Application Help! Accomplishment and Challenge

Question

Hello All,

I am describing my work experience an am hoping to get feedback on key accomplishments and most significant challenges:

Key Accomplishments:

a) I noticed a machine was producing defected parts. I detected the problem and worked with the team to come up with a solution. I delegated tasks to each team member and we were able to fix the problem. This was a vital step in passing the FDA Audit.

b) Developing an excel based Incentive Compensation tool for a major medical device company in less than 3 weeks, while leading clients 4 man team to streamline the process. This prevented the client from missing payroll and reduced cycle time by 50%.

Most Significant Challenge:

a) Managing employees older than myself. To be effective I learned to involve everyone in the discussions, communicate the issues clearly, and recognize everyone’s contributions. This allowed us to work as a team and utilize everyone’s strengths.

b) Effectively communicating with and leading a global team. I developed a communication strategy where the team and I would IM every morning and have weekly conference calls to align on next steps and get to know one another other on a personal level.

I am hoping someone could give me some feedback on whether these are compelling accomplishments and challenges or if I should re-think or re-write them. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

JatinBhandari1 · Answer

Your challenges look good. You need to address how did you overcome leading people more senior than you in terms of age. You will have to showcase how did you bring in a sense of ownership and inspiration.

Let us see what can go wrong in your expression in your accomplishment

An Example
• Collaborated with “MY ORGANIZATION’s” shared services and conceived ways to counter a strong competing bid. Won the deal and generated additional yearly revenue of $5.5 MM for “MY ORGANIZATION’s” by signing a 10 year contract with the client. Obtained UK based utility client, generating extra revenue and retaining business. Brought in $5.5 million of additional revenue

HOW WILL YOU ASSESS THE CHALLENGE? Do you feel this is challenging enough? Will you look at the $5.5 MM value, convert it into INR, compare it with your spending capacity, and assess if this is a big deal? Under what circumstances will this bullet or an essay around this be taken for a pinch of salt?

A. The writer fails to mention how big or large is $5.5 MM for the organization he works with
B. Writer does not clearly showcase “Why was it challenging enough?”. What are the odds that whatever you are writing is VERY SMALL as compared with the previous essay that the reader went through? 
C. The writer fails to mention what were the skill sets required to accomplish whatever was accomplished. Think about it this way: If you express something that is not transferrable or if the reader cannot understand how will it bring value to MBA class, he will not give you an A+ on your essay.
D. The READER misses the “YOU” in the response. You narrated an accomplishment but did not walk the reader through your angle. He did not get why is this accomplishment a big deal for the candidate. 
E. “Why do you view it as such?” YOU HAVE TOLD THEM THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT DID YOU ALSO TELL THEM WHY DO YOU VIEW IT AS SUCH?

You will very soon be working on crafting stories of your most Significant accomplishments, and building strong narratives to project your achievements. And these most significant accomplishments will range from a 2 digit IIT JEE Rank to 3 promotions in two years or a multimillion dollar deal that you may have worked on.

Let us look at the INSEAD’s accomplishment essay and see how we can set the context.

Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date (if possible, specify one personal and one professional), explaining why you view them as such. (400 words maximum)

Upon looking at the essay prompt, you might think that it is near to impossible to write a complete essay in just 400 words, however, needless to say, words can never limit your accomplishments and it is very much possible to write within 400 words. Start by thinking about two important anecdotes that give an insight to two different areas that you are talented in. Try to write in a narrative form which makes it easier for the reader to relate to along with an equally interesting ending. Make it a point to explain how you achieved your unique goal by highlighting it with an anecdote that describes how you went about it. Lack of anecdotes reduce the credibility of your statements and render your essay ineffective. Lastly, do not kill the essence of your accomplishment by writing about it in the very first sentence. Try to increase the curiosity of the reader by building up the facts around the achievement and then concluding emphatically. Also, remember to include all the points that are mentioned in the essay prompt.

In this essay, INSEAD is specifically asking the candidate to discuss about one personal and one professional accomplishment, hence, you are advised to follow what the essay demands of you. Some key elements that you must keep into account whilst attempting the essay are:

• Accomplishments show your ability to succeed at the school and thereafter
• Accomplishments also show your ability to contribute to your peers
• Everyone has had accomplishments in life, hence comparisons between the applicants can easily be made
• The accomplishments that you choose to write about should show your judgement capabilities and your self awareness

Keep the following in mind: I WILL BE REPETITIVE

• They are not interested in your accomplishment as much as they are interested in your reasons and your view. 
• They are not interested in your accomplishment as much as they are interested in your reasons and your view. 
• They are not interested in your accomplishment as much as they are interested in your reasons and your view. 
• They are not interested in your accomplishment as much as they are interested in your reasons and your view.

Application Help! Accomplishment and Challenge

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