LBS Dubai EMBA Recommendations: The Real Questions!

The LBS Dubai EMBA recommendations can be daunting tasks to complete unless you know the questions beforehand and how to guide your recommenders. Before we reveal the questions, here are a few things you need to know about the LBS Dubai EMBA recommendations:

1. Recommendation letters aren’t necessary.

Our students typically come to us to study for the Executive Assessment with recommendation letters already in process. DON’T DO THIS!

Recommendation letters are not required for the LBS EMBA Dubai application. Here’s how the recommendation submittal process works:

You log into your application.
You complete a form providing the names and email addresses of your recommenders.
The platform sends your recommenders an email with an application ID and validation key to access their secure recommendation.
Your recommender completes a form with specific questions and a rating scale.
The recommendation is saved and submitted automatically without you ever seeing it.

2. LBS Dubai EMBA recommendations can be saved as written.

Your recommenders don’t have to write everything in one go! As long as they save the recommendation, they can return to it later and finish.

Don’t forget to mention the ability to save to your manager when you ask for a recommendation. Hopefully, she will be more likely to complete it if she knows it’s not going to take one whole hour.

3. Each question response only needs to be 1 paragraph.

If your manager loves to write, she can create a 500-word response for each question but this actually is not necessary. One focused paragraph is sufficient to answer the question. However, two paragraphs are even better. The first paragraph would answer the question directly supported by reasons. The second paragraph could briefly tell a story that further supports the recommender’s perspective.

Or, your recommender can follow this standard paragraph PEEL writing format:

Point = 1 sentence as a direct answer to the question using the questions words as the start of the response
Example = tell a short story that illustrates the point or characteristic; start with “For example,”
Explanation = explain more about what happened, the resolution, and how the example supports the point; think in terms of how or why
Link = 1 sentence summary that wraps up the answer and links it back to the question

4. You should write talking points for the recommender.

Since you are cut out of the recommendation process, we suggest you send talking points to your recommenders via email. Talking points give them a place to start, making writing the recommendation easier. In addition, you are more likely to get the type of recommendation you want.

Have a great story about your strengths? Don’t hope the recommender remembers. Remind her with the talking points.

Recommendations are one of the best ways to substantiate your resume’ and give more details about your work experience. Here’s what LBS has to say about the value of experience in the admissions process:

You can organize your talking points for each question in the PEEL format above. That way, the recommender can easily write in the correct format.

But isn’t this you writing the recommendations?

It is not. It’s not even you being involved in the draft of the recommendations. The recommender has the OPTION to use the talking points, which keeps you in the clear ethically. Moreover, you are providing NOTES, not full sentences. If you write too much you may cross the line, but notes of just a few words don’t take the place of sentences.

5. The rating questions are the OPPOSITE of what you’re used to.

Just be sure to remind the recommender that 1 is the best and 5 is the worst on the rating scale. We’ve seen this mistake made several times.

There’s a reason that the rating scale is backward from what you expect. It forces your brain to actually think about the answer and not respond on autopilot.

And…

Make sure your recommender doesn’t put 1 for everything. It’s not believable!

LBS Dubai EMBA Recommendations Questions

How do you know the applicant? How long have you known them for?

What would you say are the applicant’s key strengths and talents?

What would you say are the applicant’s key weaknesses or areas for improvement?

In which areas of development has the applicant progressed most in the time you’ve known them?

What do you think this person might be doing in ten years’ time? Why?

Ratings

Please rate the applicant, comparing them with other members of his or her peer group, on the qualities listed below using the following scoring system:

1 = High 3 = Average 5 = Low

Intellectual or academic ability

Quantitative skills

Initiative / ability to take decisions

Problem-solving skills

Organisational skills

Leadership skills

Team skills

Impact / charisma / confidence

Ability to learn and develop through experience

Mindset

Spoken English communication skills

Written English communication skills

Please indicate your overall recommendation on a five-point score from (1) Highly Recommended to (5) Not Recommended

Recommendation

1 2 3 4 5

One Final Tip about LBS Dubai EMBA Recommendations

Send the recommendation request once you start the application. That way, your recommender will have plenty of time to complete it before the deadline.

It is ideal for your recommendations to be completed before you submit your application. Even better? Recommendations done before the application deadline!

A complete application not only signals your enthusiasm about the program but also shows that you are organized and managed the process well. Besides, the admissions committee can’t give you a conditional acceptance without reading your recommendations.

Just starting the Executive MBA application process?

Whatsapp us and we’ll tell you the BEST way to go about it. We can help you tell one narrative with all the application parts, including your resume' and interview. We have extensive experience preparing EMBA hopefuls! We'll help you prepare for the Executive Assessment. Already taken the test? We edit essays as well. Put your best self forward in the Executive MBA application with our help.