An MBA Degree for My Future Job - Essay Example

An MBA Degree for My Future Job 1. Please give a detailed description of your job, including nature of work, major responsibilities and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, number of clients/products and results achieved. (250 words) Part of my job involves the preparation of decision making matrices, which includes deciding on the best technologies or concepts involved in order to arrive at an accurate result. In the performance of this duty, I make sure that my decision-making procedure is unbiased and upholds ethical values where my client is concerned. Upstanding professional principles must be applied in every dealings made with the client because the company is expected to provide effective solutions that maximizes not only the shareholder's value but also the joint venture shareholders' value. That's why in making these decisions, I must be able differentiate my obligations with my shareholders as the case may be. And the only way to do justice to this is to employ ethical and moral standards regarding any obligation that is due to the client. Another separate function required in my works is dealing with risk analysis. With regards this duty, I carry out structured and well thought through project risk analysis. This responsibility requires being able to think out various scenarios that becomes the result of one's actions and decisions, which I was able to develop over the years. Often, I contemplate on what the consequence would be if I decide to take an action that is of a positive or negative nature. I usually think about the pros and cons of a certain situation and the rate of risks involved therein. In my opinion this kind of skill helps in the contemplation of any tactical and strategic actions needed for any future business dealings. Aside from the duties and responsibilities mentioned above, I also have experiences as a meeting moderator and as a toastmaster that enables me to lead and moderate team events. The formal training I had regarding my negotiation skills aid me in my day-to-day activities and dealings with my clients. I also use said negotiation skills whenever potential conflicts in management scenarios are about to emerge. As an experience debater, I could usually predict the outcome of most situations and respond to them quickly by change stances or positions. Being a debater has always taught me to put emphasis on the strength of my own arguments, and act as a potential peacemaker. I could likewise lead team meetings and fill in uncomfortable silences, when needed, with some great stories from my travels that are entertaining. This usually makes me the binding factor when working with team that have diverse cultural backgrounds. 2. Give candid description of yourself, stressing personal characteristics you feel to be you strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (400 words approx.) I was born in India, and have travelled in Europe wherein I lived in Denmark and Sweden for eight (8) months. I took my Masters Degree in Netherlands and worked there for three (3) years. As of the present, I have my residence in the United Kingdom. I am planning on doing my Masters in Business Administration in the United States of America next year. I am multi-lingual since I could speak six (6) different languages including Chinese; hence I am able to associate with 3.5 billion people. My hobbies include climbing and rowing. I am also a toastmaster and an experienced moderator. My greatest personal trait is that I am able to understand and appreciate vast cultural differences, making me tolerant and accepting of other's company which I enjoy immensely. With the proliferation of the Internet and the global economy, the world is just a small place to live in and I think everybody should learn how to get along with each other. Being able to see the larger picture and open to all of life's possibilities helped me to better understand my father's wish of why I should become independent at the early age of 17. I remembered that it was a fine day then and I was expecting to receive a present from him since it’s my 17th birthday. However, what I got was an advised that I should start earning and become financially independent. Such situations are normal within western countries, but in India, where the society is family oriented and parents are expected to take care of their children until they get married, my case was rare. Although hurt and stunned by the turn out of events, I proceeded to work in pubs, while most of my peers danced the night away. I had a hard time fitting in my school work with my part-time work, and as far as I can remember my dad was the only dad in India who asked his son to support himself while studying. When I asked him why I am being asked to be different, my dad said that he has a better perspective of what's good and what's practical. And looking back at it now, it is the best thing that my dad has ever done for me. It was the best birthday present ever. Because if he did not do what he did then, I would not be where I am today. 3. Describe what you believe to be your most substantial accomplishments to date, explaining why you view them as such (400 words approx.) The most significant achievement I currently have is my work at Company X, where I worked with the new technology development/implementation of new technology. Within my scope of duties with this company, I learned to lead and behave with the conservative nature of my clients and project sponsors. I became well-educated in dealing and engaging business with different stakeholders, on how to bring them aboard, how to get them to agree with my terms, accept my designs and suggestions. Being in this kind of business for sometime I garnered the knowledge that being involved with the clients at the project's starting phase and in every stage thereafter is better than presenting them with my findings just at the end of the project. By building a rapport and interacting with them early on, I am able to gain their trust, share my opinions, listen to their views and find a common ground. Change is inevitable and is always a sensitive situation when dealing with a conservative kind of management. How one perceives change and how one can present it without ruffling any feathers depends greatly on how far or how good the communication and relationship is with the key players. Amiably taking