A well-crafted letter of recommendation is pivotal to your MBA admission. While the college application essay and statement of purpose are written by you and can be biased, LOR is written by other people who are close to you – professionally, academically or personally.

All top international business schools require a letter of recommendation. Written by someone else, it expounds your personality, work ethics, and interpersonal connections through another person’s perspective.

Before we dig right in for understanding how an effective LOR is written, a piece of advice. Always choose your immediate boss/manager/supervisor/team leader or someone who makes you feel worthy at your work place to write you a recommendation letter.

What is a Letter of Recommendation?

A LOR is a reference letter that’s critical in your MBA application process. A meticulously framed letter adds credibility to your college application.

Guide the recommender you select, to make the letter precise, use simple effective vocabulary, support your positive attributes with stories, and enhance your distinctive skills and qualities with specific details and evidence.

Types of Recommendation Letters for MBA

Your professional journey and your growth chart are the key factors in determining your admission to the B-school you are eyeing at. Mostly, all universities require two professional letters of recommendation. However, there are a few colleges who will ask to submit one academic and one professional LOR. 

Before you get the process of writing recommendations started, read the checklist and guidelines from your preferred college thoroughly.

There are two ways to submit your Letter of Recommendation:

• Online questionnaire – to be filled and submitted by the recommender before the due date, and
• Printed recommendation letter on university/company letterhead – duly filled, scanned and uploaded, along with the online form, by the recommender. 

What Does a Good Recommender Look Like? — Selecting Your Recommenders to Write Your LOR

When picking up a recommender, avoid the mistake of choosing someone who is at a higher designation and hasn’t worked with you directly. These people are not your suitable recommenders, as they do not know you well enough to write your recommendation letter.

The admissions committee wants to see you as a whole person, and that’s exactly what the external perspective gives them through this letter of recommendation.

The recommender you select should be eligible to write excellent things about you, supported by stories and facts. He/she should be able to describe you as an individual who would be an asset to the business school and their community. According to Harold Simansky, Admissions Consultant at StratusPrep, “The best recommendation letters come from those who have mentored you and witnessed your growth performance on the job.” So ask your supervisor, manager, professor, or previous employer who knows you well and would be willing to spend time and effort to write you an impactful recommendation.

What does a good recommender look like?

A good recommender to write you the recommendation letter should be someone who:

• understands your approach
• comprehend the points you are looking forward to putting across, and
• is willing to go through the entire process with you by committing their time and making efforts.

What is the foundation of a great Letter of Recommendation that will help you get into a top business school?

Recommendations are not easy to get. So, when you find the suitable recommender, ask yourself these questions essential for writing a great letter of recommendation:

• Are they genuine?

Make sure the person you have picked up knows you well. They should be someone you have worked with in the past or working presently.

• Are they specific?

The recommender should portray you as a professional, discuss your work profile, the role you played, and any specific qualities you possess, like leadership, mentoring your juniors, etc.

• Are they good? 

Do you have a good professional relationship with this particular person? As your brand advocate, are they willing to help you build an image to get through the college admission process? Remember, there are good candidates and bad recommendations. So, choose your recommenders wisely.

How To Get An Impactful Letter of Recommendation?   

The recommendation is an important part of your application process. Hence, putting in extra effort to achieve that impactful letter can get you admission in your desired B-school. 

Plan Ahead

Start the process of writing the letter early. Beginning the process 2 to 3 months before the deadline is an ideal time. The recommender is also putting in time and effort. Respect that, and give them enough time to complete the letter, as they have their own busy schedule. And writing you a recommendation is an added work they have agreed to do.

Have More Recommender Options

If you need two recommendations, have 3 to 4 recommenders ready. There could be unforeseen circumstances in the future that you should be prepared for. What if you only had two recommenders and one couldn’t finish the letter on time – got sick or was travelling out of town? Always have more options worked out.

Facilitate the Process

Spend time with the recommender to speed up the writing process. Coach them and understand their perspective about your strengths and weaknesses. Try to get on the same page, so that you know what to expect. Fill them up with your latest achievements and brush their knowledge of your previous accomplishments to build the flow of the letter. Write the key points for them and share it with them for reference.

