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pia1318
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Help to Choose LOR 22 Oct 2024, 06:12
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Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my applications for MBA and MiM programs, and I need advice on securing a professional letter of recommendation. My challenge is that I work at a family business, so I want to ensure my LORs are credible and free of any potential conflicts of interest.

Former Supervisor: My previous direct supervisor, who wasn’t a relative, has since moved to a different company. He worked closely with me and could speak to my leadership and professional development. Would this be a credible option, even though he’s no longer with our company?

Current Supervisor: My current direct supervisor was a colleague before his promotion. He’s been supportive and willing to write the LOR, but since he’s still employed by my parents, I’m concerned it could appear biased or raise questions about conflict of interest.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I go with my former supervisor who’s no longer with the company, or is it acceptable to use my current supervisor despite the family connection? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences on how best to handle this!

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My supervisor at my NGO is happy to provide 1, but the IE guidelines say: Please include the contact information for two relevant academic or professional references
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Help to Choose LOR 22 Oct 2024, 12:11
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pia1318
Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my applications for MBA and MiM programs, and I need advice on securing a professional letter of recommendation. My challenge is that I work at a family business, so I want to ensure my LORs are credible and free of any potential conflicts of interest.

Former Supervisor: My previous direct supervisor, who wasn’t a relative, has since moved to a different company. He worked closely with me and could speak to my leadership and professional development. Would this be a credible option, even though he’s no longer with our company?

Current Supervisor: My current direct supervisor was a colleague before his promotion. He’s been supportive and willing to write the LOR, but since he’s still employed by my parents, I’m concerned it could appear biased or raise questions about conflict of interest.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I go with my former supervisor who’s no longer with the company, or is it acceptable to use my current supervisor despite the family connection? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences on how best to handle this!

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My supervisor at my NGO is happy to provide 1, but the IE guidelines say: Please include the contact information for two relevant academic or professional references
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1. you can take one from the former supervisor who has now moved out of the company. He could use the email address of his current company. Just explain it in your application if there is an optional essay.
Don't take it from someone who is still on the company payrolls. Although, if there is a client- they may be the best person to give you a recommendation

2. the second one can come from the NGO supervisor

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011
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pia1318
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Help to Choose LOR 22 Oct 2024, 22:13
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pia1318
Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my applications for MBA and MiM programs, and I need advice on securing a professional letter of recommendation. My challenge is that I work at a family business, so I want to ensure my LORs are credible and free of any potential conflicts of interest.

Former Supervisor: My previous direct supervisor, who wasn’t a relative, has since moved to a different company. He worked closely with me and could speak to my leadership and professional development. Would this be a credible option, even though he’s no longer with our company?

Current Supervisor: My current direct supervisor was a colleague before his promotion. He’s been supportive and willing to write the LOR, but since he’s still employed by my parents, I’m concerned it could appear biased or raise questions about conflict of interest.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I go with my former supervisor who’s no longer with the company, or is it acceptable to use my current supervisor despite the family connection? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences on how best to handle this!

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My supervisor at my NGO is happy to provide 1, but the IE guidelines say: Please include the contact information for two relevant academic or professional references

1. you can take one from the former supervisor who has now moved out of the company. He could use the email address of his current company. Just explain it in your application if there is an optional essay.
Don't take it from someone who is still on the company payrolls. Although, if there is a client- they may be the best person to give you a recommendation

2. the second one can come from the NGO supervisor

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011
Show more



Hi mam
1. Clients are govt agencies so the employees we interacted with would probably use personal mail ids.

2. The ex supervisor, if he uses his personal mail id? Would that be an issue?
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Help to Choose LOR 22 Oct 2024, 22:21
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pia1318
Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my applications for MBA and MiM programs, and I need advice on securing a professional letter of recommendation. My challenge is that I work at a family business, so I want to ensure my LORs are credible and free of any potential conflicts of interest.

Former Supervisor: My previous direct supervisor, who wasn’t a relative, has since moved to a different company. He worked closely with me and could speak to my leadership and professional development. Would this be a credible option, even though he’s no longer with our company?

Current Supervisor: My current direct supervisor was a colleague before his promotion. He’s been supportive and willing to write the LOR, but since he’s still employed by my parents, I’m concerned it could appear biased or raise questions about conflict of interest.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I go with my former supervisor who’s no longer with the company, or is it acceptable to use my current supervisor despite the family connection? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences on how best to handle this!

