A big part of the business school application process is being sure that each MBA recommendation supports your professional story. These are the people you have worked for, worked with, or possibly have worked for you in your career before B-School. Isn’t it a little scary to trust your prized business school application to someone else? What on earth are they going to say about you?
Here are three typical concerns about getting a good MBA recommendation.
- This person doesn’t really know me. - I worked with this person on a couple of projects, but I’m not 100% confident that he/she really knows and appreciates my professional ability.
- This person doesn’t have the same level of urgency as I do. - This person has a full-time job and I’m concerned that he/she will not be in a hurry to get my MBA recommendation back to me.
- They person may “turn” on me. – I’m afraid that asking for a MBA recommendation is the same as turning in my “two week notice”. All of a sudden, I will be given the professional cold shoulder and lose valuable support from my office.
Get Started! – Here is a suggestion on how to take control of your recommendation letters.
- Prepare a cover letter. - Don’t walk up to your boss and say, “I’m thinking about going back to school. Will you recommend me?” Instead, prepare a one-page document that explains the schools you are intersted in, why you are interested, and how this person’s insight can help improve your application. Use specific professional examples that prove your point. Think of this page as a cover letter for your MBA recommendation form. For a special touch, deliver the letter and recommendation form with a small gift. Thank them in advance for their genorosity.
Tags: application process, b school, boss, business school application, cold shoulder, cover letter, full time job, genorosity, going back to school, hurry, insight, mba, page document, professional ability, professional story, recommendation form, recommendation letters, typical concerns, urgency, what on earth