Avoid Writing For Yourself

Sometimes the recommenders are not able to squeeze your request in their schedule, so they recommend you write your own recommendation letter, and they will add their signature. Under any circumstances, do not give in to the temptation. It isn’t just ethically incorrect, but also if you get caught, you lose your opportunity to get selected for the college you worked so hard to get into.

What Should Be The Format For MBA Recommendation Letter?

Ideally, the recommender you select to write your LOR will have a fair idea of what to include in a letter of recommendation. If it is an online fill-out form, they would be well aware of the components on which you will be assessed. However, it is advisable to spend quality time with your recommender to make it sound original and genuine. The format of the LOR can differ for different colleges, but the components remain the same. It is recommended to check the college guidelines before writing the letter of recommendation.

Moreover, before finalizing the recommendation letter, frame the MBA recommendation letter on the following points to gain clarity:

Introduction

The introduction should be precise and begin with the recommender’s details. Following points must be taken into account when writing the MBA recommendation letter:

• Recommender’s professional experience
• Current job profile
• Their relationship with you (supervisor/team leader/project manager/senior manager/professor/potential client/previous employer)
• Duration of their association with you

It should further state:

• Your position in the organization
• Name of your project/team or the department you are associated with
• An overview of your professional growth according to the recommender’s impression

Body

The body should comprise 4 to 5 paragraphs, with each para mentioning your professional goals, achievements, and skills in detail. You can ask the recommender to follow the below listed guidelines to write the body paragraphs of the recommendation letter.

• Your qualities, such as diligent, conscientious, tenacious, etc.
• Highlight your project achievements
• Your contribution at work place or any extracurricular activity participation (if applicable)
• Explaining your qualities/skills using appropriate examples from factual situations
• Mention of your leadership qualities, such as team motivation, dedication, relationship building, decision-making, conflict management, empathy, critical thinking, etc.
• Lastly, your career aspirations and relevant skills and interest to pursue an MBA

Conclusion

Conclude the letter by summarizing the highlights from the body. Ask the recommender to mention any additional information that will help magnify your MBA application. And finally, ending it with a professional closing along with the recommender’s signature.

Letter of Recommendation – Best Writing Tips

MBA letter of recommendation is an opportunity for the application officer to see you from other person’s eyes objectively. Share these best LOR writing tips with your recommender to help them create an impactful letter:

Language Preference of an LOR is English

If your recommender is a non-native English speaker, ask them to write it in their native language, and then translate in English before submitting.

Let the Recommender Write the Recommendation Letter

Usually, the people you will pick to write you a recommendation letter will be people with their own busy schedules. Sometimes, it becomes practically difficult for them to squeeze you in their schedule after committing. They may ask you to write your LOR yourself, and they will sign it after you are done writing it. Under no circumstances, write your own letter of recommendation. It is not only wrong ethically, but also can get you caught. Hence, you lose an opportunity to get into your dream college.

So, make sure to select people who know you well and are willing to spend time with you to update their knowledge about your present professional growth chart.

Stick to the Numbers

Send the number of letters requested by the college. Mostly, colleges ask for one or two recommendations. It is mentioned in the guidelines. Exceeding the number of LOR may not guarantee your consideration for admission.

Be Original and Authentic

The application officer is interested to know more about you from someone else’s perspective. Choose the right people to write you the MBA recommendation letter. Someone who has been associated with you for a long time, and can elaborate on your skills and qualities without getting biased.

Follow the Guidelines and Word Limit

Every college has a different guideline to write the letter of recommendation. Some ask for a typed document, while other colleges ask to fill out the online form. Whatever the case, the components of the LOR remain the same, but the format can differ. It is advisable to read and follow the guidelines for the specific college you have applied for. Do check the word limit as well. If it is an online fill out form, the preferred word limit is 500 words max per answer.

Spend Time with the Recommender and Update About Your Professional Journey

Your selected recommender may not be aware of your recent achievements and accomplishments. It is advisable to spend quality time with them to update them about your recent accomplishments (if they are not someone you are currently working with). Give them a brief about your strengths and weaknesses, and let them evaluate as per their understanding of you as an individual. Write all the discussed points on a sheet of paper, and hand it over to them for reference while they write you a recommendation. 

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