Better Than a Professional Statement
May 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment
What do you think of when someone uses the phrase professional statement? For most, a professional statement is a one-time document you create as part of an MBA application. But I know you pretty well, and I know that you can do a lot better than that. Why not create something that has use far beyond your MBA application? Why not create a STORY that has use over your entire career? Watch the video below to understand the importance of a professional STORY.
Don’t get me wrong, a quality professional statement is good. Actually, it is necessary. Still, for too many people the document has short term scope. MBA applicants spend so much time on their professional statements only to throw them away once they are admitted. The assumption is “I’ll revise it once I get settled in school”. Little do they know, that time never comes. MBA students are busy! School work, job search, and social activities eat up whatever time previously thought was going to be used to revisit career goals.
And because there are so many interesting jobs offered to MBAs…students end up running around like a kid in a candy store “looking at all the cool jobs”. They choose the coolest one, graduate, and one year later are wondering where the “cool” went. This brings them right back to their professional statement. They may not re-write it, but they certainly revisit their career goals in order to clarify their career path.
When I talk about a professional story, I am talking about looking at your MBA career with a long term perspective. It’s like having a living, breathing professional statement. Take a look at the video above to see what I mean. Agree? Disagree? Would you like to hear more? Post below to let me know.
“No Stress” MBA Recommendation
May 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
A big part of the business school application process is being sure that each MBA recommendation supports your professional story. These are the people you have worked for, worked with, or possibly have worked for you in your career before B-School. Isn’t it a little scary to trust your prized business school application to someone else? What on earth are they going to say about you?
Here are three typical concerns about getting a good MBA recommendation.
- This person doesn’t really know me. - I worked with this person on a couple of projects, but I’m not 100% confident that he/she really knows and appreciates my professional ability.
- This person doesn’t have the same level of urgency as I do. - This person has a full-time job and I’m concerned that he/she will not be in a hurry to get my MBA recommendation back to me.
- They person may “turn” on me. - I’m afraid that asking for a MBA recommendation is the same as turning in my “two week notice”. All of a sudden, I will be given the professional cold shoulder and lose valuable support from my office.
Get Started! - Here is a suggestion on how to take control of your recommendation letters.
- Prepare a cover letter. - Don’t walk up to your boss and say, “I’m thinking about going back to school. Will you recommend me?” Instead, prepare a one-page document that explains the schools you are intersted in, why you are interested, and how this person’s insight can help improve your application. Use specific professional examples that prove your point. Think of this page as a cover letter for your MBA recommendation form. For a special touch, deliver the letter and recommendation form with a small gift. Thank them in advance for their genorosity.
Are You Good Enough For an MBA?
May 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The MBA application process reveals your weak spots. Each time you stare at your resume…each time you tell your story…you hear your own weaknesses. It bothers you and you worry about being “found out”. Will people figure out that you are not nearly as good as you say you are? Hogwash! You are an excellent MBA candidate! Your success isn’t dictated by what you cannot do. Your success is dictated by what you can do better than anyone else!
Here are three things I hear often:
- I don’t have the MBA smarts. My GPA is not high enough. My GMAT is not very strong. B-School is full of smart people. Am I as smart as them?
- I don’t have the MBA experience. I’ve only worked for 3 years…and I changed jobs during that time. I’ve done decent work, but I haven’t “managed” any major projects. B-School is full of experienced business people. Does my experience stack up?
- I am not an MBA “business type“. My undergrad major was Biology. I worked in marketing for a greeting card company for 4 years. Business school is full of engineers, finance specialists, and management consultants. How does my non-technical experience stack up?
Get started! - Push past the doubt. Celebrate your uniqueness!
- What skills are you known for? MBA schools are most interested in your ability to excel in a business environment. Your academic experience and professional background take a back seat to your ability drive positive change. How have you done that? What skills are you known for? Is it your compassion, insight, problem-solving, research ability, tech ability, leadership…etc. Ask your best friend what you are “known for”. Think about how you have used that skill to affect your professional environment…you are on to something.
Does this help? Post below and let me know.
Great MBA Essays
May 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Let’s talk strategy to create great MBA essays. Each year, many people make the decision to apply to business school and find themselves consumed by the application process. Without a doubt, the most time consuming and nerve wrecking part of the MBA application is creating great essays. It is true that the essays are a big part of the application. Your essays explain your pursuit of the degree and the special skills you offer to the institution. Still, one could always make the argument that your essays are “not quite finished” yet.
How do you know when your MBA essays are finished? Here are three ways to tell:
- You have a consistent message. If you are an “innovator”, “process guru”, “expert marketer”, or whatever…make sure that each essay expresses and supports that single message.
- You have nothing else to say. When you read your MBA essays, you honestly feel like there isn’t any more left for you to say. You have made your point and expressed its value.
- You read the essays and smile. “You” have come out in the MBA essays. When you read them you say to yourself…”Yea, that’s me!” You haven’t tried to sound like someone else. You have a unique message and it makes you smile to read it.
