Mission Admission is a series of MBA admission tips; a new one is posted each Tuesday.
“I am self-employed.” “I am a vice-president in a family business.” “I am a freelancer.” “I am a contract consultant.” If one of these statements—or one like them—describes your professional position, you may follow it with an exasperated, “I have no supervisor. So who is going to write my recommendations?!”
Before we address the problem at hand, let us first remind you that MBA admissions committees have indeed seen it all. That your situation is unlike anyone else’s is highly unlikely, so you need not fret about your circumstances. Let’s consider the case of the VP above and add a detail—that the family business is in manufacturing. This hypothetical MBA candidate could contact one of the company’s long-standing clients or suppliers, either of whom may be able to write about the applicant’s integrity, growth, sense of humor, determination and more, all in relation to other comparable individuals.
If these constituents were not able to offer adequate feedback, however, the MBA candidate might instead ask the head of a trade association or possibly even a respected competitor to write on his/her behalf. If the applicant really needed to get creative, he/she might even consider asking a service provider; for example, getting a letter of reference from an architectural firm that collaborated with the candidate to build a new manufacturing facility could be an interesting solution.
In short, most MBA candidates have more opportunities for recommenders than they realize. Keep looking and try not to get discouraged—someone out there knows you well and can write objectively on your behalf.
Read the full article: Mission Admission: I Have No Supervisor!