This blog post is part of our weekly “Application Insider” blog post series that provides insider information, tips, and advice about applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC: 

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Continuing with our series on application tips, we’d like to provide a little bit of insight into letters of recommendation and why they are important to our evaluation process. As you have probably already read in our application requirements, we require two letters of recommendation (and just one for re-applicants). We prefer that your letters of recommendation speak to your accomplishments and abilities within your professional career. As such, you should request your letters of recommendation from preferably a direct supervisor or manager. But don’t worry, if you are working in a family business or have an entrepreneurial background, this blog will also give you some tips on who would be good recommenders.

Why are letters of recommendation important? 

Letters of recommendation are important because they provide us with a third person’s perspective on your leadership potential, your teamwork skills, as well as your ability to overcome challenges. They provide us with information on what type of a teammate you’re going to be for the rest of our students: are you someone who is equally comfortable in a leadership role as in a support role; if issues arise will you be able to solve them by evaluating all perspectives involved; do you know how to compromise when needed? Letters of recommendation also speak to what you have accomplished in your career and shed some light on how that can position you for future success.

Who should you consider for your letters of recommendation? 

As mentioned above, your letters of recommendation should ideally come from someone who is familiar with you in a work setting, such as a direct supervisor and/or someone who has overseen some of your projects. If you cannot request a letter of recommendation from your most current supervisor, you can always contact a former employer. Keep in mind though that it is always best to reach out to someone who you are still in contact with so that they can also speak to your growth since you worked with them. If you are an entrepreneur or are working in a family business, in addition to considering previous employers, you can consider clients, vendors, as well as supervisors from volunteer organizations.

Always remember that we are more concerned with how well your recommenders know you, not their titles.  So don’t worry about getting a letter of recommendation from the CEO of your company if they can’t provide us with detailed and insightful information on who you are and how you have impacted your organization. Before deciding who to reach out to for your letters of recommendation, we recommend that you take a look at the recommendation questions. Make sure that you reach out to individuals who can provide useful and detailed responses to the questions on the form. Take the time to choose your recommender wisely and give them ample time to complete your letter of recommendation by the deadline for the round to which you are applying.

One last bit of advice: dedicate some time to share your MBA plans with your recommenders. Share a copy of your resume, talk about some of your professional accomplishments, and let them know why you are interested in pursuing an MBA and how you hope to grow both personally and professionally through the experience. By sharing your plans, you will help them to write a more compelling letter of recommendation.

Good luck and make sure to check back next week for the next “Application Insider” blog post about RE-APPLICANTS