March 18, 2004

Reference hyper-inflation ?

Posted by John Quiggin

The phenomenon of recommendation letters for students being written by the student was discussed a few months back, but, as recommendation letters aren’t a big deal here in Australia, I didn’t pay much attention. Today, however, I met a new version of this. I got an email from someone in the US, previously unknown to me, attaching a CV and a draft recommendation letter, and asking me to sign it. I declined without reading the CV, and without formulating a precise reason. Has anyone else encountered this?

Posted on March 18, 2004 08:46 PM UTC
Comments

I’m not important enough for it to happen to me. Quite a tribute, John.

Posted by harry · March 18, 2004 08:52 PM

What, a fiver wasn’t included? What gall! Obviously oblivious to the etiquette of semi-anonymous recommendations.

Posted by Alex Halavais · March 18, 2004 10:26 PM

I was hoping to get a recommend for my fine trolling. does this post indicate that I will be out of luck?

Posted by bryan · March 18, 2004 11:17 PM

I’ve had it happen to me professionally from the other side.

Quite a number of professional contacts who I’ve asked of references have come back with something like - “oh, you just write it up for me”. I’m dismayed mostly because I have a lot of trouble ‘tooting my own horn’. Honestly, it might well come out as a more conservative letter for the fact that I’m writing it.

Posted by Andrew Edwards · March 19, 2004 12:55 AM
Followups

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.