Recommendation letter, as nothing else could persuade the business school to choose just you. Even if you have good results in tests, and essay shines with victories and achievements, you need to be viewed from the side. To make your dream of an MBA at a prestigious school come true, this view should be not only positive but also significant. That is why the referee should be scrupulously chosen. Step 1. Write a list. Remember all your jobs (if there are difficulties, look at your resume.) Got it? Now remember all your bosses. Divide the list into two parts: the “black” and “white”. Fill in the first those bosses who offended you or were offended by you, who quarreled, who fired, and so forth. Do not go for getting recommendations to these people (unless, of course, you have decided to participate in the competition “The most horrible set of documents to a business school.”) If someone got into the “white” part, be glad and move to the next step. Step 2. Write a list (take two). Memory training is continuing. Now try to remember all of your teachers (kindergarten may be omitted). The methodology of the list remains the same: two columns, members of one of these columns suit on the role of referee. Step 3. Again, write list. We turn to the public and famous people. Do you know some of them? It is advisable if the famous will be global – like the President. However, representatives of business elite will suit as well (not criminal) or some politician. Hopefully, you will not have to share such people into two columns. Step 4. Familiar case – the list. You probably sent many letters to business school before you decided to enter it, attended some events (if not, be warned that your choice may be unconscious). So, probably you have some friends from teachers or employees of business school. Write them down in the list. Step 5. Do not laugh, but it is again the list. The last one. Now think, if you have friends of the graduates of business schools, you have chosen. If you have – it is great, fill them into a list. Step 6. Read and ponder. So, you get 5 lists. Within few days read them: think about people whose recommendations would be influential, some people can write by themselves, someone needs an interpreter. Think over and start collecting the contacts. Step 7. Filter. Choose people who know you and who do not mind to write a good recommendation for you. Choose subjective. Step 8. Prioritizes. On the importance (in order) list shall be arranged as follows: 3, 4, 2, 1, 5. This needs, if you suddenly found too many good people, eager to give you recommendations. Make a small list – those who will write you a recommendation. Step 9. Check. Compare your little list with the requirements of the business school – maybe someone will not work for some reason. Step 10. Call, write, ask. Now things are easy – to contact the referees and ask them to write you letters. A couple of tips: 1. Sometimes people hesitate to ask for advice – fear of rejection. But if you do not ask, you never know, you fail or not. So right now, dial the number of your potential referee (unless, of course, it is not midnight). 2. Give time for the referee – do not ask to write a letter in a day or two. So think about the time allocation in advance.