Letters of Recommendation - Advice Needed Please

[vbhalla1187]

Hi Jon,

Quick question on LORs. I worked for a hedge fund consulting firm for a little more than a year and then had a tremendously better opportunity come my way at an asset management firm in their hedge fund group. I don't think my previous colleagues at the consulting firm would write any sort of convincing LOR for me (because I really wasn't there that long), so I don't think it's even worth asking them. At my current position at the asset management firm, things are going well; they've given me a ton of responsibility and promoted me within 6 months, given me a raise, etc. So I think my LOR from here will be pretty solid - however that's only ONE. Most schools require at least two if not three (Harvard). How do I go about combating this issue? How good/bad is it to have more than one person from the same company write a letter for you?

Another question is, do all the LORs have to be work-related? Reason I ask is, I used to run a party entertainment business for weddings, corporate events, etc, in which I used to sing (I'm a singer), arrange my band behind me, and organize other things like photographers, videographers, limos for weddings, etc. Could I have one of my former satisfied clients write a letter for me if it came to that?

In your opinion, how much weight is generally given to LORs? I'm not suggesting that they can be crappy or anything. But even if they're AMAZING and from a big shot MD (who actually knows you and your work and can vouch for you), can that potentially sway a decision?

The head of our group (an MD) went to Wharton for his MBA. The last three people to leave my company to go to business school have each gone to Wharton. Now, I don't know what their stats were in terms of GPA/GMAT and stuff, but would you read that as a good sign in terms of how the company is viewed by the school, and the potential impact a good word from the boss can have? I've always been curious about the effects of a good word from an alumni or a contact. Your thoughts?

OK sorry, that really wasn't a quick question at all. Would appreciate your insight though. Thanks!

[Jon@Admissionado]

Good Questions!
It's tough,a nd in your case I would have to say that I would first dig through all your possibilities personally to find the best combo.
But let's also try an answer based on the info your provided:
FIRST: LORS should really really be from Supervisors unless you absolutely have to (i.e. you have only always worked in a family business). I don't know if you fit into this case.

SECOND: In general it is of course better to get two different folks from two different places to write your LORs. If you can't two different LORS from the same place can work, as long as they give a bit of a different perspective. In your case through what would be weird is: TWO LORS from a place where you worked six months, but none from where you worked a year!?

THREE: YES! LORS count! If they didn't, they would have been dropped long ago.

FOUR (that's a lot already): Maybe you have supervisors OUTSIDE of work you can use? i.e. military volunteer work, professor you worked for, community/religious organization???

Finally: if you know people from the school you are applying to, yes they can send support emails, but unless they are your SUPERVISOR, I wouldn't use them as recommenders.