The Application Process

Hello everyone,

I've been exploring this site for quite a while; what a great resource! I probably will not be applying to schools until next fall, but I have a question that has been weighing on me since starting a new job about 4 months ago.

The question is this: are schools understanding if you are uncomfortable asking your current employer for a recommendation? I am not nervous about doing so because I have been performing poorly, but rather, because I get the sense that such a request would not be well-received by my group. Although I am still new to my company, I am getting the sense that it is the sort of place that does not take well to people leaving, whether to other companies/competitors or to grad school.

I do have other sources for recommendations (prior employer, non-profit where I am an active volunteer), but am getting nervous thinking about turning in an application without a letter from my current employer, especially since it is in a field that I hope to continue in following school.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Hi

Its a truth. Some companies and some countries have this culture of unsaid forbidden rule of "dont ask for an MBA". But you will see,people still leave for MBA and this is just a taboo. Its true that 90 percent of the seniors would not be approachable, but one or two must be amicable. Ask Personally :When asking someone to write you a letter of reco, don't send an email or leave a voicemail message, go and talk. Tell him your plans.

Waive all your rights.

This might help.

Hi JSP,

The great thing is you have some time to get a better feel for whether your intuition about your company's anti-leaving culture is as serious as you think. If you end up being right about not being able to ask for a letter of recommendation, you can submit recommendations that don't include your current supervisor. You will want to explain this in your optional essay for each school or in the short answer questions if there is a place to do so there.

Check out a recent article I wrote called "How to Tell if Your Boss is a Supporter or Hater of your Grad School Applications": https://theartofapplying.com/2011/08/how ... te-school/

And once it is time to request the letter of recommendation, here is a guide on how to do it: https://theartofapplying.com/2011/08/how ... mendation/

Good luck!
Kaneisha

Thank you both for your replies. As you said, I do have ample time for consideration.

All the best,
Josh