Employer Letters: Policy of No Company References or LoRs...

[Gauss44]

Human Resources has informed me that individuals within my organization are allowed to write personal references and recommendations, but not on behalf of the company. Therefore, I am thinking that it will be fine to collect personal letters of recommendation from my supervisors and from my colleagues (the later know me better and will be able to construct more substantive letters). The letters will mention the capacity in which they know me, which is through the organization and Human Resources is fine with that.

Colleague Letters vs. Boss Letters
I have heard that getting a letter from a colleague will carry less weight than from a boss, but are there other issues with colleague letters that I haven't mentioned? Again my reason for considering asking my colleagues for letters is that they know me MUCH BETTER than any boss or supervisor (as the bosses work on a different shift in a different area and only know me through feedback from others). Submitting letters both from bosses and colleagues may be my best bet.

Individuals Recommending vs. Organization Recommending
Do you foresee medical schools or AAMC having issues with some (not all) of my LoRs being personal recommendations from individuals but not on behalf of the company? (My guess is that this is standard.)

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[gyngyn]

Medical schools have specific requests regarding the number and type of LOE's submitted.
There are probably very few circumstances in which a letter from a co-worker would be considered a powerful component of an application.

 

[Moko]

Human Resources has informed me that individuals within my organization are allowed to write personal references and recommendations, but not on behalf of the company. Therefore, I am thinking that it will be fine to collect personal letters of recommendation from my supervisors and from my colleagues (the later know me better and will be able to construct more substantive letters). The letters will mention the capacity in which they know me, which is through the organization and Human Resources is fine with that.

Colleague Letters vs. Boss Letters
I have heard that getting a letter from a colleague will carry less weight than from a boss, but are there other issues with colleague letters that I haven't mentioned? Again my reason for considering asking my colleagues for letters is that they know me MUCH BETTER than any boss or supervisor (as the bosses work on a different shift in a different area and only know me through feedback from others). Submitting letters both from bosses and colleagues may be my best bet.

Individuals Recommending vs. Organization Recommending
Do you foresee medical schools or AAMC having issues with some (not all) of my LoRs being personal recommendations from individuals but not on behalf of the company? (My guess is that this is standard.)

You should get your LOR from your boss and not from your friends / coworkers. Ask your boss if he/she is open to incorporating the feedback from your colleagues into your LOR.

 

[wholeheartedly]

A lot of institutions have this policy, major CYA policy. The part that seems tricky to me is the medical schools who want letters signed on professional letterhead. Professional letterhead will usually have the institution's name, logo, etc. That sort of makes it seem like it's less of a personal rec...

Also, def. get the letter from your boss not coworkers.

 

[Goro]

Nope.

Do you foresee medical schools or AAMC having issues with some (not all) of my LoRs being personal recommendations from individuals but not on behalf of the company? (My guess is that this is standard.)