Leaders Have Tough Conversations
Second round MBA application decisions are coming out. Some candidates have already heard great news and others will get their decisions in the next couple of weeks. It’s an exciting time for candidates and schools as the MBA Class of 2015 takes shape. It is also a time when schools often see the character of the candidates that applied to their MBA programs. For months, MBA applicants have tried to impress admissions officers with great follow-up, a positive attitude and thoughtful interaction. For some candidates though putting their best foot forward was just part of the hustle to get admitted to business school; so once decisions are in, professional behavior is out. This is most apparent in follow-up, or lack of follow-up, with admissions officers.
Let me give you an example: Candidate A has been admitted to three schools, School X, School Y and School Z. Candidate A’s top choice is School X. Candidate A developed strong relationships with admissions officers at each school, but feels bad declining Schools Y and Z. Candidate A declines both though their online system. She does not contact the admissions officers that she knows directly to inform them of her decision.
Now there is nothing technically wrong with not contacting the admissions officers directly. Schools admit lots of candidates that will decline their admissions offers. The schools also offer an automated system for candidates to accept or decline their offers so clearly schools expect to hear back in that way.
Now let me first say that a thoughtful email is probably enough. Admissions officers don’t want to get two hundred phone calls. If however you have the type of relationships with an admissions officer where you freely called them during the last eight months, then declining their offer of admission probably warrants a phone call. This applies to any number of interactions including managing your position on the waitlist, negotiating for additional financial aid and even closing the loop when you weren’t offered admission (just because they didn’t have a spot for you, doesn’t mean that professionalism is out the window).
No one wants to call an admissions officer and tell them that you are going to another program, particularly after months of trying to convince that admissions officer that you wanted to attend their program. You may worry that they are going to challenge or question your decision. Or you may just feel bad and would rather avoid interacting with them…ever. The thing is…leaders have tough conversations. Where someone has been helpful to you in the MBA application process, or frankly in anything else, exceptional professional conduct requires follow-up to post them on the outcomes, even when the conversation is a difficult one. This is important for your integrity, your personal brand and even for CYA (covering your ass).
It’s very simple – high-quality follow-up showcases your integrity and positively builds your personal brand. Not following up or being dishonest erodes your brand. While we can’t control our brand – which is driven by how others perceive us – we can manage our actions to give ourselves the best chance at a strong personal brand and reputation. Avoid having lingering negative impressions because you didn’t follow-up. Of course, I want you to handle yourself with integrity because that is who you are. But even if it’s not part of who you are as a professional…do it anyway to cover your ass.
When I was in admissions, there was a candidate who was really interested in my program; we had developed a great relationship. He actually accepted his offer of admission and was planning to attend in the fall. Then he called me and declined the offer. He had decided to postpone school. I get that. I was disappointed because I thought he was a great fit for the program, but life happens. Well, imagine my surprise when I later he found out that he actually went to another school. Huh? I suspect that he thought “no harm, no foul” and that I would never find out. What he underestimated: (1) admissions officers talk – I actually found out from another admissions officer who was asking me if I knew him, (2) the world is really small. Fast forward, three months – I moved from MBA admissions to MBA recruiting at an investment bank. And you guessed it; he was interested in Investment Banking. I actually would have accepted an apology – he was a good guy. He attended the first recruiting event but never came back to another one. Now it’s possible that in 2005 that he didn’t want to work for Goldman Sachs IB…what do you think?
