10 Tips to Help You Acquire Exceptional Letters of Recommendation for Your MBA Application
You will need compelling recommendation letters to get admission to the top most competitive business schools. If you are enrolling for an MBA, you should get reference letters from your most supportive mentors. These letters aid the application process by making you seem more human. We'll outline ten tips in this blog to assist you in getting a stellar MBA recommendation letter.
Determine who your supporters are.
Choose recommenders who have great regard for you and can honestly state that they believe you are remarkable. Schools require recommenders to evaluate applicants in comparison to their colleagues in the workplace; you want to be competitive and score as high on that scale as possible.
2. Supervisors should be targeted.
Most schools prefer that you select a current or prior line manager who knows you and can accurately assess your professional performance. Unless a school specifically requires academic references or an applicant lacks considerable job experience, academic recommendations should be avoided because b-schools normally favor professional references.
3. Inquire early.
Allow adequate time for your recommenders to draft insightful letters. Remember that prospective reference authors may be swamped by work and personal duties, making it difficult for them to submit a recommendation fast. Another disadvantage of asking for recommendations at the last minute is that it may appear rude and unrealistic. You want them to be as complimentary to you as possible. Waiting too long may cause you to miss the deadline.
4. Have a discussion.
You should request a letter of reference from your potential recommender in person or over the phone. Meet for coffee or lunch and explain why you want to earn your MBA and why you are thrilled about the institution to which you are applying. Furthermore, young MBA candidates may need to clarify that they want their recommender to demonstrate that they are mature enough to relieve concerns about their MBA preparedness.
5. Talk about your strengths and weaknesses.
Discuss truthfully with your recommenders your best selling points and worst limitations, as well as the abilities you intend to develop from an MBA. It may seem awkward at first, but if you're honest about what you believe you need to improve on and what you hope to gain from an MBA, it can be a fruitful conversation.
6. Prepare a list of your accomplishments.
Give your recommender a list of all the accomplishments you want them to emphasize in the recommendations. Your list of highlights should be brief and easy to read; you want them to read it, so don't overwhelm them with information.
7. Provide direction.
Those who have never written an MBA recommendation letter before may require guidance. Make it obvious to your recommender how important it is to provide concrete examples. Some criteria range from one institution to the next. However, ensure that they realize that multi-page letters with supporting facts are necessary, not simply one-sentence responses. Anecdotes are the foundation of an effective recommendation.
8. Submit the required application materials.
Showing your MBA resume and admissions essays to your recommenders helps them to draft letters that compliment the rest of your MBA application. A good application and recommendations can propel a candidate to the "accepted" stack.
9. Inquire about success stories.
If you emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence and leadership skills to your recommendation writers, you can increase the likelihood that your reference letters will include stories that demonstrate your emotional intelligence and leadership skills, two skills that business schools highly value. Another attribute that MBA admissions authorities generally look for is the ability to create inventive solutions to complex situations.
10. Make an impact on the MBA admissions committee.
You should understand how to market yourself to an MBA admissions officer in addition to the reference letters. Learn how to give a compelling elevator pitch during admissions interviews. We can assist you if you need assistance with your MBA application!
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