Episode 19: Recommendations III: Coaching Your Writers

Preparing your recommenders to write the recommendations and complete them on time is a test of your managerial skills.

You can set your recommender up for success by preparing a robust set of materials for each writer.

Furnish them with the following:

-Timeline & Deadlines

-Target School List and Expression of Interest in Each School

-Goals Statement / Why MBA?

-Resume

-Personal Inventory

-Anecdotes List of Highlights of Your Work with Recommender

-Compilation of Recommendation Form Questions

Sit down with them, perhaps over lunch, to discuss the process. Stay engaged with your recommenders throughout the writing process, so they are not simply doing everything at the last minute. This doesn’t mean daily reminders, but it does mean periodic check-ins. Never assume that your work here ends just because a recommender has agreed to write a letter of recommendation.

There are nuances to completing the ‘grid questions’, which ask the recommenders to rate you based on a number of factors. This lesson details the perils of having a ‘perfect’ grid vs. something a bit more realistic albeit without too many blemishes.

See also Becoming a Clear Admit: The Definitive Guide to MBA Admissions Chapter 4, “How to Apply – Recommendations.”