Post-Graduate Education
Lockheed Martin has a program called ELDP (Engineering Leadership Development Program) that is for new hires (~ 3 years experience) interested in getting a master's degree in Systems Engineering. This program is run through Cornell University (45 minutes North-by-Northwest) so I would be getting an Ivy League education. Also, the program is (supposedly) the fast-track to promotions in the company. This would help with my long-term goal of retiring as a millionaire at the age of 50. Below, in 3 cuts, are the three short-essay application questions. I figured I'd post them up here to see if anyone had any constructive (or destructive) criticism on them. I'll be submitting the application tomorrow afternoon so don't dawdle. (I like using that word)
1) Briefly describe the reasons you with to participate in ELDP. Describe what benefits you believe can be achieved through this program.
There are two primary reasons why I want to participate in ELDP. First, in the field of engineering, post-graduate education is vital to my career. While the skills and knowledge I learned as an undergraduate and on the job are invaluable, the world of computer science is cutting edge and I need to stay on top of the game. Second, ELDP provides a fantastic program for me to further my career as a Lockheed Martin employee from a non-technical standpoint. Through conferences and on-site training, along with rotational assignments and the people I meet I will be able to gain recognition at LMSI-Owego and network within the company to gain the position I want within the company.
The benefits that can be achieved through the program are educational and career-oriented. The obvious benefit of a Master’s degree is the wealth of knowledge gained from Cornell University. The benefits of networking and gaining recognition within and outside of Owego will help me expand my career to higher levels and apply my knowledge to programs here.
2) From your past academic and professional experiences, what traits do you most admire in a leader?
The traits that I admire most in a leader, based on my past experiences, are the ability to inspire confidence and the ability to manage complex situations. Many leaders, whether in an academic environment or a professional one, are faced with situations where their team is losing faith in their own ability to complete the required tasks. A strong leader has the ability to bring their team back from the brink of failure by showing them that they can rise up to the challenge and succeed. Another common challenge faced by team, project, or any other leader is the daunting task of managing a complex situation, whether it is scheduling, delegating work loads, planning major reviews, or something else. An admirable leader displays the ability to handle these problems in an organized, collected, stress-free manner which will better facilitate his team’s success. There are other traits that good leaders possess, but it has been my experience that these are amongst the most important and to me, the most admirable.
A lot of people may admire hard work and dedication from their leaders, but those traits are found in everyone. I admire these traits in a leader because it is what makes them stand out above the rest of the crowd.
3) How would your lab partners (from college) or your co-workers (at Lockheed Martin) describe you? What would they say are your strengths and areas for improvement?
My lab partners and co-workers would describe me as hard-working, determined, calm, and intelligent. They know I am hard-working because they see the effort and time I put into everything I do. They would describe me as determined because I have never backed down from an academic challenge without a fight. They’ll call me calm and collected because I do not let stress affect my work and I do not get frustrated when a project I’m working on is failing. Finally, they’ll call me intelligent because they have seen my thought processes and have seen the innovative ways I approach many problems.
My strengths, they would say, are my teamwork skills and my ability to see things a little differently than everyone else. They’ll also add that my determination is one of my strengths. However, they will also tell you that it is an area for improvement because sometimes I get carried away at the expense of other work. They would say that I need to manage my time better because I focus too much on some things and too little on others. Finally, they would say that my area that needs the most improvement would be my ability to see things from someone else’s point of view or in a more simplistic way.
1) Briefly describe the reasons you with to participate in ELDP. Describe what benefits you believe can be achieved through this program.
There are two primary reasons why I want to participate in ELDP. First, in the field of engineering, post-graduate education is vital to my career. While the skills and knowledge I learned as an undergraduate and on the job are invaluable, the world of computer science is cutting edge and I need to stay on top of the game. Second, ELDP provides a fantastic program for me to further my career as a Lockheed Martin employee from a non-technical standpoint. Through conferences and on-site training, along with rotational assignments and the people I meet I will be able to gain recognition at LMSI-Owego and network within the company to gain the position I want within the company.
The benefits that can be achieved through the program are educational and career-oriented. The obvious benefit of a Master’s degree is the wealth of knowledge gained from Cornell University. The benefits of networking and gaining recognition within and outside of Owego will help me expand my career to higher levels and apply my knowledge to programs here.
2) From your past academic and professional experiences, what traits do you most admire in a leader?
The traits that I admire most in a leader, based on my past experiences, are the ability to inspire confidence and the ability to manage complex situations. Many leaders, whether in an academic environment or a professional one, are faced with situations where their team is losing faith in their own ability to complete the required tasks. A strong leader has the ability to bring their team back from the brink of failure by showing them that they can rise up to the challenge and succeed. Another common challenge faced by team, project, or any other leader is the daunting task of managing a complex situation, whether it is scheduling, delegating work loads, planning major reviews, or something else. An admirable leader displays the ability to handle these problems in an organized, collected, stress-free manner which will better facilitate his team’s success. There are other traits that good leaders possess, but it has been my experience that these are amongst the most important and to me, the most admirable.
A lot of people may admire hard work and dedication from their leaders, but those traits are found in everyone. I admire these traits in a leader because it is what makes them stand out above the rest of the crowd.
3) How would your lab partners (from college) or your co-workers (at Lockheed Martin) describe you? What would they say are your strengths and areas for improvement?
My lab partners and co-workers would describe me as hard-working, determined, calm, and intelligent. They know I am hard-working because they see the effort and time I put into everything I do. They would describe me as determined because I have never backed down from an academic challenge without a fight. They’ll call me calm and collected because I do not let stress affect my work and I do not get frustrated when a project I’m working on is failing. Finally, they’ll call me intelligent because they have seen my thought processes and have seen the innovative ways I approach many problems.
My strengths, they would say, are my teamwork skills and my ability to see things a little differently than everyone else. They’ll also add that my determination is one of my strengths. However, they will also tell you that it is an area for improvement because sometimes I get carried away at the expense of other work. They would say that I need to manage my time better because I focus too much on some things and too little on others. Finally, they would say that my area that needs the most improvement would be my ability to see things from someone else’s point of view or in a more simplistic way.