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18 Dec 2018, 20:07
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Hi,
I hope you're doing well and thanks for giving me some of your time.
I am applying to three main schools. INSEAD, LBS and IESE.
I feel like I am a very well rounded applicant, with significant international experience and I have displayed my sense of leadership. Here's a little more about me and my application:
- Canadian/ Jordanian
- McGill Engineering undergrad 3.17/4.0
- GMAT 740 (Q49, V41, IR8, AWA6.0)
- 10 month construction management on a $2 billion health care project in Canada
- 2 years at Schlumberger (field engineer) working offshore in S.Korea, Malaysia and now onshore in Canada (as of now)
- cofounded an NGO working on a pilot in Ethiopia focusing on improving the access and quality of primary school education by improving student engagement using extra-curricular that supplement national curriculum. Currently working with 3 primary schools with about 2,500 students (Grade 1 - 8)
My biggest problem is the recommendations. Some of these Schools ask for a lot out of a recommendation. I am not asking my current manager as I do not intend to stay at Schlumberger (I want the MBA to switch into consulting) and I just recently got transferred so this manager has only managed me for 3-4 months. I have asked previous managers to help and two agreed. I started talking to them over a month from the deadlines so that they aren't too rushed. We are now like 2 weeks away and one of them has said he is no longer able to help, and the other is still trying but he seems extremely busy. If I don't get these managers to give me the recommendation I will probably have to resort to friends I have worked with, but my concern is they weren't my managers and they are at the same or a very similar experience level as I am. I plan on explaining what happens in the optional essay as best I could but was wondering if you have any tips or suggestions on what I can do to not mess up my applications.
Thanks again for the time and feedback!
I hope you're doing well and thanks for giving me some of your time.
I am applying to three main schools. INSEAD, LBS and IESE.
I feel like I am a very well rounded applicant, with significant international experience and I have displayed my sense of leadership. Here's a little more about me and my application:
- Canadian/ Jordanian
- McGill Engineering undergrad 3.17/4.0
- GMAT 740 (Q49, V41, IR8, AWA6.0)
- 10 month construction management on a $2 billion health care project in Canada
- 2 years at Schlumberger (field engineer) working offshore in S.Korea, Malaysia and now onshore in Canada (as of now)
- cofounded an NGO working on a pilot in Ethiopia focusing on improving the access and quality of primary school education by improving student engagement using extra-curricular that supplement national curriculum. Currently working with 3 primary schools with about 2,500 students (Grade 1 - 8)
My biggest problem is the recommendations. Some of these Schools ask for a lot out of a recommendation. I am not asking my current manager as I do not intend to stay at Schlumberger (I want the MBA to switch into consulting) and I just recently got transferred so this manager has only managed me for 3-4 months. I have asked previous managers to help and two agreed. I started talking to them over a month from the deadlines so that they aren't too rushed. We are now like 2 weeks away and one of them has said he is no longer able to help, and the other is still trying but he seems extremely busy. If I don't get these managers to give me the recommendation I will probably have to resort to friends I have worked with, but my concern is they weren't my managers and they are at the same or a very similar experience level as I am. I plan on explaining what happens in the optional essay as best I could but was wondering if you have any tips or suggestions on what I can do to not mess up my applications.
Thanks again for the time and feedback!
19 Dec 2018, 00:24
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PersonalMBACoach
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Joined: 11 Sep 2010
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Expert reply
19 Dec 2018, 21:29
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alhuneidi
Hi Alhuneidi,
And sorry for your dilemma!
What I would do in your shoes is schedule time to sit down with your recommendors (do you still work in the same region?) and really explain to them how important it is that THEY do the recommendation and how much it would mean to you. It honestly may just take a bit of a push, and don't be afraid to press them a little bit, since this is an important time in your life.
Also, just because you are not staying at Shlumberger doesn't mean your most recent manager shouldn't write a recommendation, unless you haven't told them yet and you would risk your job security by doing so. But, if your current manager is aware or your plans, by all means ask him/her to write the recommendation if one of the other two absolutely refuses. But I think it you apply a bit of pressure (in a nice way), both former bosses will come around. For your NGO, is there someone on the other side who can attest to your work ethic and managerial skills?
And do not have a friend or colleague write your rec! Worst case scenario try and find a middle-manager or ex-client you worked with that knew you well and could speak on some level to your abilities.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Personal MBA Coach
www.personalmbacoach.com
