There are three important steps to follow to get a strong recommendation:

Selecting the recommender: The best recommender is a supervisor  who has interacted with you closely. Recommendations from CEOs or CFOs are absolutely useless  unless you have closely worked with them on several projects. A supervisor who can talk about your strengths, weaknesses and really knows what you are made of is one of the best choices. A peer review is sometimes sought by schools. When the recommender selection is left as an open choice, a supervisor is preferred over a peer.

Coaching the recommender: This is an essential and crucial step. Make sure you coach your recommender about your goals and aspirations. Tell him/her why you are looking for an MBA. The recommender may very well be mindful of your work culture, team spirit, attitude etc. It is also important that he or she be made aware of your professional goals; it’s your duty to make an appointment and tell him or her about your goals in greater detail. The next step is to tell him/her about the timelines for your applications. Don’t hesitate to send across a gentle reminder if necessary!

The recommender’s say: In short, the recommender must back-up whatever you said in your essays. In fact, the recommender gets a chance to narrate instances and elaborate on many of your key attributes. You can make sure that your application ties together if your recommender reinforces your ideas and elucidates your qualities. Taking the extra steps will ensure that the  the recommendation letter makes the maximum impact on your application, resulting in a favorable outcome.