IESE MBA Recommendation Questions
IESE’s founding campus in Barcelona attracts MBA candidates from around the world, offering exposure to a wide variety of industries and career options with its focus on general management. The school’s MBA program has a rigorous curriculum geared towards case discussions and experiential learning. With a specialized entrepreneurship pathway, a summer entrepreneurship project option, and an active investor community for students and graduates, the IESE MBA program is especially noteworthy for those who want to pursue entrepreneurship.
IESE students are typically interested in global business careers (given the school’s strong international make-up) or entrepreneurial ventures. The school looks for candidates who are self-starters, good collaborators and communicators, and who can work well in an international learning environment. When you discuss your IESE letters of recommendation with your recommender, guide them to highlight how you reflect these values.
How Many Letters of Recommendation Does IESE Require?
IESE requires one professional letter of recommendation. This should ideally be from a current manager/supervisor, or from the supervisor or manager at your most recent firm. Applicants may choose to submit up to 3 letters of recommendation, but it is recommended that your recommenders should only be individuals who have directly and meaningfully engaged with you in a professional/extracurricular/community setting, preferably in a supervisory capacity.
Like most business schools, IESE uses the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation format to frame its recommendation questions.
IESE MBA Recommendation Questions 2024-2025
Recommender Information & Ratings
Recommender Information
First Name
Last Name
Position or Title
School, Institution, or Company
Please elaborate on your professional relationship with the candidate providing details on such – the duration of your relationship, nature of projects you worked on, and so on, etc) (100 word limit)
IESE MBA Recommendation Questions
How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)
Analysis
Recommendation Questions
How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
In this answer, your recommender will evaluate your work performance, strengths, and personal qualities in comparison to their experience with your peers in similar positions. There is no strict word limit, but try to stick to the recommended 300 words.
Typically, recommenders provide up to 2-3 anecdotes that each demonstrate a unique strength or quality. When writing about your strengths, ensure that they are aligned with IESE’s values. IESE looks for the following in their MBA candidates:
Global mindset
General management approach
People-centered vision
Ethical and social responsibility
Spirit of service
Guide your recommender to use the SCAR method (Situation, Challenge, Action, Results) to structure these anecdotes and connect them to your fit with the school. Try to quantify your results by including figures, dollar amounts, and percentages to showcase impact.
2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)
For this answer, guide your recommender to select a personal or professional weakness that they have observed and advised you on. Your recommender should provide an anecdote in the SCAR format where you presented this weakness, how it impacted your work or team, what feedback they provided, and how you acted upon it to improve in this area. Again, there is no strict word limit, but try to stick to the recommended 250 words. Given this short word limit, focus on one major weakness that you have identified and worked upon.
Remember to make sure that your weakness is authentic. Avoid fake weaknesses like “being a perfectionist”. Your weakness should clearly demonstrate that you are self-aware, adaptive, and open to learning even when uncomfortable.
Our complete Recommender Guide course on MBAConsultant.com has all the advice (and sample letters based on real applicants) you need to create a compelling letter of recommendation. Check it out here.
Want personalized support for your letters of recommendation? Book a chat with us today!
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