University at Albany, State University of New York

Investigating Professional Opinions Regarding the Use of Recommendation Letters as a Selection Tool

Past research has explored the many questions and concerns regarding recommendation letters as a selection instrument. Research has also offered a variety of suggestions aimed at improving the quality of recommendation letters. Despite the apparent effort to improve the usefulness of recommendation letters, no study has yet to investigate applied and academic professional's opinions regarding the usage of recommendation letters. The purpose of this study is to examine "expert" opinions and reported usage of recommendation letters for personnel selection.