system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How do you go about getting letters of recommendation for a job application when you don't want your current department to know you're considering leaving?

A lot of the job postings I'm seeing are asking for 3 letters of recommendation.  Do I go back to mentors and committee members from the department that gave me my degree, even though they don't have much experience with me as a full-time faculty member?
gpt
I'd reach out to the search chair directly and explain that although you're looking, you'd still like to keep the process discreet for the time being. It's possible that they will evaluate your materials in the absence of letters with the expectation that if you make it far enough in the process, you could produce them.