference postdocs recommendation-letter
conference postdocs recommendation-letter
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
asked 3 hours ago
Lekha SharmaLekha Sharma
15717
15717
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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You can definitely ask her for a letter of recommendation. It cannot hurt I assume.
However, considering that the person does not know you much, the letter might not have much weight in the eyes of whoever reads it.
Since there is not much to lose, ask for the letter. If you receive it, use it as you see fit. There is no guarantee whether it will help or will be useless.
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
add a comment |
There's nothing stopping you asking for one. However, you need to consider what would be written in such a letter.
In short, you can ask for a letter, but be careful how you use it. What could the person say on your behalf if a potential employer contacts them to get more information about their assessment of you?
For instance, it doesn't seem that you have a professional relationship - you haven't co-authored papers, nor have you worked together in the same institution, nor have you served on the same committees, etc. Any of these things is not necessary, of course, but these are the sort of things a referee would cite as evidence that they are in a position to recommend you or your work.
However, it sounds like your contact does know of your work. However, are they a world-leader in your field? Do they have the respect of your community? When they say good things about you or anyone else, do others pay attention?
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work, and a single meeting at a conference?
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
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2 Answers
2
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oldest
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active
oldest
votes
You can definitely ask her for a letter of recommendation. It cannot hurt I assume.
However, considering that the person does not know you much, the letter might not have much weight in the eyes of whoever reads it.
Since there is not much to lose, ask for the letter. If you receive it, use it as you see fit. There is no guarantee whether it will help or will be useless.
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
add a comment |
You can definitely ask her for a letter of recommendation. It cannot hurt I assume.
However, considering that the person does not know you much, the letter might not have much weight in the eyes of whoever reads it.
Since there is not much to lose, ask for the letter. If you receive it, use it as you see fit. There is no guarantee whether it will help or will be useless.
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
add a comment |
You can definitely ask her for a letter of recommendation. It cannot hurt I assume.
However, considering that the person does not know you much, the letter might not have much weight in the eyes of whoever reads it.
Since there is not much to lose, ask for the letter. If you receive it, use it as you see fit. There is no guarantee whether it will help or will be useless.
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
You can definitely ask her for a letter of recommendation. It cannot hurt I assume.
However, considering that the person does not know you much, the letter might not have much weight in the eyes of whoever reads it.
Since there is not much to lose, ask for the letter. If you receive it, use it as you see fit. There is no guarantee whether it will help or will be useless.
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
answered 3 hours ago
virolinovirolino
2317
2317
add a comment |
add a comment |
There's nothing stopping you asking for one. However, you need to consider what would be written in such a letter.
In short, you can ask for a letter, but be careful how you use it. What could the person say on your behalf if a potential employer contacts them to get more information about their assessment of you?
For instance, it doesn't seem that you have a professional relationship - you haven't co-authored papers, nor have you worked together in the same institution, nor have you served on the same committees, etc. Any of these things is not necessary, of course, but these are the sort of things a referee would cite as evidence that they are in a position to recommend you or your work.
However, it sounds like your contact does know of your work. However, are they a world-leader in your field? Do they have the respect of your community? When they say good things about you or anyone else, do others pay attention?
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work, and a single meeting at a conference?
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
add a comment |
There's nothing stopping you asking for one. However, you need to consider what would be written in such a letter.
In short, you can ask for a letter, but be careful how you use it. What could the person say on your behalf if a potential employer contacts them to get more information about their assessment of you?
For instance, it doesn't seem that you have a professional relationship - you haven't co-authored papers, nor have you worked together in the same institution, nor have you served on the same committees, etc. Any of these things is not necessary, of course, but these are the sort of things a referee would cite as evidence that they are in a position to recommend you or your work.
However, it sounds like your contact does know of your work. However, are they a world-leader in your field? Do they have the respect of your community? When they say good things about you or anyone else, do others pay attention?
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work, and a single meeting at a conference?
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
add a comment |
There's nothing stopping you asking for one. However, you need to consider what would be written in such a letter.
In short, you can ask for a letter, but be careful how you use it. What could the person say on your behalf if a potential employer contacts them to get more information about their assessment of you?
For instance, it doesn't seem that you have a professional relationship - you haven't co-authored papers, nor have you worked together in the same institution, nor have you served on the same committees, etc. Any of these things is not necessary, of course, but these are the sort of things a referee would cite as evidence that they are in a position to recommend you or your work.
However, it sounds like your contact does know of your work. However, are they a world-leader in your field? Do they have the respect of your community? When they say good things about you or anyone else, do others pay attention?
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work, and a single meeting at a conference?
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
There's nothing stopping you asking for one. However, you need to consider what would be written in such a letter.
In short, you can ask for a letter, but be careful how you use it. What could the person say on your behalf if a potential employer contacts them to get more information about their assessment of you?
For instance, it doesn't seem that you have a professional relationship - you haven't co-authored papers, nor have you worked together in the same institution, nor have you served on the same committees, etc. Any of these things is not necessary, of course, but these are the sort of things a referee would cite as evidence that they are in a position to recommend you or your work.
However, it sounds like your contact does know of your work. However, are they a world-leader in your field? Do they have the respect of your community? When they say good things about you or anyone else, do others pay attention?
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work, and a single meeting at a conference?
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
answered 3 hours ago
NicholasNicholas
8,1002151
8,1002151
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
add a comment |
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
How will a reader interpret a reference letter that is based only on a familiarity of your published work — At least in my field, the fact that someone knows and is willing to praise your work despite having no professional relationship makes the evaluation significantly more credible, and therefore more useful. For faculty hiring, letters from people with existing professional relationships are viewed with suspicion; for tenure and promotion cases, such letters are simply forbidden.
– JeffE
1 hour ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
Yes @jeffe that's fair enough, hence it is a question for the poster to try and determine the value of such a letter in context. One concern for example is the suitability of a candidate for a teaching or supervision role. It is hard to assess someone for this based on research outputs alone.
– Nicholas
12 mins ago
add a comment |
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