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My supervisor at my NGO is happy to provide 1, but the IE guidelines say: Please include the contact information for two relevant academic or professional references
Show more

Hi pia1318,

Given your family business background, it's understandable to have concerns about potential conflicts of interest when seeking LORs. The key is to ensure that your references can provide objective and credible assessments of your abilities.

Evaluating Your Options:

Former Supervisor: A LOR from your former supervisor who worked closely with you can be a strong option. Even though they've moved to a different company, they can still provide valuable insights into your work performance and potential.

Current Supervisor: While there might be concerns about a family connection, if your current supervisor has observed your work closely and can provide objective feedback, they can still be a credible reference. You could consider asking them to focus on specific projects or accomplishments where they've witnessed your skills firsthand.

NGO Supervisor: While the IE guidelines may specify academic or professional references, it's worth discussing this with the admissions committee. If you have a strong relationship with your NGO supervisor and they can provide valuable insights, they might be willing to consider them as a reference.

Other Options: If you have worked with external clients or partners, consider asking them for a LOR. This can provide an independent perspective on your work.

Ultimately, the best approach will depend on your specific circumstances and the requirements of the programs you're applying to. By carefully considering these factors and following the tips above, you can increase your chances of securing strong LORs that effectively showcase your qualifications.

Feel free to book a free consultation with our MBA experts so we can guide you better and help you take the right decisions. You can also connect with our team directly via call at +91 7780769732
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Help to Choose LOR 22 Oct 2024, 22:40
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Honestly personal emails is not ideal. Can the one who changed jobs use his business email? Contact admissions on this, my hope is that it’s a first name last name Gmail they can cross reference on LinkedIn but business is much preferred especially in this situation. My vote is NGO for 2nd one - if you can provide the contact information separately from the recs.

pia1318
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pia1318
Hi everyone,

I’m currently preparing my applications for MBA and MiM programs, and I need advice on securing a professional letter of recommendation. My challenge is that I work at a family business, so I want to ensure my LORs are credible and free of any potential conflicts of interest.

Former Supervisor: My previous direct supervisor, who wasn’t a relative, has since moved to a different company. He worked closely with me and could speak to my leadership and professional development. Would this be a credible option, even though he’s no longer with our company?

Current Supervisor: My current direct supervisor was a colleague before his promotion. He’s been supportive and willing to write the LOR, but since he’s still employed by my parents, I’m concerned it could appear biased or raise questions about conflict of interest.

Has anyone faced a similar situation? Should I go with my former supervisor who’s no longer with the company, or is it acceptable to use my current supervisor despite the family connection? I’d appreciate any insights or experiences on how best to handle this!

Thanks for your help!

P.S. My supervisor at my NGO is happy to provide 1, but the IE guidelines say: Please include the contact information for two relevant academic or professional references

1. you can take one from the former supervisor who has now moved out of the company. He could use the email address of his current company. Just explain it in your application if there is an optional essay.
Don't take it from someone who is still on the company payrolls. Although, if there is a client- they may be the best person to give you a recommendation

2. the second one can come from the NGO supervisor

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation
Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011



Hi mam
1. Clients are govt agencies so the employees we interacted with would probably use personal mail ids.

2. The ex supervisor, if he uses his personal mail id? Would that be an issue?
Show more
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pia1318
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Schools: HEC MiM "27 ESSEC MiM "27
GPA: 8.61
Schools: HEC MiM "27 ESSEC MiM "27
Posts: 28
Kudos: 5
Help to Choose LOR 23 Oct 2024, 01:02
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Hi mam,
I also have my professor who is willing to give a LOR. She was my thesis guide. What would you suggest?
MBAPrepCoach
Honestly personal emails is not ideal. Can the one who changed jobs use his business email? Contact admissions on this, my hope is that it’s a first name last name Gmail they can cross reference on LinkedIn but business is much preferred especially in this situation. My vote is NGO for 2nd one - if you can provide the contact information separately from the recs.
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Help to Choose LOR 24 Oct 2024, 03:41
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Well the gone employee + NGO is better because they can speak to leadership skills; academic references are a no-no for MBA, might be passable for MIM. They want to get a lot more depth than your academic aspect as gathered by grades. So might be a missed opportunity to share more interesting stuff about you.

pia1318
Hi mam,
I also have my professor who is willing to give a LOR. She was my thesis guide. What would you suggest?
MBAPrepCoach
Honestly personal emails is not ideal. Can the one who changed jobs use his business email? Contact admissions on this, my hope is that it’s a first name last name Gmail they can cross reference on LinkedIn but business is much preferred especially in this situation. My vote is NGO for 2nd one - if you can provide the contact information separately from the recs.
Show more