lnds1001 wrote:
Hi all,
I've looked around quite a bit for previous threads on this topic and couldn't find much (if there are, I'd appreciate a redirect).
Anyway, I've been at my job for just over 2 years now, and was at my previous job for 2 years as well. My current firm is more of a feeder firm to business schools, and we usually have at least one analyst apply per year. So, I have reason to believe my supervisors "get" the whole process, e.g. they generally know how to structure their recommendation letters, know what to highlight, etc. My first job was at your typical "small" business, with very little middle management. As a result, entry level folks tended to either stay for 5+ yrs without the MBA or leave after 1 or 2 years to find a new position. I had a positive experience at both jobs, but they were very different environments (and could potentially highlight different strengths).
I'd like to ask my current supervisor and my former supervisor, but I am concerned that my former supervisor is completely new to the process and might not know how to position the letter. I'm almost certain he's never written a recommendation letter for an MBA program before, nor did he attend business school. I'm worried that what he'll say won't match in tone to my other letter and might raise some questions about the company.
Can anyone weigh in on whether having a recommendation letter from more than one firm is of value? Would it raise a red flag on my first job if both of my letters came from the same firm?
Would his relative inexperience reflect poorly on the firm or on me?
Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks!
There are a couple of points you need to know:
1. Many B-schools have done away with the concept of a 'letter' of recommendation. Often, the recommender has to log onto a web portal and fill out a questionnaire about you. He would have to rate you on some parameters like leadership, teamwork, cross-cultural sensitivity etc. and would also have to give brief written answers to specific questions about your personal and professional qualities. (for e.g. what would you recommend as an area of improvement for the candidate? Do you think the candidate is suitable for senior leadership positions?) This process is much easier for the recommender than having to write a letter of recommendation. So your former supervisor may not have too much trouble with this.
2. You must take the time out to prep your recommender - by the way, this holds true not just for your former supervisor, but also for your current one. Give him a copy of your application essays and also a bulleted list of the key messages you want to bring out through your application. Perhaps you could even jog his memory about aspects of your work at the previous company that you want him to highlight. Also make sure he understands your career goals.
Put together, these should help you counteract his relative inexperience.
Gowri N Kishore
Admissions Consultant
CrackVerbal
close
18 Aug 2013, 14:43
