Value Proposition/Focus statement
CAR: Challenge, Action, Result
(Action: strategy, tactics. Result: end impact)
Skills: CLARIT
Communication
Leadership
Analysis
Research
Initiative
Teamwork
Strengths
Aptitude: Academic record, performance, quality of work
Motivated, self-starter, not afraid to ask questions – initiative, entrepreneurial
Communication: outgoing personality, social
Ability to handle stress, fast-paced environments, deadlines
Weaknesses
Delegation/control/micromanage. What I have learned works for me in group situations is to
come together before the deadline to review the project as a team, edit, quality control. Build
trust with peers. BUT detail-oriented….
Work experience – DOJ example
Public speaking
What are you looking for in a company?
Culture, fit, work/life balance, accessible leadership, development opportunities
Why did you quit your last job?
I felt that I had learned all that I could, and I was at a point where moving to the next level required a
commitment of two years. It was a transition point on the Neiman Marcus career path, and I felt it was
an appropriate time to leave and start applying to schools.
→Transition to initiative example.
I asked if I could interview directly for the senior merchandise planner position and I was
discouraged from pursuing this. Although a few months after I left this became the common option.
Examples of leadership
Ran the office when Erica was promoted. Reported directly to DMM (Vice President)
Asked to be the lead on Cusp
Asked to be TA for accounting and statistics
Give me an example of a time when you had more to do than could be accomplished in the time allotted.
How did you handle the situation?
After Valerie was promoted, we were short an assistant buyer for 3 months. I did the work of two
people. It was a matter of using my time extremely efficiently, often staying late, and being very
organized. However, sometimes it simply could not all get done. I had weekly “touch-bases” with my
boss to set our schedule and priorities, and sometimes I had to ask for help and delegate up.
Give me an example of a time when a creative/innovative idea that you produced led to a significant
contribution to the success of an activity or project.
Tell me about a time when your analytical skills were the key success factor in a project.
Forecasting Rules of Thumb
Tell me about a time when you had to lead a group through a challenging project.
Cusp. Lack of motivation among the team. My leadership position entailed coordinating the store’s
grand opening buy.
Give me an example of a time when you failed.
2nd Conclave – model with tattoo on her foot. Embarrassing. What I learned – continuous improvement,
cannot rely on past success of a project.
Team challenge
My first semester of business school, we had a group project in our corporate finance class. The two
international students on our team asked to take the lead on this project, yet when we looked over the
final product, it was unfinished. I take partial responsibility for this since we did not set up a time as a
group to edit the paper, and so another teammate and I were left working to finish the night before it
was due. What I learned was that in group settings, we are all accountable for each other’s work and
must manage our time effectively in order to allow for enough time to review the work.
A time when you had to change someone’s mind, convince someone.
DOJ Taco Bell
Tory Burch
Hard situation
Rotating in Beverly Hills store
Worked with a difficult person
Valerie
Tell me about a time when you used quantitative information to make a decision.
Taco Bell summer project
-menu sales mix
-low margin items (high COS%)
Blu 2 You pricing.
-market research, see what Blockbuster was charging
-build a model including fixed and variable costs.
-research controlling the variable costs while still providing a quality product. (Packaging, label,
return envelope, delivery bag)
Example of a cross-functional team leadership experience
Taco Bell
PV Team: offered financial perspective
Marketing, Operations FIT (food innovation team), IT
