How should I ask for my letter of reference?

How do I ask someone to update a previously written letter of reference?

• I'm going back to work after being an expat. I had excellent letters of recommendations, but they are four years old. I would like to get the same people to just update the letters they wrote. Should I scan and send the letters along with a request, or should it be a handwritten letter? What should I say?

• Answer:

  If the letters had contact information with them, I would simply reach out to them. I would say, "hey _______ remember a few years back when you wrote a letter of recommendation for me, I am back in the job search and I was wondering if you would mind if I used them again." This also may be a good time to ask them how their jobs are going and to see if they know of anything that fits your skill set. Good Luck!