Hello everyone...I will be doing a visiting rotation at another institute next month and I was hoping I could get a good LOR. Do you guys have any advice on how I should approach this? I will try to work hard and everything, but whats a good way to get the attending to like you? THis has been hit or miss during my cores. Thanks
Honestly, there is no formula. I'm sure you've met people whom you despised because they have some attitude problems or are lazy etc but are well liked by attendings. These are the bootlickers. And there are some who work very hard but yet aren't liked.
My advice is to strike a balance. First, find out who you would like to give you a LOR, usually it would be your supervisor or maybe the dean. But a person with a higher position would give you a LOR with a heavier weightage. So, find your target.
Next, get close to that person, find out what makes them tick. If he/she is a sucker for punctuality and getting things done on time, then, never come late, be on your toes, be systematic, help out as much as you can..in other words, be SEEN doing work
There are some who love to talk, so, strike up random conversations with them, show that you adore them, agree with them on many things but do not show up that you don't have a spine or an opinion of your own.
For those who like their boots licked, you should know what to do
And then, there are those mysterious types, brilliant, only talk when there is a need. Do not bootlick or talk too much, they probably despise people who do that. Let your work do your talking, be impressive on rounds.
One thing I'm unsure of is whether you need to inform these people ahead of your rotation about them writing a LOR for you, but I think you probably need to. Some may not agree to, so it's good to know..no point wasting a whole month's effort and then finding out at the end that you're not getting a LOR from them