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23 Oct 2024, 16:11
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Consider a situation where you failed to achieve your objective(s). How did you handle failure? What did you learn about yourself and/or your interactions with others from this situation? (400 words)
This is a multi-part question, so be sure to answer every part of the question. Intuitive as this may seem, many applicants overlook parts of the question, so it’s important to ensure you write a complete response.
So, let’s begin with what the prompt asks for- a situation where you failed to meet your objective.
What kind of situation should you select? Should it be a personal or professional story?
Either of them would be okay so long as you use a good balance of personal and professional stories between the candid description essay and the failure essay, which comprise the motivational section of the INSEAD application.
As the question asks about what you learnt about your interactions with others, you should select a story where other people were involved. I always tell applicants that their story should be about people, and not about processes. Many applicants tend to pick a story where they failed in carrying out a process properly. For instance, choosing a story where you did not know a particular technical skill won’t give you much room to reflect meaningfully. The lesson here would likely be something along the lines of learning the missing skill. That’s not impressive as it doesn’t show much introspection. Instead, select an example which involves communication or collaboration with other stakeholders and team members. These people-focused challenges often offer deeper insights into your personal growth and leadership abilities, both of which are critical in a business school context.
Next, don’t select a failure that could raise concerns about your character or behavior. For instance, saying that you are too impatient to listen to others or showing laziness/complacency could cast doubt on qualities such as collaboration and diligence, which business schools highly value. Instead, select a story where you were genuinely striving for success but miscalculated or overlooked an element that led to failure. This way, the failure would be rooted in good intentions and effort, providing a valuable opportunity for reflection.
Start the essay by describing the situation, your role, and the actions you took that led to the failure. Be explicit about why you failed and what you should have done differently, pinning down the failure rather than leaving it for the adcom to make their guesses. Reflect on how the failure impacted others and how you worked to rectify any negative effects. B-schools like applicants who can self-analyze and reflect on their actions. So, spend a significant portion of the essay discussing what you learned about yourself and your interactions with others, as well as how you applied these lessons to improve. This reflection is key to demonstrating growth and self-improvement, and in giving a complete answer.
Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: [email protected]
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11 Feb 2025, 19:17
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When I graduated from college, I had already received a job offer from Bain for a consulting analyst position. In the end, I decided against accepting this opportunity and instead joined my family's new company in organic and sustainable dairy farming.
12 Feb 2025, 03:47
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dictatormental
Hi dictatormental ! Turning down a prestigious offer from Bain to join your family’s new venture must have been a difficult yet deeply personal decision. It takes courage to step away from a well-defined path and embrace the uncertainties of entrepreneurship, especially in a growing industry.
This decision can make for a strong INSEAD failure essay if framed well. We hope you're doing well in your business and have navigated various challenges, gaining valuable skills and insights along the way!
In such situations, instead of just focusing on the missed opportunity, applicants can highlight the challenges they faced, whether it was scaling the business, managing finances, or dealing with unexpected obstacles. The key is to show how your expectations differed from reality and what you learned from the experience. INSEAD values resilience, self-awareness, and leadership, so focus on how this decision helped you grow, develop problem-solving skills, and better understand business challenges. Rather than treating it as a regret, position it as a learning experience that shaped your career goals and reinforced your motivation for an MBA. Be specific with examples and numbers to make your story stand out. If written well, this essay can show your ability to take risks, learn from setbacks, and adapt.
