Or just tell the person sure, you'll write an honest letter! Annette
Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:52:24 -0500 >From: "beth benoit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: [tips] Reference Problem >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> > > Link: File-List > > Someone on TIPS had a similar problem a few years > ago, and I still remember the response - and have > used it. Just say that you feel it's only fair to > let her know that you don't think a reference from > you would be helpful to her. If she doesn't quite > get that, then add that future employers are usually > looking for positive remarks and you don't feel > that, under the circumstances, you would be able to > offer that. > > > > It's a little gentler than saying, "Are you > kidding? You think, after what you did, I'd ever > write anything good about you?" > > > > Beth Benoit > > Granite State College > > New Hampshire > > > > From: David Wasieleski > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 9:47 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: [tips] Reference Problem > > > > Hey all. Today I received an email from someone > asking for a reference for a former student of mine > who is applying for the job. The emails asks of > course for information on her aptitude and work > ethic. Without going into all the gory details, this > student ended up as a thesis student of mine and > actually displayed significant problems with work > ethic (e.g., going off to Las Vegas for four days > with less than two weeks to get her thesis done to > graduate on time, and then expecting me to respond > overnight to a draft sent to me). Since her > graduation the student asked if I would serve as a > reference, and I suggested that given all that had > happened, others would serve better as a reference > for her. So this email comes as a dismaying > surprise. I of course do not plan to respond to it > via email but by phone. I don't know that I want to > simply state that I don't want to serve as a > reference. But clearly this puts me in a bind > regarding what to say when I do make that phone > call. Has anyone else dealt with similar > circumstances? > > David T. Wasieleski, Ph.D. > Professor > Department of Psychology and Counseling > Valdosta State University > Valdosta, GA 31698 > 229-333-5620 > http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dtwasieleski > > "The only thing that ever made sense in my life > is the sound of my little girl laughing through the > window on a summer night... > Just the sound of my little girl laughing > makes me happy just to be alive..." > --Everclear > "Song from an American Movie" > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
