Ask Dr. Johnson: Is it OK to buy a recommendation letter?

Dear Dr. Johnson,

I hold a PhD in Sociology and I’m currently applying for some postdoc fellowships. However, I’ve been facing the challenge of getting recommendation letters for a number of reasons.

I’ve read your interesting article about this common problem and I’d like to kindly ask if it is a feasible alternative to go after companies that provide them for a fee?

My aim is not to cheat or invent credentials that don’t exist but rather to overcome the obstacle of not having anyone to ask for recommendation letters. Just that.

- Lacking a Letter

From Dr. Johnson:

While I can appreciate how challenging it is to acquire recommendation letters, do not under any circumstances buy a recommendation letter from a company or individual.

The purpose of a recommendation letter is not to recap or validate what is on your CV. The letter provides a perspective from someone who has worked with you that you are dedicated to your goals, have mastered specific skills, and have traits like reliability, leadership, and integrity. A company that does not know you cannot write you a truthful letter; it would be based on what you tell them to write in exchange for payment. So a purchased letter would be disingenuous and would also violate most universities' ethics rules.

You don’t mention why you are having trouble getting a recommendation letter after successfully earning your PhD, but I can suggest a path forward. Reach out to every professor and colleague that you have ever worked with to find someone who can speak to your skills, personality, and professionalism, even if your time working with them was brief. Have a meeting to discuss examples of your work that can be included in the letter. If a former professor of yours has passed away or is simply unreachable, approach the professor’s Department for assistance providing you a letter on their behalf.

If you still cannot find anyone willing to write you a positive and truthful letter, then you have a network problem. Your next step is to spend time building positive relationships with people that you work with, including through voluntary projects. You must build a cadre of people who know you and your work well enough to write you a positive letter.

Sometimes the reasons for this challenge are out of your control. If you cannot receive a recommendation letter because you are from a country that is impacted by political turmoil or because you are in a legal battle against your university, I recommend letting the institutions where you are applying know the situation so that they can propose an appropriate alternative to a recommendation letter. Only they can tell you the right solution for their selection process - do not turn to Google or Reddit for the answer!

Honesty and integrity are important aspects of the fellowship and graduate school application process. Many candidates face challenges, but this is no excuse for shortcuts. Do your best and know the ProFellow community is rooting for your success.?

Dr. Vicki Johnson is Founder and Director of ProFellow, the world’s leading online resource for professional and academic fellowships. She is a four-time fellow, top Ph.D. scholar, Fulbright recipient, and an award-winning social entrepreneur. She is the creator of the Fully Funded Course and Mentorship Program for graduate school applicants, which has helped hundreds of graduate school hopefuls enter top master's & PhD programs with full funding awards.

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