The top business schools abroad recruit future business leaders who have it in them to reshape their companies and entire industries in which they operate. Such leaders draw upon their experiences across different spheres of involvement. By being involved in activities outside of work they are able to build skills and attitudes that they may have found difficult to develop at office.
There is another aspect that involvement in activities outside of work projects -- that you want to make a difference and contribute in everything that you are involved. It is believed that this is a habit among super achievers.
Community work is seen as an effective way to show that you have made a difference and like to be involved in activities outside of work too. In the U.S. after completing their bachelors, it is an established route for business school aspirants to take up voluntary work along with their regular job for 3-4 years before applying to business school.
Here in India, opportunities for voluntary work are hard to come by and it is also very likely that you were not aware of the need to be involved till a few months back when you decided to apply.
But there is a way around this situation. There are alternate approaches that can create the same impact as community work.
You basically have to show that:
- you have contributed in a meaningful way outside of work too.
- your contribution has helped you build skills and attitudes that benefit you at work.
How can you show this?
Think of a time when you helped someone -- a friend, colleague at work or member of your family -- purely on your own initiative. You may have chosen not to be involved, but you did, because it was important.
The passion with which you have pursued a hobby. Something that you have found time for despite your busy work schedule. The depth to which you have pursued the involvement can say a lot about you.
Such experiences may have helped build new skills and attitudes or simply allowed you to unwind after a hectic time at office. This out of work activity may be one of the main reasons behind those creative work solutions that have helped you become one of the top performers in your company.
So think up all those things you do on your own personal initiative out side of work and show how they have helped you become the person you are. If you can identify such experiences and write about them in a captivating manner you would have more than covered up for lack of community work.