1. catdynamics
  2. An Appeal to Reference Robots

An Appeal to Reference Robots

By catdynamics on November 12, 2008.

Can I just ask for one thing, of those seeking recommendation letters for postdoctoral fellowships... ?

...please, please, please - agree on some consistent phrase to be part of the "Subject:" line.
Preferably something involving the words "Letter" and "Application" or "Recommendation" or "Reference" - anything, as long as you stick with it.

Being able to do electronic submission is good; and I know it is too much to ask for a consistent web format for upload, but, the automagically generated "reminder" that everyone sends k days before the due date, and/or when the application is activated or submitted, immediately vanishes in the modern Inbox, if it makes it past the spam filter...

So, choose Subject: phrases, agree to use them and stick with them,
Then we may see them, sort them and remember to respond in time.

If not, I will fall back on letters written in hand in No 2 pencil, sent snail mail.
'cause then I'll be able to blame the weekend snow storm when the letter is late...

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Academia

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