Here’s What to Do When You DON’T Want to Give Someone a Recommendation

abcnews.com

By: Kelsey Mulvey

This story originally appeared on Ed2010.com

If you’re reading this story, you’re probably at that surreal stage of your career where former interns and assistants are asking you for recommendations.

While most of them who ask are people you’d readily refer, there’s the chance that someone you weren’t impressed with is asking you to vouch for them. Whether they consistently arrived two hours late to work or uttered an intern faux pas, one thing’s for sure: You’re not giving them the rec. Three ways to handle this sticky situation.

Option 1: Say just no.

“First and foremost, know that you are under no legal or moral obligation to write someone a recommendation. This is not something to feel guilty about. If they don’t deserve a glowing recommendation, then don’t write one,” says Jennifer Lee Magas, vice president of Magas Media Consultants.

If you prefer the direct approach, just say that you don’t like to write letters of recommendation, don’t feel comfortable doing so, or that your boss won’t let you. “You can use your boss as an excuse or blame it on HR policy,” says Chandra Turner, founder and president of Ed2010. “A lot of companies don’t like you giving recommendations anyway, good or bad. Because if the person were to not get the job because of something you said, they could sue you or your company. This is rare, but it’s why the rule exists.”

Option 2: Say you’re not the right person.

Often the reason that you don’t want to write the rec is not just because they were terrible, but because you don’t know them or their work well enough to come up with the words. In this case, says Magas, “politely decline, saying someone else could write a better letter for him or her.” And it’s probably true. You could gently suggest another editor in your office who worked more closely with him or her, or perhaps a professor or other employer who could give a more detailed account.

Option 3: Write the rec… but don’t rave.

If you’re feeling like you owe this employee something — after all, someone probably reluctantly wrote one for you once — write a very simple letter. It helps to ask them for a reminder, especially if it’s been a while since you worked together. “Ask them to send you a description reminding you of what you worked on together, their updated resume, and the job description for the job that they are going for. This makes it easier to tailor the rec and make it relevant,” says Turner.

Just don’t write anything negative, says Magas. “Someone is reaching out for your help, and if you’re going to help despite your disinterest, at least do them the courtesy of making it nice.”

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