INSEAD ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Admissions Criteria We are looking for intellectual curiosity, coupled with a desire to learn and stretch yourself in a rigorous academic programme, as well as personal qualities to contribute to the many activities of the School. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, colour or financial status. Our aim is to build an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body. Academic Capacity Leadership Potential and Professional Experience International Outlook Ability to Contribute to the INSEAD Experience
Application Checklist: Job Description Essays Letters of Recommendation
RESUME
JOB ESSAYS Job Essay 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)
My job with The Company is to develop new steel products: from business case to a successful trial lot. There are three aspects of my job that I thrive on. First, the high degree of uncertainty makes it a challenge. For example, in order to start producing high-strength construction steel I had to plunge into market forecasts, equipment analysis and cost modeling in order to propose relevant changes to our manufacturing process. Uncertainty at each phase improves my general vision and result-oriented planning skills. Second, I manage two direct reports and functionally coordinate technical experts at 5 production sites. We have the qualifications to transfer market opportunities into operations and thus realize our company’s potential. I take delight in managing a team that makes such a difference. Finally, different cases require unique approaches from me. For instance, in our rod mill upgrade I convinced a technically advanced customer that helping us would be a win-win solution. The customer gave us a relevant advice, which we used to improve our mill performance; in return we provided improved product quality. Each opportunity teaches me to find creative ways of doing business. The initiatives I launched in 2009 generated $1 million of profits; the equipment upgrade program, which we designed and defended, is expected to provide $4 million in 2011 and $10 million annually thereafter. Aside from the figures, my job has been a series of startups within The Company, each stretching my leadership skills and raising my confidence in going from analysis to implementation.
Job Essay 2. Please give us a full description of your career since graduating from university. If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words)
Since graduation from CEU in Hungary I have worked with a consulting boutique established by McKinsey alumni in Russia and then with The Company Holding, the largest industrial group in Ukraine. Management consulting was my first career choice since I sought to apply my analytical acumen to business situations. During the 15 months in consulting I was thrilled to try myself in research, business valuation and strategy development. In 2007 I consulted The Company in establishing the sales function. My contribution was to introduce the contracting business process and map out corresponding documentary flows, internally and externally. The new The Company sales director considered my involvement useful and invited me to stay and launch a number of other business procedures. At the time I was precisely looking for more ‘field’ work, so I accepted the job offer. Throughout the next 12 months at The Company, besides my involvement in business processes design, I took an opportunity to lead a niche product development that required cooperation of two steel plants. This experience led me to propose divisional executives establish a systematic framework for new products development; and my insight and innovative approach allowed me to take the charge of it. In August 2010 the executives suggested that with my experience I lead the implementation of technical strategy within the ‘long’ products group, which accounts for $2.5 billion revenue. At the moment we are discussing specific goals and conditions; so far I plan to take the new position at the end of 2010.
ESSAYS Essay 1. Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (400 words)
I view each experience as a chance to validate my principles and develop personally and professionally. So far I found my values in commitment, appreciation of dialogue, and persistence. Their importance to me would be best described by an example. In order to design and put into effect a customer base management system for plate products at The_Company I had to use all of me to achieve the result. When I arrived at the steel plant, I faced the workers’ reluctance to cooperate with a white collar worker. To gain their attention I introduced myself as a technical trainee. I asked them to lead me thru the machinery at their own pace; to keep up I had to spend all of my free time in research on plate rolling. I established the contact and with my commitment convinced the workers to share their invaluable insights on how to make the CBM workable. The second phase of the project was equally challenging and fulfilling. I led the redesign of our key efficiency parameter for steel plates to portray the whole production process from a new profitable angle. Central to this achievement was my ability to integrate ideas from production experts into a dialogue with finance and operations planning managers and motivate their creative thinking. Each participant’s point in the discussion was the next trophy leading to the ultimate victory. My final trial, however, was totally unexpected and meant to test my perseverance. After months of work I was impatient to implement the new CBM model and was shocked when the COO rejected my proposal – a deep blow to my morale. I had assumed that my aggressive manner in trying to push the project was appropriate; I was forced to sit back to reflect and grow. I prepared a 20-page report called “Why the new CBM should work” and had a subsequent 4-hour conversation with the COO. After a phased implementation, the new Customer Base Management process allowed The_Company to boost EBIT by an additional $4m in NovemberDecember 2008. This experience proved to me that individual bridges and commitment to my colleagues are essential for collective success. I noted that persistence is sometimes necessary to overcome unexpected barriers or situations. Most importantly, however, I became more aware of my need to manage my temperament to communicate effectively in unfamiliar environments. I plan to reinforce this side of my soft skills at INSEAD.
Essay 2. Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date, explaining why you view them as such. (400 words) Academic Grant An academic grant from the U.S. Department of State – to spend an undergraduate year in America – was a critical accomplishment; it required me to recognize my weakness and work on it hard to happen. English fluency was one of the application requirements. In fact most applicants have lived or studied abroad. Then my English was weak but I decided to improve whatever it took. I spent the summer break over grammar textbooks and audiotapes borrowed from the local library. Additionally, I joined a camp started by American volunteers for those unable to afford opportunities elsewhere. For 3 weeks I took classes in the mornings and cleaned the campus in the afternoons; that was the cost for study rooms and dormitory. In October I went through a number of admissions stages, including TOEFL and an interview in English and earned one of 5 grants among 400 applicants across Northwestern Russia. The mind-opening experience in the U.S.A. bleached the geographical boarders which had previously limited my choices. Thus I pursued a graduate degree in Hungary, relocated from Russia to Ukraine to grasp more of the business perspective with a global company and earned the trust of management to lead a number of international business partnerships on behalf of The_Company. My cross-cultural awareness makes the grant a historic accomplishment of my life. Deadline In 2007 I was one of five consultants driving the sales restructuring project for The_Company. We were approaching a scheduled supervisory meeting that required a comprehensive presentation, so we all expected fewer sleep hours. Suddenly, my 2 teammates, including the engagement manager, left the company. The stress and pressure would build, so I decided to take the charge of the document as a junior EM. My 2 teammates worked 120 hours each and I did 145 hours in 7 days to produce a 250-page document; I hope to never break the record. The board meeting passed well, just as my 2-day sleep afterwards. The challenge is dear to me as it tested the boundaries of my stamina. It tells me I could give 100% of myself and the extra bit to achieve the goal I set. Since then I have tried to be an extremely careful planner and risk manager. This attitude has been key to my career success ever since, that is why I consider meeting a deadline such an important milestone.