Referee Details for B School Application

Question

I am a government officer working as a client to a consultant organization. Now there is an employee (VP Level) of this consulting organization whom I closely work with. Can I enlist him as a referee? I hope there won't be any conflict of interest.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Can you explain a bit more? Are you working for an employer that hired him?

tush1992 · Answer

No. This is the exact scene:

I work for the Government.
The government hired a consulting firm A and pays them.
Firm A employs 'John' as the project lead for a project in my organization.
I work closely with 'John' in a team sort of environment.

So I do not work for an employer who hired 'John' directly. My employer hired a consulting firm. 'John' is a member of our project but works for that consulting firm. That consulting firm is the employer of 'John'.

Just wanted to know if there is any conflict of interest or if I can mention him as a referee for B Schools. He is one of the few people whom I have been working with since a long time.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

OK this is exactly what I initially thought. You work for an employer (government) that hired him (the company that he works for - indirectly, him.)
I'm not crazy about this because he is paid by your company (governmental agency) - so I feel that would undermine the credibility of any recommendation he would provide.

tush1992 · Answer

Ok. Thank you so much. I had apprehensions about this right from the beginning. Thanks for clearing it up.

bb · Answer

Referee Details for B School Application

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