Advice on Recommendations

The following section provides tips for choosing and coaching your recommenders. While the recommendations are from people that were admitted, there are obviously a number of other application criteria that could have enabled these people to be admitted. Nonetheless, the sample recommendation should provide you with some ideas of the types of people used and points emphasized.

Quick Tips

Use a cross-section of people: levels, gender, relationship (e.g. client vs. supervisor)
Make sure your recommenders know you and can provide insights
Make sure your recommender will take the time to do a good job
Provide some coaching to your recommender
Detailed Advice

There is no right mix of recommenders or right things to say, but there are some useful criteria you should consider in your selection process. In addition, many recommenders are unfamiliar with this kind of a task and it may be important to provide them with a little coaching.

Who do I pick? This question should be answered in a couple of ways: one, who knows me and what do they know and two, what do I want to convey. This should be the starting point, but within that you should also place importance on finding a diversity of recommenders. It can be an indicator of your role models and values. Do not use the presidents of all three companies for which you worked. One president or senior person can be good as it shows that you are known and respected at high levels of an organization. Just make sure this senior person can provide insights on you and not just a stock, distant answer. Definitely use your immediate supervisor, he/she knows you best and can provide the closest impressions. If this is an unfavorable situation substitute this for a more senior co-worker or next level-up of supervisor. Finally, try to find someone outside of the work environment either through your community or entrepreneurial involvement. A great substitute for this is someone outside of your company that has worked with you, i.e. a client or partner company.

How do I ask them? What do I tell them? Most recommenders will be honored that you asked, if they are not it is probably a bad sign. Though pleased, most will probably be unaware of the commitment they have made. It will surely be time consuming for the recommender if he/she is going to provide truly valuable insight. You should be honest with your recommenders up-front, it will probably take 4-8 hours of their time. You should also walk through the form with your recommenders and emphasize that he/she use examples to demonstrate your strengths, even reminding them of a few examples while you have the chance. Put into perspective for them, how important this is to you and ensure them that is okay to come to you with questions or to discuss anything. The time the recommeder puts in and the seriousness with which they take this task may reflect what they think of you.