Letters of recommendation play a pivotal role in your MBA application package. They provide the only external validation of your achievements, character, and potential. A recommendation letter not only corroborates the claims you have made in your essays but also provides an opportunity to add additional stories that you may not have been able to include elsewhere. Additionally, it can also further build on the stories you have shared in your essays. A well-crafted recommendation letter paints you in a positive light and complements your application.
Who should be your recommender?
However, choosing the right recommender who can write a valuable letter for you can be a challenging task for many e applicants. your recommendation should come from someone who knows you well, understands your work well, and has interacted with you regularly. This person should be able to discuss your talents, accomplishments, potential, and both personal and professional traits in depth. It’s important to avoid asking peers to write your recommendations, as they are often seen as friends who might provide overly favorable endorsements.
Your letters will have more credibility if they are written by people who hold senior or evaluative positions. Your direct supervisors are familiar with your working style, work ethic, accomplishments, and contribution to the company and are in a position to substantiate them with powerful examples. The most persuasive recommendation letters contain specific examples and anecdotes that illustrate your strengths.
If your prospective MBA program asks for two letters of recommendation, then you should approach your current supervisor and a former supervisor from a previous role. This approach provides a broader perspective on your growth and achievements. When approaching potential recommenders, it’s essential to discuss the specific anecdotes and traits you would like them to highlight, ensuring that each letter complements the other without redundancy
Choosing the Right Recommender: Key Considerations
However, the process of selecting a recommender isn’t always straightforward. Even though a direct supervisor and past supervisor may know you well, they might not always be the best choice. Not everyone who understands your capabilities will excel at articulating them in a letter. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully consider who you would want to entrust with this important responsibility.
Before making your decision, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do They Genuinely Like You?
First and foremost, you should ensure that your potential recommender likes you and will write a positive letter for you! Whether you choose a current direct supervisor or someone you worked with before your current job, you should choose a person with whom you have maintained a positive relationship. If they admire your work, their letters will be positive and persuasive speaking enthusiastically about your accomplishments, leadership, and work ethic.
2. Can they Write Effectively?
Strong writing skills are essential for a good recommendation. Choose someone who can articulate their thoughts clearly and is open to your input. A well-written letter that directly addresses the school's questions will add significant value to your application. Avoid providing a laundry list of adjectives, that fails to adequately answer the prompts.
3. Will They Commit the Necessary Time and Effort?
Your recommender’s commitment to your application process is another critical factor. It is important to gauge their willingness to invest the time and effort needed to craft a strong letter. Do they understand the importance of this letter in your admission process? Will they take the time to align their letter with the themes and stories you have highlighted in your essays? A lack of effort on their part sends a clear, negative message to the admissions committee.
I have seen students struggle with recommenders who, for various reasons, fail to deliver. Some submit vague, superficial letters that add little to the application, while others procrastinate, jeopardizing the applicant's chances. For example, one of my students had all his materials ready for Round 1 but missed the deadline because his recommender was too busy celebrating ‘Dussehra’ (an Indian festival).
4. Are They Prepared to Customize Each Letter?
Your recommender must understand that writing a recommendation isn’t a one-size-fits-all exercise. Each letter should be tailored to the specific questions asked by each MBA program, backed by relevant examples. A personalized, well-crafted letter from someone who takes the time to align with your application strategy will always outweigh a generic, poorly-written letter, even from a senior figure.
Thus, choosing a recommender requires careful consideration, time, effort. You should spend time with your recommender to help them understand the themes - goals, accomplishments, strengths, and weaknesses you are discussing in your essays and how much this means to you. They are busy professionals, so you should give them as much advance notice as possible to avoid any last-minute issues.
By planning ahead and engaging your recommenders early in the process, you will not only save yourself unnecessary anxiety before the deadline but will also increase your chances of getting strong, impactful recommendations that can make a significant difference in your application’s success.
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