Bibek Aryal, Surgeon-Scientist, Independent Researcher in Cancer Outcomes, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Today, ‘Nature‘ published my article.
This had been on my mind for years. But what finally pushed me to write it was watching a qualified colleague spend days chasing recommendation letters before even getting an interview.
That made me ask: Why are we still requiring Letters of Recommendation at the very first stage of job applications?
In today’s digital era, candidates already leave a strong professional footprint through their CVs, publications, presentations, and broader body of work.
For an initial assessment, that is often enough.
Recommendation letters still have value. But perhaps they should come at the end of the process-not the beginning.
Review the CV first. Interview second. Request letters last.
Academic hiring should help discover talent, not create unnecessary barriers.”
Other articles featuring Bibek Aryal on OncoDaily.