Penn State Smeal MBA Program
Accomplishments-- your key differentiators in a
competitive marketplace
MBA OrientationThursday August 16, 2012
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Learning Objectives• Discuss the importance of accomplishments• Uncover additional accomplishments• Strengthen current accomplishments• Deconstruct an accomplishment
Penn State Smeal MBA Program
Why so important to employers?
Past performance is the best predictor of future performance
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Why so important to you?
Past success is the best predictor of future success
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Accomplishments• Your success stories• Your “moments of glory”• Contributions, deliverables• Projects, assignments• Activities where you changed or improved
a condition
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Accomplishments• Things you did well• Things you enjoyed doing• Things you are proud of the results
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Appeal to Employer’s Motivators
Buying MotivatorsMoney
Time
Problems
Customers
Workflow/process
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Accomplishment TouchstonesIn your past, when you worked with DATA, have you:
In your past, when you worked with PEOPLE, have you:
In your past, when you worked with THINGS, have you:
AnalyzedAssembledBudgetedCalculatedCompiledEvaluatedForecastedIntegrated
OrganizedPresentedProcessedPublishedReconciledResearchedSynthesized
AdvisedAssistedCoachedCollaboratedConsultedCounseledDelegatedDirected
InstructedManagedMentoredMotivatedPersuadedRecruitedScheduled
AssembledCentralizedConceivedConstructedCoordinatedDesignedImprovedInvented
ModernizedOperatedOrganizedPioneeredRepairedRedesignedStreamlinedUpgraded
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Mining for accomplishments• Performance reviews• Commendations from managers• Recognition from team members• Projects, committees, task forces• Milestones you reached• Awards, honors, prizes
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Some Additional Ideas
Reduced operating expenses
Developed new
business
Solved problems
Decreased turnover
Reduced inventory
Improved morale
Identified new
markets
Improved efficiency
Increased sales
Increased profits
Repaired client
relationsInitiated quality
controls
Improved reporting
Reduced overdue accounts
Eliminated work
backlog
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Exercise• From these ideas, take a look
at your resume• How many new
accomplishments can you develop from experience, education or activities?
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STAR ModelSituation/Task• What was the problem or performance objective?
Action• Describe your method, approach or intervention
Result• Describe the outcome, impact• Quantify results in numeric terms: #, $, %, time
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Action + Result
ActionIdentified and contracted with an outside vendor to manage customer letter fulfillment
Resultthat achieved a cost savings of 33%.
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Action + Result
ActionDeveloped and implemented a comprehensive pricing initiative
Resultwhich generated savings in excess of $6 million and improved operational efficiencies by reducing the carrier base by over 50%.
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Without Action + Resultwhat do you get?
SO WHAT!
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What Accomplishments Are Not• Job duties• Roles• Responsibilities• Tasks• Just what you did, but what you did
well
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Tasks vs. accomplishmentsDuties and responsibilities Accomplishments
Responsible for sales in the Midwest region
Transformed an underachieving region into a top producer; generating $15 million in new revenue.
Managed a budget Negotiated a revised contract with a local vendor, reducing costs by 10% or $20,000.
Managed inventory levels Implemented an inventory reduction initiative that liquidated obsolete parts and generated $50,000 in revenue.
Led various projects Led a process improvement team to streamline workflow, reallocate shop floor space and save five production hours daily.
Coordinate daily deliveries Reduced delivery cycle time 25% by instituting a Six Sigma initiative.
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Exercise• Exchange resumes with a
partner-- Convert two job duties into accomplishments
• Does an action need a result?– Can it be quantified? $, %, #
• Does a result need an action?• How was the outcome achieved?
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Deconstruct Your Accomplishments Transferable
Skills
• Communication• Leadership• Team building• Mentoring• Critical thinking
Subject Expertise
• Financial analysis
• Internal auditing• Sarbanes-Oxley• Risk assessment• GAAP
Personal Qualities
• High energy• Visionary• Tactful• Self-motivated• Results-driven
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Exercise• While in pairs, select one
of your partner’s accomplishments
• Identify skills, subject expertise and personal qualities
• Provide feedback to your partner
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Career Changers’“Keys to the
Castle”Transferable Skills
Translatable Accomplishments
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Session Debrief• What have you learned today?• How will you use this knowledge?• Any “aha” moments?• Did this spark additional accomplishments?• Did this bring to the surface skills you have
taken for granted?
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Final thoughts?
What questions have we raised?