Requests for letters of recommendation

KLB said:
Dear Dough,

I read your internetz board and stuffs. I no u dont know me But could you pleeze recomend me for job at delta. I haz the skills needed?

Thank you
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Notice why I'm not laughing?

These eyes have seen that. And it cannot be unseen!

I really enjoy our pilot group and I'm very selective about who I recommend. Because if someone is a huge jackass and starts leaving a trail of destruction or goes to the "dark side", it's my fault.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for a letter from someone you've flown with or know really well. You don't need to wait for them to offer, in my opinion.

But I would definitely avoid doing what a guy I knew from Pinnacle did: "Hey Todd, it's (insert name here) from Pinnacle. I got turned down at UAL, DAL, and SWA, so I'm kinda down to my last choices, and I was wondering if you'd write me a letter for AirTran."

Um, how about NO? I want to write letters for people who want to work here, thanks. Not people who view it as a fallback.

Not really relevant anymore, since "here" doesn't exist and has been replaced by the purple borg, but the lesson is worthwhile to others. If you want a recommendation from someone, you'd better not act like their airline is your last resort and you don't really want to be there.
 
If you get off your ass and start flying more, perhaps you can bid LAX and fly with The Original! :)
 
Derg said:
I haven't seen Ron in years, I wonder how that guy is doing. Talks like a Chicago cop and not even a nice one! :)
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Well maybe if you didn't slam-click away from the rest of your crew on a four-day, Nerdlinger.

Now about my letter…
 
canadian_atc said:
I once had a facebook message for new friendship, I wrote back and said "Who are you?"

They replied saying they saw I work at NavCanada and wondered if I could help them get a job as a controller.

"Sure man here's a headset"
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There's a guy at my company who stalked people on Facebook and asked for letters of recommendation, I think one dude actually walked his resume into the Chief Pilot's office. I flew with said stalker and he was telling me about all of his "friends" but as the month progressed I learned he had never actually met lots of these people.

I'll second the text message asking for a LOR being bad form. I was one of about 25 recipients of a mass text from someone asking for a LOR, I deleted the text without any thought. It's really not that difficult to pick up the phone and ask.
 
canadian_atc said:
I once had a facebook message for new friendship, I wrote back and said "Who are you?"

They replied saying they saw I work at NavCanada and wondered if I could help them get a job as a controller.

"Sure man here's a headset"
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You mean that's not how it works?

Someone said in another thread, if you go out with the intent to network, you're doing it wrong.

I'm only a recently minted CMEL/CSEL pilot / almost CFI. I have put feelers out there, but c'mon, expecting someone to go "Oh yeah, sure, I can get you around the 1500 hour rule, sure, come fly at Jetblue with me...would you like the Airbus or 190?" is just ridiculous. Carry yourself with a little dignity, don't be a tool, and be a good person.
 
Oh, the facebook recommendation request!... If you're asking for a letter from someone that couldn't write more than a few sentences about you, then, well, good luck!
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Um, how about NO? I want to write letters for people who want to work here, thanks. Not people who view it as a fallback.

If you want a recommendation from someone, you'd better not act like their airline is your last resort and you don't really want to be there.
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Was Air Tran your first choice?

I was hired by my first choice but went with my second. As they say, you never know if you made the correct choice until you retire. Retirement wise, I made the right choice.
 
Screaming_Emu said:
Apparently I have the wrong job.

It makes me very happy when I start a trip and I have to pause to remember the door code at the crew lounge.
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When I was at a 121 I was lucky there as well. I had nearly 3 months off during the fleet transition. I got locked inside many times when I came back!
 
All good stuff in here. Obviously with just a PPL, I haven't been in a position to ask for or give references for flying jobs. However, I have both recommended people I met on JC for airline ground handling jobs, and been recommended by people on JC for jobs as well. I did ask to use a friend on JC as a reference last time I was looking at going to his airline as a ramper, and he was more than happy to help. Why? Because we're friends, and friends don't use eachother, they help eachother. I know much more is on the line with a reference for a flying job, but its the same general concept. I don't think one should feel awkward asking a friend for help. There is a big difference between "Hey dude, I'm applying to your airline, can you put in the good word? Cool thanks, so the other night..." and "Hello, you may remember me we shook hands and talked for 3 minutes at NJC 2011. Well, I just hit 1500 hours and...".

Oh, and to that friend, I didn't end up needing to go after that job because I got steady work at the ramp tower shortly after, but thanks. :)
 
Springer said:
Was Air Tran your first choice?
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Yes. But that's not really the point. It's not that it wasn't his first choice. It was his comment that he was basically at the "bottom of the barrel" from his perspective. Everybody has a first choice, and then a few other choices that would be great runners-up, but when you tell someone that it's basically your last resort, don't expect any help.
 
I used to get the text speak style requests from people I don't know. Now that we haven't hired anyone except cadets in the last few years I don't hear from anyone looking for help except a few here and there. I do remember one that was so bad I had to write him back and give him a lesson on writing a professional letter. Had to inform him that you're or your and ur are not equal in the real world. Things like punctuation and capitalization are not just ancient myths but are actually things he needed to learn to use.
 
rjmore said:
Had to inform him that you're or your and ur are not equal in the real world. Things like punctuation and capitalization are not just ancient myths but are actually things he needed to learn to use.
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Tell that to the "this isn't English class" crowd...
 
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