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Ideal recommendation

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Ideal recommendation

by kkay » Tue Jul 13, 2010 7:37 pm
Hi,

I apologies for the late notice (I am meeting with a senior person in my group tomorrow at 8:30 am!), but would appreciate any responses ASAP.

I am 2 years out of college, working in finance and applying to business school in the fall. I am relocating out of the country soon - my last day in this office in the US is this week- and know I should probably start to ask for recommendations. I am meeting with a really senior person in my group tomorrow morning - as a sort of goodbye/thank you talk.

My questions below:
1. Would it be appropriate to ask via email at one point if I decide to have him for a recommender if I'm out of the country? I'm staying within the firm but in another locale.

2. One thing I'm concerned about is that I am thinking of promotion prospects within the company. As such, I am hesitant to ask him for a recommendation. My question boils down to whether it is better for my application to ask a really senior person like that to write my rec. To provide some context, he hasn't worked directly with me, but he has heard good things from other people he really trusts, and I have done good work for him (albeit indirectly).

3. I am guessing that he would likely ask me to write my rec and let him edit it. Is it better to ask a more junior person who knows me better? I've heard otherwise from people - i.e. that your role/prestige matters. If he ends up asking me to basically write the recommendation for him to sign/edit, what's the harm to my application if I ask him?

Thank you for any help.

Any help appreciated.
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by Tani » Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:07 pm
Hi kkay,

Writing your own recommendation is always tricky. For one thing, it's hard to add a new perspective on your skills. Second, seasoned admissions professionals can often recognize your voice and so will discount the letter.

Think about the intent of the letter. You are not trying to show them that you know someone important, you are trying to convey good things about your abilities and potential. Someone who has had no direct contact with you can't possibly give the depth of insight that marks a good recommendation. You have so little space to tell your story in an application, you want to be sure you use it efficiently and that you don't waste it by repeating specifics. (Repeating themes, of course is different. Having two recommenders say you have great leadership qualities while using two entirely different situations to illustrate those is great.)

On the other hand, if you are truly concerned that asking for a recommendation may hurt your ability to move ahead - or even keep your job in this climate - by all means avoid tipping your employer off to your plans. In that case a trusted manager from another department or someone outside the firm may be a better bet. Old family friends are always suspect, but people for whom you've performed miracles in the volunteer world can be great as can vendors and customers. The school may ask you to explain why you are not using an immediate supervisor. Be prepared to answer that openly. They do understand that jobs are less secure these days.

This is, of course, a complicated issue. You don't want a reference from someone so junior that he/she cannot be expected to recognize or comment on the quality of your work. As for the long distance issue, that is not a problem. You may have to communicate via email and Skype as the process progresses, but that is no barrier today.

If you decide to ask an individual whom you suspect will not want to actually do the writing, try for a middle ground. Prepare a solid list of points about which you believe the writer can talk from personal knowledge. That gives the writer a lot of fodder without actually putting words in his/her mouth. It also saves him/her from having to go out and research your performance before facing that blank white screen. He/she may find the process much less intimidating and much less of an imposition.

One last caveat. NEVER corner a recommender. You would be surprised how many damaging letters get sent in. I always recommend something like "if you would be comfortable writing a recommendation, I would be delighted." That way if the guy privately thinks you're a jerk, he can duck politely - saying he is not familiar enough, etc. The same goes for any specific points. Don't ask someone to talk about something he/she is not comfortable dealing with. At best the prose ends up damning with faint praise.

Sorry if this seems long-winded, but the recommendation issue for many people is both touchy and crucial. Another last point, don't try to send in many more letters than are asked for. Admissions people have a saying, "the thicker the file, the thicker the kid!"
Tani Wolff
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