MBA recommendation letter tips to keep in mind.
1) Project List
Send details of the projects (that you have worked with the recommender), including your role, client information, team size, duration of the project etc to your recommender. This information would give the recommenders the right context to start with.
2) Managing your recommender
Writing your recommendation letter is not the most important thing for a recommender. Therefore, you have to manage your recommenders by guiding them through the writing process and by reminding them of the deadlines that your are facing. Be aware of your recommender's travel plans as they might be traveling for work or for vacation.
3) Critical Success factors
Each business school has a number of critical success factors (CSF) on which your admission will depend on. Research on the CSF and send them to your recommenders (Business School alumni are the best sources for figuring out the CSF). This will guide the recommenders in aligning their letter with the CSF.
Related: MBA Application Recommendation Letter Templates
3) Divide and Rule
Split the recommendation letter questions to one per week/per 3 days schedule. Set the deadline and send requests like “Can you please complete the strengths and weakness question by next Thursday”. Call and remind your recommenders on Saturdays / Sundays and remind them about the question for the week. It might look annoying at first but you have to take the initiative in completing the application.
4) Good News
The good news is that the recommendation letter questions are repeated across business schools, so guide your recommenders in writing the letter for your dream school first. Ask them to answer the non-repeating questions at a later stage.
5) Before Submitting
Once the recommendation letter is complete, visit your recommenders and do a thorough proof reading. Avoid details that make the recommendation letter boring. There should be some common ground between your essays and the recommendation letter. Avoid contradictions, like in your essays if you have written your strengths as “good communication skill” then your recommenders should not write your weakness as “communication skill “.
6) Skill Assessment chart
The recommendation form has a section to fill in your competency in skills like:
Communication : Poor Average Good Very Good Excellent
Leadership : Poor Average Good Very Good Excellent
Etc
Ask your recommenders to portray your strengths in the Excellent - Very Good range and your weaknesses in the Good - Average range.
Related: 8 Sample Recommendation Letter Samples
7) Don'ts
1) Do not write your own recommendation letter. The admission committee is smart enough to figure that out.
2) Do not wait for the results of your MBA admission to show your appreciation for the recommenders. Thank your recommenders and send them gifts ( Buy them Amazon.com $50 Gift Card (0109)
3) Do not wait until the last day of the deadlines to submit the recommendation letter. Server issues are common on deadlines.
4) To manage the recommendation letter writing process, Stacy Blackman has released a guide - Recommendation Letters for MBA Applications.
Inside the Recommendation Letters for MBA Application guide, you will find:
1) Tips to select a recommender under any circumstances
2) How to carefully manage the recommendation process, from selecting the right recommenders to ensuring effective content
3) How to elicit the strongest and most compelling responses from those who write on your behalf
4) Eight Sample Recommendations, covering different scenarios
5) Sample Templates that can be used for preparing your recommendation letter.
Download and read this guide.Don’t forget to pass the guide to your recommender.
P.S: We advise against writing your own recommendation letter. Coach the recommender. Provide them with the summary of your profile, achievements and your uniqueness. Some recommenders will ask for a detailed profile. Be prepared with your detailed profile, before approaching a recommender.
Download Stacy Blackman Recommendation Letter Guide
(Stacy Blackman has been consulting on the MBA application process since 2001. She earned her MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at North-western University and her Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with the admissions committees at both schools, conducting alumni interviews and evaluating applicants. Stacy has been profiled in several publications, including Fortune Magazine, BusinessWeek and the Wall Street Journal)