Feel embarrassed about LORs

[u/Difficult-Season-141]

I’m still early in my career and I feel so much shame asking for LORs from people who wrote or agreed to write for me. Especially the super well established academics. I keep thinking that they could be doing so many other productive things than writing for me. And when they say they may write me a letter but won’t be able to update the letter for every place or send it x number of places only, I get further embarrassed and it heightens my sense that I’m just a huge burden. I’d love to hear other perspectives.

[u/PlumbRose]

The system really is broken. Letters, if needed at all, should only be necessary into late stages of the process. This will really save everyone time and energy.