in suggestions and incorporating the proper tone in your suggestions are usually motivating factors that enables others to see the advantage of the propositions being laid out. However, proper consideration must be given to the actions that will follow through if changes or proposals are accepted since this affects credibility and reliability. One needs to be careful not to promise something that is impractical to achieve and cannot be delivered. Negotiating change was a very big challenge for me. After a few stumbling blocks at the beginning of some of my negotiations, I was able to successfully steer through two novel technologies into Company X – short and medium term projects. I have also improved my negotiation skills and diplomatic abilities. The change management is also a good training ground for my leadership skills because it improved my ability to tackle changes, set innovations and untangle conflicts in most situations I encounter. And in order for me to be able to continuously improve the skills I have acquired, I had to take risks and willingly assume responsibilities for my actions and decisions. 4. Describe a situation taken from school, business, civil or military life, where you did not meet your personal objectives, and discuss briefly the effect (250 words approx.) After my graduation, I worked for Company X as a research assistant. The objective of the project was to critically observe how Company X’s technological concepts could be made more attractive. I was able to come up with quite a few innovative changes over the period of 8 months. I worked independently without consulting the key people from various departments. After all my hard work I presented my findings to key stakeholders and project sponsors who thought that my concepts were very much deviated from established technologies. However, I was of the opinion that my concepts were technically adequate and should be widely accepted and appreciated. What I did not anticipate was that the stakeholders were annoyed by my established concepts. I failed to consider other people’s views and opinions since I was more concerned with my engineering background and how I rate myself that I forgot the significance of my co-employees and clients. To make matters worst, I was not open about the suggestions and opinions of my client – so the meeting ended in not getting any approval and support for any future phase of the project at hand and I was very disappointed with the outcome. But thanks to my boss’s strong interpersonal skills, he was able to turn the client around and got the project funding back on track. This was the biggest setback for me since I underestimated the situation and felt over-confident, I was not able to get the stakeholders to invest the project with the company I was working for. Over the next few weeks after the disastrous meeting, my boss and I had some long meetings wherein he explained to me how I could have handled the situation differently. He added that had I interacted and sought the suggestions of the key players during the early stages of planning the project, I would have been able to avoid that embarrassing situation. Looking back, it was true that I did not consider the sponsors’ and key players’ essential role in the project. My boss suggested that I take negotiation skill courses to develop my bargaining skills, which I did. I also read books about management restructuring and learned how to effectively and efficiently incorporate change. 5. Discuss your career goals. What skills do you expect to gain from studying at XXXXX University and how will they contribute to your professional career (500 words approx.) I have short term and long term career goals, which I know would eventually pave the way for me to achieve a better personality and financial stability in the future. My short term career goals are: 1. to work in a strategic consulting field and develop my engagement and negotiation skills, and 2) develop and master business skills. As for my long term goals, I would like to work for special interest groups that work the forefront of international energy arena and help develop policy, and lobby for more proactive approach in leveraging collective strength of energy majors in improving human rights. I expect to gain formal business skills and executive communication skills while studying at XXXXX University, which at the same time could moderate my impatient personality and make it more multi-active. The skills that I could gain from said university will aid me on how to deal with different people and various companies. At an appropriate time, I would also like take international relations courses to improve my diplomatic and foreign policy skills. These would help me greatly in my professional career by being able to formulate strategy, making new deals, and negotiating with clients. Such skills when properly honed with experience and time will make better adaptable dealings with international governments that would likewise bridge the gap between governments and the energy industry, since this would synchronize their actions to deliver and give back something to the human world. 6. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at XXXX University. I have worked and undergone trainings in leading and working with cross-cultural teams. I am equipped with certain skills to demonstrated and efficiently deal with linear active societies – societies who respects facts, is tasks oriented and with shorter power distance; multi-active societies – societies who respect emotions, impulsive, has connections and relationships; and reactive societies – societies that respects privacy, hides feelings, patient and never confrontational. I often make it a point to get to know my clients and read about their cultures and adapt my interactions with them accordingly. Career-wise, some of my decisions may not seem to be the best interest with my stakeholders. But since the energy sector does not have plenty of clients, the ability to persuade them to choose our company to do their projects is a plus factor. I usually perform my duties and responsibilities with a modicum of ethics wherein I do not confuse my client’s position with their valued interests. Whenever I make decision making matrices, I make sure that I look at the whole thing objectively in order to better attain the primary objective. My future plans include pursuing an MBA degree, which will help me develop key skills and knowledge required to manage diverse and multi-faceted resources of companies. It would give me a better understanding of the structure and operation of business, thereby building capabilities to understand leadership goals through my career. With a technical background, an MBA will accelerated my career path in the industry I wish to enter, that would eventually help me to break through corporate growth barriers. 7. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skill will enhance the experiences of other Kellogg students. Being born in India, I am from a conservative and family oriented society. But since I was exposed at an early age to support myself financially and travel the world, I was able to see things from different views and perspective. Hence, I am able to actively communicate and establish relationships with anyone despite different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. In relation to the above statement, I had an experience that had quite a significant effect on my personality. This happened four (4) years ago during one of our team building activities. Each team was given a sheet containing different tasks and some verbal instructions. It was a very lively event and we spent hours doing tasks that were mentioned in the sheet. After some time, we reconvened back at a designated location and started competing with each other – making the longest possible paper clip chain. The teams were fooling around with each other and stealing paper clips from each other. Then we noticed one guy who was indifferent to all the activities around him and kept writing something in his notepad. We made fund of him and secretly called him names behind his back. As things go, we were proud of our tem achievements and how we have achieved out team building goals. When we finally started giving our tabs, we discovered to our horror that we totally forgot to do one activity completely. It was one of the instructions that were given orally. It slipped through everyone’s mind after the hours of fun. And the instruction was to write as many possible words from the word “wave length”. The guy whom we made fun of, wrote 62 words and of course his team won. Years thereafter, I still remember how I felt then. Before, I thought that having the same personality, likes and wants makes a team successful. But that particular experience has taught me that people’s differences in a group are what make them stronger to weather out any odds since they complement the flaws and strengths of each other. Just because a team member is different or has other view than the other members does not mean that the team is weak. This experience will stay fresh with me my entire life for it was what shaped me and made me more open to other possibilities despite cultural and personality differences. 8. Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experience. The following are my key leadership experiences: Student body president in school (1,500 students), where I organized student activities, both for inter school and intra school activities. Class representative during my university days (one year) Member of organizing committee for national level student symposium (350 attendees) Acted as UK envoy to model for the UN for one semester Member departmental committee while taking Masters degree, where I helped organized inter-university study tour (3 universities in Netherlands) to South of France, where we visited several oil and gas operating plants, wineries and perfumeries. Trainee on company board. The leadership areas I hope to develop through my MBA experience would be a change from being a lip service to a more hands-on and active leader who could create something bold and new for people who are in dire need. An MBA degree will give me more leverage in opening up corporate doors and braking through corporate growth barriers. It would also provide me with more skills and knowledge required to manage a career change management from technical to commercial roles. 9. Describe you career progress to date and your future short term and long term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from XXXX to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? Currently, my career progresses are as follows: Develop business cases to monetize highly contaminated feed reserves and difficult feed reserves Reduced project capital expenditure by 30% and contributed in reducing operational expenditure by 45%, which realized up to potential savings of 50M$ per project per annum. Involved in technology strategy formulation and continuous improvement program. Conceptualized, executed and successfully coordinated six assignments simultaneously on time.\Carried out benchmarking studies and technology mapping studies and developed one-stop shop technical manuals. Analyzed research data, technical developments and involved in Gate-keeping technical portfolio. Successfully negotiated several subcontract deals. Involved in projects worth up to 600 MS. Formulated and developed secrecy agreements, proposals and requisitions for projects. Developed project decision making matrices and moderated decision making workshops. Acted as a communication liaison between clients and technology providers. Liaised regularly with technology providers on issues affecting progress efficiency and construction feasibility. Carried out technical risk analysis and mitigation of procedure development activities. An MBA degree will undoubtedly help me deal better with the restructuring of organizations and other forms of strategies. It would further help me understand the importance of bringing in key people into a project when I want my findings and recommendations to be accepted. I believe that personnel staff and management should always work together in order to bring forth success within the company. A good leader needs a good following – meaning that staff and management should work successfully together in order to bring about success and change in the company. But if the employees do not support management decision, the success of any innovation suggested will fail even if the strategy recommended is brilliant. It is the right time for me to join your MBA program now because whatever I learn from my studies will give me a better future in terms of acquiring more skills that would help me in my present career goals and in my future professional plans. Read More