One thing that urgently needs to disappear are recommendation letters. They are meaningless and unproductive. Why not substitute them with a phone call, an email, or a Zoom? If you are serious about a candidate, isn’t it better to hear the recommendation in person? And ask specific questions?
Recommendation letters are a throwback to 1959 and they are kind of embarrassing. Let’s make them go away.
Clarissa's Blog 
It’s the paper trail. We generally always follow via phone in case the recommender has stuff they aren’t comfortable putting in writing.
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In academia, recommendation letters make sense. But I’m so tired of writing letters for jobs like part-time sales clerk and such.
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Oh God, yes. Although IME, most of the time, industry folks who are considering hiring someone for whom I am a reference want to talk over the phone instead of have me send them a letter.
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