system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is it okay to ask for a copy of my recommendation letter?

I applied to a few programs through an application service that requests recommendation letters directly. 

In my email requesting the letters I asked if I could also have a copy because I’m applying to a few jobs. 

I was notified the letter was submitted via the application service but I haven’t received my own copy from the recommender. 

Did I ask for something that’s taboo? I thought I was saving my recommender trouble in the future?

Thanks

ETA: thanks for the replies and consensus! Ugh, I feel like a real dummy now.

ETA2: this is getting a lot more feedback than I expected! Thanks! Just for context: I worked at a lab for over a year a year ago. I’m 23 and not sure what I want to do with life but one of the things I was considering was a grad application to a short degree while also applying to jobs (since I don’t know exactly what I want). That’s why I asked my former laboratory director to send it to me *and* the application site thing. He’s a bit difficult to get in touch with so I tried to cram a couple of correspondences into one. I explained that I’m trying to find what I want. I now realize that looks bad and somewhat intrusive! Darn.
gpt
It's generally not ok to ask to see a letter, and most programs will discount letters that students have seen. This is because we need to be able to be honest in our letters, and knowing that the student will see them is likely to change what we will write. Most professors will ask you to provide the email for them to send the letter or ask for contact information so that they can get in touch. This doesn't mean that the professor is writing anything bad or negative about you, but the norms of letter writing strongly favor not showing the student the letter.