Application background Info Sections

Hi Jonny - first of all, LOL @ cobbled together a decent resume.

OK so, not redundant. Role and responsibility is about job scope, depth and breadth of influence/scope of role, budget, direct reports. Job scope. What the job IS.

Accomplishments = specific instances showing you did the job WELL. Very different. Accomplishments should be action/result or result/action format.

Don't underestimate the importance of this section. If you took a lot of time to write an application like this, you would want people to pay attention to it and take it seriously. So do they. Its not like a job application. Quite honestly, most of the resumes I look at are totally indecipherable (consultants the biggest offenders) and I can see this as being the only way they can parse it out to get the info they need.

I'm attaching something that might help you take the HBS data form info and carry it into other apps. Also, below I'm pasting my standards for an app well done. Hope this helps

Resume: Every single word has a purpose. It uses universal language instead of industry jargon. It contains resume bullets that are one line, focusing on actions and quantifiable achievements. If not a quantifiable achievement, something that speaks to human motivations, such as saving time and improving a process. Anyone from any industry would be able to step into your resume, and comprehend the value of what you have done. There is space to breathe on the page. It has white space, and the reader feels good when they look at it. It looks inviting. It has simple elegance.

Essays: The essays use anecdotes and examples that are written in chronological order. The reader can mentally see the story unfold. The story is told in brief sentences in a way that is accessible to a broad audience. Each essay shows a different side of you, yet all of them feel authentic, sincere, and accessible. They demonstrate self-awareness, personal growth, leadership and results-orientation. You reach the reader on both an analytical and emotional level.

Letters of recommendation: The recommender can “see” you – see the uniqueness of you – and articulate that eloquently. The letter is comprised chiefly of clear, specific anecdotes that point to your talents in the area of problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, communication and innovation. The reader is emotionally moved by the content and, ideally, wants to champion you to the adcom in quite the same way as the writer.

Online application: Twitter on steroids. Elevator pitch. Distills valuable information about you clearly and succinctly. Everything illustrates qualities that business schools value – strategic thinking, results orientation, etc. Employment section gives the reader a clear, succinct understanding of the experience you’ve gained, employing simple, universal language. The activities and awards point to the overall brand that you set forth in other aspects of the application.