[bluecloud]

Ahhhh!!!!!! I'm so screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the jobs I really want to apply for needs an academic reference! The issue is I've either burned bridges with some professors or not been able to build a substantial amount of rapport to guarantee a recommendation letter.

I can't go building rapport now......I think many professors whom I haven't hit up yet have heard about me through the grapevine.......I have met some cold shoulders (ok, probably because they don't know me and they are busy with work that they would rather not waste time vouching for another student).

I hate the idea of references!!!!! Nowadays, people giving references are simply giving good feedback for those they knew very well, as in people they already befriended with, so they will most certainly say nice things. I mean of course the job seeker is going to ask those people who will give positive feedback, no one is that dumb to ask for his arch-nemesis for a recommendation letter.
Why, oh why do employers still make people go through this useless process?????? (question not intended to be answered )

[Ne5o2]

Haha. Me too.. just ask permission from a good professor even he or she duno who we r if they allowed us to put their name, d whole university hundred of professor sure got one who willing I guess..

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

[Travelinglady]

I think these references are seen rather like job references. To get an idea of how good an employee you will be. Of course, you probably didn't mean for anyone to answer that question!

Did you do any internships?

ETA:

Or if you did any school projects with some students who are now doing well or who were active in school, or did something notable for any TAs. Any language programs, school trips that had an academic component? Maybe try to think out of the norm of what an "academic reference" might mean in this case if you can't go with a professor, and don't let it appear that it even occured to you to ask a professor [because of course you could have asked any one of them if it had occurred to you right? You would have your pick of several excellent references from any of your professors... at least that is the impression you could give]


Josie

[bluecloud]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I think these references are seen rather like job references. To get an idea of how good an employee you will be. Of course, you probably didn't mean for anyone to answer that question!

I would rather take a personality test

Originally Posted by JosieTheGirl

Did you do any internships?

ETA:

Or if you did any school projects with some students who are now doing well or who were active in school, or did something notable for any TAs. Any language programs, school trips that had an academic component? Maybe try to think out of the norm of what an "academic reference" might mean in this case if you can't go with a professor, and don't let it appear that it even occured to you to ask a professor [because of course you could have asked any one of them if it had occurred to you right? You would have your pick of several excellent references from any of your professors... at least that is the impression you could give]


Josie

I haven't had an internship. There's a TA in my class, a student who is working in the campus, but I'm not friends with them.
BUT
You gave me an idea.
I have good rapport with my career advisor. I will try her.

[bluecloud]

Update

Just spoke to a professor about my career interests, and some questions and issues I have with the courses in the next 6 months, and just 5 minutes after I left the meeting as I was walking toward my car, I realized I forgot to ask him to be my reference for the internship I mentioned in meeting.

What do I do now? Do I schedule another face to face meeting or send an email to ask for the reference? Is sending email not polite?

[Travelinglady]

I think under the circumstances it would be okay to send an e-mail. Just tell him you meant to ask but forgot. Of course, be very polite and don't assume he will just do whatever you want. (I was a college professor for many years.)

Just don't wait very long to do it.

[Perna]

I had that trouble last year only I didn't have any because I finished school in 2007 and it was online and all the professors had moved on and/or I was out of touch with them, the school, etc. I had to dig back to one I volunteered for online back in 2001! How useful could that have been to people as to my suitability? I got into the program though so that's all I cared about.