Profile Building

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Profile Building

by anup.shesh » Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:21 am
Hi,

This is Anup Sheshadri. I would like to discuss my profile in brief, and would like to know the your comments to improve it for competing US ivy league universities.

Age - 24yrs

Planned Admission (MBA) - 2013 (i.e. i will be 26yrs)


Current & Past Job :-
 Assistant Manager (NMDC Ltd.) - 1st Aug'10 to present
I am recently promoted to the post of Assistant Manager from Executive Trainee on 1st Aug'10 in NMDC Ltd. a PSU Navratna company. (PSU -- Public Sector Undertaking)
Location - Donimalai Iron Ore Mines (DIOM), Karnataka
Profile -
To assist the mine shift in-charge for various mining operations like
a) Allocation of manpower and equipment as per production targets
b) Planning equipment positioning and utilization
c) Planning and locating the drill block by coordinating with Drill and Survey section
d) Coordination with Blasting section
e) Maintaining stripping ratio and grade of ore by blending as per requirement and in consultation with Geologist
f) Coordination with mechanical and electrical services


 Executive Trainee (NMDC Ltd.) - Aug'09 to July'10 (1 year)

1. Phase 1:
Location - Diamond Mining Project, Panna (MP)
Duraction - Aug'09 to Jan'10 (6 months)
Type of Mine - Opencast mine
Profile -
a) Rotation in all sections/departments to gain technical and procedural knowledge of diamond production
b) On-Job-Training (OJT) - Assisting the responsibilities of mining shift-incharge
2. Phase 2:
Location - Kirandul Iron Ore Complex, Bailadeela (Chhattisgarh)
Duration - March'10 to July'10 (5 months)
Type of Mine - Opencast mine
Profile -
a) Gaining knowledge of core mining operations and groomed to take responsibilities
b) OJT - Coordinating the mining activities and crushing plant
c) Project Work - Cost Analysis of Drilling and Blasting Operations

3. Executive Development Programme (EDP) and Management Development Programme (MDP):
Location - Training programme was conducted in well reputed institute - Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.


Duration - EDP was conducted in February'10 (1 month) and MDP was conducted in July'10 (7 days).
Key Learnings -
a) General understanding of Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Critical Chain Management, TPM, TQM, Emotional Intelligence, Effective Interpersonal Relations, Business Plan, etc.
b) Improvement in presentation and interaction skills

4. EDP Project:
As part of this training programme, I had framed a project titled - Tourism Development as CSR activity of NMDC Ltd. in Diamond Mining Project, Panna.
Main theme of project -
i) Generating local employment,
ii) Uplifting Standard of Living, and
iii) Value addition in brand of Panna Diamond Mine


Academics :-
 I have enrolled for distant PG Diploma in Sustainable Rural Development (2010-'11), with National Institute of Rural Development (Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India).

 Qualified one of the toughest entrance examinations, IIT-JEE and also AIEEE in 2005.

 B-Tech Mining Engineering, IT-BHU, Varanasi (2009) - DGPA 7.50, First Class with Honors


Leadership Experience :-

 Camp Leader (National Himalayan Trekking Expedition - Youth Hostel Association of India)
Location - Sar Pass, Parvati valley (Dist. Kullu)
Duration - 23 days
Profile -
 At Kasol base-camp (6500ft.) & Zirmi Campsite (11000ft.)
i) Maintaining discipline as per YHAI rules
ii) Coordinating camp activities
iii) Facilitating participants and cook staff
iv) Coordinating with base-camp and immediate campsites
Key Learnings -
a) Authoritative decision making
b) Culture of local villagers
c) Trekking as means of National Integrity

 General Secretary (Cultural wing, IT-BHU)
Location - IT-BHU, Varanasi
Duration - 1 year (2008-'09session)
Profile -
a) Leading the cultural clubs of IT-Gymkhana (dance, Indian music, western music, fine-arts, literature, theatre and photography clubs)
b) Planning, Scheduling and Coordinating all the cultural activities of IT-BHU
Key Learnings -
a) Maintaining relations with university bureaucrats
b) Criticality of image building

 Convener (Overall Coordinator)- Kashiyatra'09 (Annual Cultural Festival, ITBHU)
Location - IT-BHU, Varanasi
Duration - 1 year (2008-'09 session)
Profile -
a) Leading core teams of cultural festival (cultural, publicity, hospitality, event-management, crisis management, security, and marketing teams)
b) Planning, Scheduling and Coordinating all the events in Kashiyatra'09
Key Learnings -
a) right-skill, right-person, right-responsibility
b) Maintaining the motivation of team members in spite of many obstacles
c) Understanding importance of training and grooming of subordinates for higher responsibilities


 Joint Secretary (Fine-Arts club) - IT-Gymkhana (IT-BHU)
Location - IT-BHU, Varanasi
Duration - 1 year (2007-'08 session)
Profile -
a) Coordinating with the Secretaries (fine-arts club), and team volunteers
b) Organizing fine-arts events
Key Learnings -
a) Preliminary taste of peer-pressure
b) Motivating team involvement
c) Importance of open-mindedness

 Event Coordinator and Panel Member - Fine-Arts events, IT-BHU
Key Learnings -
a) Team building
b) Networking abilities
c) Scheduling and coordination of various activities