Get Started! - If you need help, here is a suggestion to get you back on the right track.
- Write your message at the top of each of your MBA essays. For example, write “I am the most passionate marketer I know” or “My culture plus my keen insight make me an excellent business leader”. Whatever it is, keep the thought simple and true. Read the line out loud when you get “stuck” or before you begin your edits. Focus your energy around that message. Get inspired about it. It will reflect in your writing.
Good luck and go write some great essays!
Alzay
Are You Impressive?
May 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Are you applying to MBA programs? Making a career switch? Moving up in the world?
If so, then you need an IMPRESSIVE professional STORY and a PROCESS to create it. But before we get into that process, let’s acknowledge…
Three Reasons to Read This Post
Reason #1 - You are competing for your target opportunity. You are not the only person applying to MBA programs, considering a new job, or desiring a promotion. The only way you are going to earn the opportunity is by proving you deserve it more than your competition.
Reason #2 - You are the reason you are pursuing your target opportunity. No one is forcing you to look at MBA programs. No one is making you take your career to the next level. This is an opportunity you want because you deserve it. Because of that, only you can clearly articulate why you should have it.
Reason #3 - You need help to earn your target opportunity. You are talented. You have strong ambition. That is why MBA programs are of interest to you. Still, it is difficult trying to condense your life experience into a single conversation or essay. First, you need help clarifying your story for yourself. Next, you need help expressing that clarity to others.
If you identify with the three reasons above then this process can help you. It is going to simplify your brainstorming and help you create your own unique, IMPRESSIVE story. Get a pencil and paper and take organized notes. These notes become the blueprint for the IMPRESSIVE story you are creating.
Three Main Steps to an IMPRESSIVE Story
MAIN STEP #1 - Identify Your Goal
Clearly state the thing you are trying to accomplish. Maybe it is just a sentence. Maybe it is a paragraph or more. Still, state your goal in the clearest words you can. Here are some simple examples.
*I want to apply to MBA programs.
*I am looking to switch to a more exciting career.
*I want to earn the next available promotion.
MAIN STEP #2 - Develop Your Story
With the goal clear, now you can begin to target yourself towards that goal. Your story contains three main elements. You will explain how you are:
Qualified - Good enough to get the job done.
Different - Unique from your competition.
Relevant - Valuable to the organization.
Once these things are clear then you will put them together to create your STORY.
*Warning* *Warning* *Warning*
This is not a “fill in the blanks” process. Give yourself time to think. Give yourself time to remember the details. The more specific your brainstorming, the stronger your story will be. Brainstorm on these things separately and then put them together to build your story.
Be Qualified - Summarize your academic and professional background. Remember your success stories. List your academic achievements. Prove that you meet the minimum requirements for the opportunity. Know which parts of your background satisfy those requirements.
Be Different - Identify your uniqueness. Specifically explain why this goal is value to you. Remember the specific skills you depend on to ensure your success. List your special talents.
Be Relevant - Connect your goals to the goals of your audience. Know what the organization is trying to accomplish over the short and long term. Know what “kind” of people the organization is looking for. Be clear that you fit in the environment and your success is tied to the success of the organization.
MAIN STEP #3 - Put it all together
Now look over your notes from Step 1 and Step 2. You should begin to see some connections between your goal, the organization, and how those two work together. Lastly, summarize your story in a single thought. It should reflect exactly what you are trying to accomplish. Here is an example:
Because of my stellar background in ____________ and my specific uniqueness of ____________, I am the best candidate to help your organization accomplish the goal of _________________.
What This Process Does For You
You should begin to see your story come together. You now have an outline of how you impress prospective employers, MBA programs, or anyone else. Now that you know how you are Qualified, Different, and Relevant, you can target your story specifically toward your situation and audience.
Remember this is a PROCESS, it will take time and feedback to get your story just right. Be patient with yourself and refer to this blog for help.
Did you find this post helpful? Please let me know with a comment below.
How to Earn MBA Jobs
May 13, 2008 | 1 Comment
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What if an interviewer told you exactly how to earn MBA jobs? What if you found out the answer was a lot simpler than you thought?
This video is part of a recorded phone conversation I had with Maurice Cooper, a 2005 Darden alum, and a Brand Manager within the Coca-Cola Company. Maurice is a real example that the EBC framework, Be Qualified, Be Different, Be Relevant really works. Maurice impressed the Coca-Cola Company with his unique message and now part of his responsibility is to evaluate current MBA students for employment potential.
In this video he explains the mindset of an interviewer and some of the mistakes a job applicant makes.
I am thrilled to bring this content to you. You can take this content and immediately apply it to your unique situation, whether you are an MBA applicant, student, or graduate. Your goal is to do great things in business and to do that you have to be IMPRESSIVE. Don’t be BORING. Know your story. Share it with passion. Express it with clarity.
How will you use this information? Post a comment below.
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