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Work Experience Question.....

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Work Experience Question.....

by billscafan » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:02 am
Hi Lisa,

After graduation, I passed up a great offer from a reputable financial institution (if such still exists :D) to work and help my father grow his business. I came on board 1.5 year after the company was started. From on the onset I took on a many many responsibilities, from restructuring company marketing, implementing an effective accounting system, setting up lean operations and the list keeps going on. With my finance background I also let the team in our efforts to raise money for the company. We have expanded tremendously in the past 3 years. From <1 million in revenue to now over 45 and from one location to 8 locations worldwide, which I again took the lead on in setting up, so I do have international business experience, from the basics of signing a building lease to negotiating international business partnerships/contracts. I'm also conversationally fluent in 3 languages.

My question now is.........how is that background viewed as opposed to working up the ranks at a big corporation? Also, since my immediate boss is a family member, how would I handle the recommendation portion of my app?

Thank you!
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by Lisa Anderson » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:20 pm
Dear billscafan,

You have some great work experience that you should be able to leverage to your advantage. Schools do not value big corporate experience over small business experience--it is about the quality of your experience. By quality, I mean quick progression with an increasing scope of responsibility. I think you have the advantage with your family's business if you use your resume and essays to make your compelling case.

As for recommendations, do you have a client, vendor or supplier that you could ask? This would need to be someone that you have worked closely with for at least a year. You can also ask a former supervisor from your esteemed financial institution.

Best of luck,
Lisa
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by billscafan » Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:36 pm
Would a recommendation from someone else in the company be a problem? Our company has now grown to over 50 employees worldwide and we have 3-4 executive level personnel along side me that aren't family members. Would their recommendations be taken as seriously because they are all employees of my father?

I would like one of them to write a recommendation because they can provide first-hand testimony of my leadership and business abilities.

What do you think?

Thanks Lisa for the reply and taking the time help me out!
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by Lisa Anderson » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:33 am
I think a recommendation from an executive, non-family member, would also be a good choice. The recommendation might be reviewed with some skepticism, but if you waive the right to see it and the recommender is candid in his/her comments, I think it will be effective.

Good luck,
Lisa
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by billscafan » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:16 am
Hi Lisa,

Along the same lines of the question above.....recommendation related.

Most MBA schools require two recoms, so I was thinking of getting one from an executive level person at our company, whom I'm sure will provide a great recommendation, and I'm getting the other from an executive director of large non-profit corporation who has seen and witnessed my non-profit/volunteer experience first hand. This individual also offered me his old job as he was leaving it to move on to his current job. So I believe I have good recommendations lined up. What's your take?

However, I wanted to ask about getting a third recommendation. I know most schools don't like that, and I wouldn't send one in without asking them first. The reason I want to send a third one has to do with my concern above, that my professional recommendation would be coming from a co-worker who his boss is my father. I will most definitely waive my right to see it as you recommended, but is that enough to ease the possible skepticism? But if I approach them and bring the situation to light, it might actually initiate their skepticism.

What do you think?

Also FYI, looking at Kellogg, Fuqua, Tuck!

Thanks!!
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by Lisa Anderson » Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:10 am
Dear billscafan,

Your choices sound appropriate. With regards to a third rec, most schools will not be concerned if you submit one additional recommendation. However, I caution you on any more than that (but it seems you are already aware of the risk). So, I agree that contacting the schools about submitting an extra rec is a good idea--I just wouldn't tell them why. Keep it simple, like you want to give the most well-rounded perspective of you as a professional and think the third rec will do that.

Good luck,
Lisa
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