As we continue our focus on those of you who are applying for next year’s admissions cycle, we wanted to offer some basic tips on a critical variable in the MBA admissions equation: recommender selection.

When choosing your recommenders, remember that it can be seen as a test of judgment – selecting a recommender whose letter is ineffective or who appears dubious about your qualifications may raise doubts about your ability to judge your interactions with others or to select the right person for a job.  You also want to select people that you can rely on to deliver the recommendation in a timely manner. In order for your letters to be as effective as possible, you should look for several qualities in a recommender. First, your recommenders should have greater seniority than you unless the school specifically asks for a peer recommendation. The adcom gives greater weight to statements made by your superiors rather than by a peer because a peer is assumed to be essentially a friend and therefore predisposed to write a positive recommendation.

The most persuasive recommendation letters are those which contain specific examples and anecdotes. Because of this, you should select recommenders who are very familiar with your work and with whom you interact(ed) on a regular basis. This usually means that you should choose current or former direct supervisors, rather than someone whose title you think will impress the adcom. Choosing a recommender based on their name or title can imply that you put an undue emphasis on such qualities instead of thinking about who would be the best person for the job.  In addition to picking people who know you well, you should also pick recommenders with whom you have a positive relationship, since if they like and respect you, their letters are likely to be much more positive and persuasive.

When deciding amongst your current and former supervisors or mentors, there are several factors to consider. First, the people you select should be able to provide the adcom with a fairly comprehensive and up-to-date perspective on your professional experiences. Often, it makes sense to ask your current supervisor and a supervisor from the job you held immediately prior to your current position. If you find that it works best to choose two recommenders from the same employer, you should make sure that they can talk about different aspects of your experiences so as to provide letters that are complementary rather than repetitive. In such a case, you should talk to each recommender about the anecdotes and traits each of them would like to cover. Alternatively, if you decide to choose a recommender with whom you worked some time ago, you should choose a person with whom you have maintained a strong relationship so that they can speak positively to your continued professional development as well as to your past accomplishments.

Some candidates, like entrepreneurs and those working in family businesses, may not be able to request that a supervisor write a recommendation. In these cases, seeking recommendations from advisors, mentors, clients, or business partners may be more appropriate. It might be important to explain your choice of recommenders in the optional essay that each school provides.

Strong writing skills are obviously important, in your selection of recommenders, because an articulate letter is more effective than an inarticulate one.

In addition, it is important that your recommenders are open to input so that they can build upon and reinforce the general message of your candidacy. You will want to prepare a set of materials for each recommender which details your plans and goals for the MBA, the experiences and anecdotes which you think are relevant for your applications, as well as content relevant to each school you are applying. You will also want to follow up with each recommender over the next few months in order to nudge them along through the process. While it is important to get robust recommendations that include anecdotes and experiences that support the assertions your recommenders make, it is critical the recommendations are submitted in a timely fashion.

These tips should offer a good starting point for readers who are beginning to think about recommendations.