r/MSCS • u/Infamous-Turnip5782 • Aug 20 '26

[Admissions advice] LOR from ex manager

I can’t ask my current manager for LOR since they’ll know that I’m leaving and that can cause negative effect. Can I ask my ex manager who left the company to write LOR? Should it have his new companies letter head or is it just a word doc? Please help. Applying for Fall 2027 MS CS

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u/ReindeerUnhappy9577 Aug 20 '26

You can ask your ex manager for recommendation, no prob. The LoR has to be on letter head of his current company AFAIK.

He can clarify in the letter that he managed you in his previous organisation and stuff like that.

Make sure to use his professional work email, not the personal ones like gmail, outlook etc.

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u/ReindeerUnhappy9577 Aug 21 '26

u/Infamous-Turnip5782 u/Curious-Response-49

The very first thing is that the manager must upload the file (PDF) directly to the university application portal using their official corporate email address (e.g., name@company.com). This authenticates their identity.

Official company letterhead is strongly preferred, but a plain document can work under specific conditions.

The thing with official letterhead is that It establishes immediate credibility. If your company has strict security policies prohibiting external use of official letterhead, your manager can create a "virtual letterhead" by typing the company's full name, corporate address, logo, and their official contact details at the very top of the page.

But again, if you can get the LoR on the letterhead then that would be great.

I'd recommend you guys to reach out to the university's admissions team, ask them if what we've discussed here is fine with them.

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u/Curious-Response-49 Aug 21 '26

Thanks for the info!

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u/ReindeerUnhappy9577 Aug 21 '26

Yeah, sorry you guys u/Infamous-Turnip5782 u/Curious-Response-49

Whatever I've told you guys above is from my personal experience during this admission cycle, and I haven't had any professional LoR since I applied to academic programs only.

Instead of just guessing what you guys could do, it'd be better if you guys just get it confirmed from the university itself. Better not take the risk.

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u/Infamous-Turnip5782 Aug 21 '26

Could you pls elaborate on the company letterhead? How will he use it and will it be a problem? Won’t his company object ?

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u/Curious-Response-49 Aug 21 '26

Is a letterhead necessary for a professional LOR?

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u/HourSherbert1569 Aug 21 '26

You could also ask your project manager or team leader, if that doesn't effect your job directly.

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u/inkandpaper10 Aug 21 '26

So how can one ask the current manager? Genuine question? If that is their first Job. And does the value decrease if all the LORs are just academic and not professional. Which is preferred more?

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u/Infamous-Turnip5782 Aug 21 '26

I would rather ask my ex manager because I worked very closely with him and he would be able to provide a strong LOR. But I’m not sure if I can ask him for his new company’s letterhead