Recommender Advice

[MBAreapplicant84]

Hello,

I recently asked a former supervisor at my current job for a recommendation for b-school. He asked me if I would write it and then he could just take a look and see if it was ok. I didn't feel comfortable with that, so I decided to turn down the offer.

So, here is my dilemma, I am currently in a promotion year. I have a few big projects on my plate, and I don't want to hurt my promotion chances this coming January by letting my current supervisor know that I plan on leaving my job for b-school. So here are my remaining choices for recommendations:

-Supervisor from my former employer. I left the firm almost a year and a half ago.

-Community/business partner. I run a non-profit outside of work and I have worked closely with this individual to put on community events, etc.

-My mission president from my LDS mission in Japan.

I feel like the last two would be able to write the strongest recommendations because of the amount of leadership I was able to exhibit in the roles I was in when working with them. Could you offer any insight on my situation?

Thank you!

[CriticalSquareMBA]

Hmm, interesting question.

Here's the issue - while the latter two could provide the strongest recommendations, it doesn't provide differing points of view and, more importantly, it doesn't satisfy the requirements of schools.

It's always an uncomfortable position to be in when a supervisor asks you to write the recommendation yourself. And I absolutely understand your trepidation in asking your current supervisor. That's not an uncommon situation to find yourself in and it can be explained. Keep in mind, just because it can be explained doesn't mean it removes all the negative from it. If you left your previous firm 1.5 years ago, then you're providing them with a recommendation from a professional standpoint that is, effectively, out of date.

So here's the avenue that probably best. Get in touch with your former supervisor and have a frank conversation. Tell him or her that you want them to provide the recommendation but you don't feel ethically comfortable writing it yourself. Hopefully they'll understand. Your second recommendation should come from either the business partner or the LDS mission. But of those two, I would lean towards the community / business partner.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Bhavik