Dissing your boss_ Recommendation Letter?

[xaniaphl]

My background: 28, 6 years in Architecture
I have a great relationship with a former employer/teacher. I worked abroad (in a village) under his company, became close with his family there that helped me through the experience, and then I worked at his office in the states when I returned for two years.

BUT

I am considering writing about the negative experiences in architecture framed as an opportunity inspiring my career change. There are many inefficiencies in the industry, and architects are poor in business often putting much of the focus on design regardless of cost. The delivery method is changing as such a large percentage of firms have closed throughout the recession. I've seen the issues at this first firm (boutique architecture/development) and at my current firm (corporate/multidisciplinary).

Any advice on how to describe these events that inspired me to go to business school while not being critical of my recommender? I don't have other direct supervisor options (2/3rds of my firm have been laid off in the past 4 years, needless to say building consistent relationships has been difficult - trying to keep it positive!). I would feel nervous not having at least one of the two letters being from a direct supervisor, and this first employer has already enthusiastically offered. I value this as a good fit since he can speak to my time abroad and to supervising my work for 2 years.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Jon@Admissionado]

Wow! You used the word "dis". I dunno, I haven't used that since like 1997!


Well, first of all, I think that your problem is not that hard to work around. I mean after all, you can totally make comments about "the architectural industry" and "the way things are done" etc. while at the same time praising your boss, and writing about the GOOD stuff you learned from him etc.

So, you should definitely not dis your boss. Meaning, don't write in the essay things like "his management was terrible", but you CAN use them to show what you learned or how it showed you a different path "The huge sums that were wanted on xxx taught me that yyy". that is no problem at all!


I think the key word here is: DIPLOMACY.

Write what you have to write (in as positive as manner as possible), but keep it nice, and don't accuse or blame or show negativity, just use these things to show impetus for you moving FORWARD!