Extra-curricular activities :-
 Writing Articles - 'Ideas & Lessons from Experience' - https://leaderexperience.blocked/
 Adventurous activities like Trekking, Mountaineering, & Nature/Wildlife camping. (Have completed basic course in Rock Climbing with A+ grade during IX std)
 Photography - 'The Best of My Photography' - https://sheshphotography.blocked/ (have won 1st & 2nd prizes in National Himalayan Trekking Expedition Photography Competition)
 Internet blogging - following are few of my current blogs
'The Best of Photography' - https://sheshphotography.blocked/
'Ideas & Lessons from Experience' - https://leaderexperience.blocked/
'Memories of Life' - https://sheshmemories.blocked/
'Be a Corporate Leader' - https://corporatedossier.blocked/
'My Personal Diary' - https://sheshpersonaldiary.blocked/
 Drawing, Sketching & Painting - have won many prizes during student life.
 Listening to all kinds of Music and Songs.
 Playing indoor games like Table Tennis, and Chess.


Personal Skills :-
 Creative and Analytical mind to reach the root cause & effects
 Excellent in interpersonal relations
 'Never-say-die' attitude for whatever responsibilities I take
 Open minded to accept different ideas
 Adaptable in almost all diversities of India and every new environment
 Strive for personal as well as organizational growth and development


Future Plans :-
1. Write a book to motivate Indian youth based my short experience by travelling around in India
2. After MBA, I am planning to setup my own company/organization which will promote rural development in India through Tourism development like nature camping/ trekking/ etc. (supporting experience - - being a camp leader for YHAI, regular trekker/traveler and PG Diploma course in Sustainable Rural Development)


Probable Set-back :-
1. I am working in Public Sector Undertaking. So frankly speaking - I don't have any International exposure, except through media.

2. NMDC Ltd. being a well established PSU, has very rigid work culture. So till date, its very difficult for me to bring in positive change.
Source: — Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant |

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by Tani » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:27 pm
Hi Anup,

You have a very broad and impressive background. Part of your challenge will be to focus it on your application. You don't want to look too scattered. Your government background should be a help, as should your experience with mining, a secotr that does not send a lot of people to US business schools.

In your career, you should concentrate on opportunities to actually manage other individuals where possible. Admissions committees will want to see that you are a manager, not a sole contributor.

Obviously, you will want to work hard on setting a strong GMAT score.. Estimate how long it will take to hit your target score and then double that time. The same goes for your applications. The strongest applicants I know start in the early summer to hit first or second round deadlines.

You show a ton of extracurriculars. Think about focusing on one or two in which you can show a leadership position. They will be less interested in a long list than in activities that show your ability to get things done through people.

The top business schools are always difficult to get into. They select one out of every 6-10 from outstanding applicant pools. You need to work on a balanced application with your best effort in each area. You have a great start. Keeping up your hard work and focusing on the prize will serve you well.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff

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by anup.shesh » Wed Feb 23, 2011 12:30 am
Thank you Madam.

I am very pleased to receive your guidelines :). I will positively consider your suggestions (I'll try to look not too scattered and will focus on few of my extracurriculars). I am planning to take up GMAT course after few months. As of now, I am quite confident to achieve target GMAT score (700+). But what worries me more is my profile. How shall I make a probable difference? Where I shall concentrate more for same? Based on your experience, what do you expect from applicant like me? What are your pre-MBA and post-MBA expectations?



At present, I am working with India's largest Iron ore Miner - National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (NMDC Ltd). This organisation gives me a great experience as far as mining is concerned and it also provides me with ample opportunity to spend time for my future goals.

Being in mining, I live in remote area (rural India). So working with NMDC Ltd. gives me opportunity to interact with rural people and understand their livelihoods attached with our company or otherwise. As my future goal is to establish my own "Rural Tourism" company, this provides me a fairly good platform. Apart from this, I will also qualify PG Diploma in Sustainable Rural Development by May'11 which provides me theoretical knowledge of rural India.

And I am also a regular trekker/traveler and have been a camp leader (volunteer) once with Youth Hostel Association. This has added perspective to enhance rural livelihoods through adventurous programs.

Combining all these, I hope to find "Rural Tourism" as a sustainable solution to preserve rural Indian culture in rural India itself. I anticipate this to indirectly help in nation building.

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by Tani » Thu Feb 24, 2011 11:47 am
Your strength will be that you come form an industry that does not send many people to MBA programs. The combination of Mining and rural interests will differentiate you from the urban techies who apply. Be sure to relate those experiences and insights to your ability to contribute in the classroom.

Your clear and distinctive career goal will help, especially since it is based on your experiences and is not just the hope of jumping to a glamorous but unfamiliar field. I would spend time building an understanding of tourism. You might want to check out the growing movement toward eco-tourism or possible niches such as photographic tours. Those would fit with your emphasis on rural tourism. The more informed you are about your industry, the more convincing you can be about your career goals and why (and how) you believe you can make a difference. You might check online to see some of the resources schools are devoting to studying eco-tourism and sustainability. That could help point you to schools at which there are faculty who share your experiences. If your vacation time allows, you might look into a couple of the eco-tourism advisors that are starting up these days. Seeing what they do and how they promote could give you ideas for how to get your own projects moving. Showing a real and active interest in your targeted career will show that chools that you are serious.

Good luck,
Tani Wolff