Essay question - Ideas needed

Question

I am trying to write a "Goals" essay and having trouble connecting my past to present. I would appreciate some ideas on how to connect this weird career.

Here is my situation:-

1. Bachelor of Engineering in Control System (Selected this without any thoughts of what future might look like)
2. Masters in Image Processing (Didn't like it. I had no financial assistance, so I decided to do my research in it. Again selected this too without any thoughts of what future might look like).
3. Started working in Information Tech. (Java developer)
4. Got an opportunity to be a team leader on a 9 month project. (IT based)
5. Have been working as Senior consultant for last 5 years. Doing many independent projects within the same company.

Thanks.

jxcho · Answer

The big question is, what is your  goal ? Your background is one thing but you can't connect the past with the future without a clear career goal.

kapsycumm · Answer

I would like to do general management and use my knowledge from last 8 years to lead/manage projects. I have no theoretical or practical knowledge of project management. i want to use my MBA to get this knowledge and get necessary credibility. This is how I want to portray myself.

kaushinside · Answer

Dear kapsycumm

You'll have to be more specific than that about your goals..
If you want theoretical and practical knowledge about a certain aspect of management, you can consider reading books and doing specific courses which address your requirements rathar than getting an MBA which will consume a lot of time, energy and money.

You'll have to try and figure out what kind of work motivates you.
If project management, why so? what about it is so appealing to you?

And this should have something to do with what you have done so far since you are saying that you want to USE your knowledge from the past 8 years..
You can say that your experience so far has molded you in a certain way and you want to make use of that mold to advance your career..

Your career goal should be very particular - working in so-and-so capacity in so-and-so industry in a company such as so-and-so..

Once you are done with this, the next step would be identifying the aspects which you lack in order to realize your goal..

After this, it should be easy for you to connect your past experience with your future goals..

Writing essays requires a lotttt of introspection.. 
I understand that the purpose of such forums is to aid us people with the entire process..
But you need to understand that people can't think for you... You'll have to do the homework..

Hope this helps..

regards,
kaushinside

kapsycumm · Answer

Thanks Kaushinside. I have already written 65% of this essay. I am just not sure how good is it so far, since I don't have any samples of actual essays. How can one fine-tune the essay? Are there any real essay references available online?

kaushinside · Answer

I suppose there are..
In fact, you'll even find videos on youtube about it, but only trust those from reliable sources..

When you search for sample essays, you could also enter the name of the institute in your search query.

A goals essay could also briefly talk about the unique aspects of the institute for which you are writing the essay..

I would strongly suggest you get your essays reviewed by professionals..

regards,
kaushinside

kingfalcon · Answer

Truthfully, only you can answer why you selected the schools and jobs you did. I'd suggest you sit down with a glass of wine or beer and really think about why you made the choices you did. These answers won't just be relevant for your essays, they will come up in interviews, too.

kapsycumm · Answer

Thanks kingfalcon. My attitude has always been to pass what I am doing and then think about the future later. I never really liked anything from heart. I elected for Electronics in the high school year and I didn't go to Electronics Engineering(wasted Electronics knowledge). I did Control systems engineering in my bachelors, but I elected for Image Processing for my Masters(wasted Control Systems knowledge). I was forced to work in IT because I couldn't get necessary security clearance for Image processing jobs which were offered to me (wasted Image processing knowledge). I would like to stop this trend in my life. I have been working in IT for last 8 years now, and I would like to use this knowledge in my post-MBA life. Product management is what I want to do. But, after talking to a lot of people, the majority thinks that product management goal in the essay is an hard sell to the AdComs.

What do you guys think about it?

What do you guys think about it?

kaushinside · Answer

kapsycumm,

on one hand you are saying you want to stop a particular trend of succumbing to the circumstances in your life and on the other you are having this tendency to compromise on something that you want to do because people told you something about it being difficult to be sold (another one of those 'circumstances')..

if it is really something you 'WANT' to do and not something that you 'would like' to do, go ahead and give it your best shot..

kaushinside

VeritasPrepRon · Answer

Hi Kapsycumm, I'd actually write the essay as the gist of this thread!

People come to the MBA from all walks of life and backgrounds, so the admissions consultants have seen it all. If you've bounced around looking for the right fit, then write that in your essay. If you know exactly what you want to do with the MBA, write that in your essay. I find being honest can help separate you from the crowd, especially if you've got a compelling story. Everything you did, you did for a reason. And applying to do an MBA, you're doing for a reason as well. Once you tap into the heart of why you're doing it, the essay is like 6/7 done!

Best of luck!
-Ron

Essay question - Ideas needed

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