2010年05月30日
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to give a presentation on MBA Application Strategy at Affinity, Noguchi-sensei’s excellent GMAT and TOEFL school in Kanda. In the talk, I gave tips on such things as what the business schools are looking for in candidates, how candidates can make themselves stronger candidates, what rounds to apply in, and how they can decide what schools are the best fits for them. Other areas I covered included the keys to high impact essays, the importance of thorough preparation for interviews and cost-effective ways to improve English skills outside the classroom. After the presentation, Noguchi-sensei kindly invited me to stay for the celebration party of his successful students, some of whom were my clients too. It was a great event.
One of the key points I made in my talk was the importance of doing thorough research of the schools you are applying to. In essence, you should become an expert of the programs in your “portfolio” of schools. This entails thoroughly reading the website and brochure as well as contacting students and/or alumni. Think of it as due diligence, and it is important for several reasons. First of all, if you don’t know a school well, it is very difficult to write compelling essays. It is not good enough to provide general reasons for why you are applying to a specific school. You must be thorough and specific, and the only way to do that is by really getting to know a school. This “homework” will also prepare you for the interviews, which is absolutely vital to the admission process. And a side benefit of thoroughly researching schools is that it will improve your reading comprehension as well.
Another thing I emphasized is the importance of beginning the essay and application preparation as soon as possible, even if you are still studying GMAT and TOEFL. Every year, my clients are amazed at how much work goes into writing essays, securing recommendation letters, getting transcripts, filling out online applications, etc. It takes a really long time. By starting early, you can improve both the quality and quantity of applications. Plus, you can avoid the rush and panic that comes from waiting until the last minute.
2010年05月16日
When I worked at Ernst & Young in the US in the late 1990′s, EY placed great emphasis on its employees having work-life balance. Of course, we all worked hard, including many long nights. However, management drilled home the importance of carving out time for friends and family. Excessive overtime was discouraged, time off was given between projects, and vacations had to be taken every year. It was an intense, fast paced environment, but I never felt like I was a slave to my job. Certainly, there were times when I had to work very late, but I had dinner at home with my family most nights and I rarely worked weekends. As one of my mentors told me, “It is better to work to live than to live to work.”
Since then, many leading international firms have gone a step further, by encouraging employees to perform volunteer activities, both during working hours and on their own time. For example, McKinsey often sends its consultants to support NPOs like Doctors without Borders. Mazda is also impressively expanding its volunteer activities (http://www.mazda.com/csr/social/domestic/local.html).
Of course, at most Japanese companies it is very difficult for employees to find time for meaningful social activities, whether for leisure or altruistic purposes. Loyalty and dedication to work is not limited to 9am-6pm Mon-Fri. Working late is an every day occurrence/requirement for many of my past and present clients. However, if you are serious about getting into a top US MBA program, it is imperative that you find time for extracurricular activities. The top schools are looking for well-rounded students who are not “married” to their jobs. That is why I strongly urge my clients to get involved in some kind of activities outside of work.
Examples of what some of my past clients have done include things like organizing litter clean-up campaigns at the beach, reading stories at a children’s hospital, playing games with lonely residents at retirement homes, and providing pro bono legal and accounting services to NPOs. I have also had clients dedicate their vacations to do volunteer work (building schools, drilling wells, teaching computer skills, etc.) in developing countries. There are so many ways that you can do. And the best part is, in addition to helping your chances of gaining admission to business school, you will also be making important contributions to society.
So, even if it is 2 hours a month, you need to get involved in some outside activity. Hopefully, in the future, when you return from business school to lead your company, you can change the business culture by promoting work-life balance and social responsibility. But in the mean time, you just have to do the best that you can on your own. Fortunately, there are many organizations in Japan that welcome volunteers. All it takes is a simple Google search: Volunteer opportunities in Japan.
In the U.S., telling someone to “get a life!” is considered quite derogatory, as it implies complacency or a lack of effort. However, the vast majority of Japanese professionals I have known and worked with are very driven and dedicated. So, if I were to tell someone in Japan to “get a life” it would have entirely different meaning. It would be a suggestion to find time for both fun and meaningful activities (and often the two can go together) outside of the daily grind of work. Trust me, you will feel better for doing so.
