Have you been applying to schools, programs, or jobs, but need a letter of recommendation from a counselor, mentor, teacher, etc.?

1. Ask sooner than later. It takes time for a quality letter to be written, so please give the person you've chosen as much notice as possible. Try asking four to six weeks before the application deadline (if it's for school).

2. Provide them with information about the job or program you're applying for. This will help them understand what type of information to include in their letter. For example, for a management job position, they could include details about your leadership skills.

3. Create an outline of your skills and achievements for them. Share information about the classes you've taken, projects you've completed, awards you've won, and more to help them know what you'd like them to highlight in their letter that's not already included in your resume (if you have one).

Bonus Tip: Choose a reference carefully. Ask people who know you well enough to write a strong recommendation based on your unique traits, potential, work ethic, and specific achievements!