Scholarship / People w good networking skills are able to approach the right person for their benefit [Chevening] [7]

My essay for networking question. Any feedback is appreciated.

Thank you!

Chevening is looking for individuals with strong networking skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence ...

Relationships are established between people who have common interests, passions or goals. People with good networking skills are able to approach the right person for their benefit, but people with great networking skills seek for mutual benefit with their contacts. Ultimately, people with excellent networking skills can introduce two or more people from their networks who can benefit from each other.

During my final year of university, I was looking for an internship opportunity. Some of my friends were also looking and so we shared information among our group. I finally got an internship at (name of organization), Japan thanks to one friend of mine sharing the vacancy. On one dinner occasion during the internship, the HR Manager was present. I took this chance to ask whether there was a job opening for me either in Japan or its subsidiary in Indonesia. He told me there were currently no vacancy in Japan office but he would talk with the Indonesian branch the possibility to hire me. Upon returning to Indonesia, I sent an email to the Indonesian branch (name of organization). Soon I got an interview invitation and was hired. I shared this information to my friend and he was also invited for an interview and was eventually hired.

Earlier this year, my ex-work colleague was looking for heavy equipments for his new project, I remembered one of my friends from university is in this industry so I asked him if he had any available for this project. There is a demand from my professional network, a supply from my social network and I were able to connect them.

Becoming a Chevening scholar will give me the opportunity to be part of its ever expanding community. I will surely meet people with same professional background as I am, i.e. the oil and gas industry. I hope to establish relations with Chevening alumni and scholars who are industry experts and gain new knowledge and insights or information of new technologies that I can implement back in my home country. I also would like to create lasting relationships with alumni and scholars who are industry practitioners from developing countries so we can share, discuss and formulate solutions for difficulties that we face at our countries.

Scholarship / My work experience showing leadership / influencing skills [Chevening] [3]

I am applying for Chevening this year and is preparing the essays. Here is the first one. Any comments or suggestions is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Chevening is looking for individuals that will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer (minimum word count: 50 words, maximum word count: 500 words).

I have been working for PT. JFE Engineering Indonesia, an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company, since I graduated from university in 2013. Working as the main contractor in a project, it is my daily jobs to manage and coordinate with various sub-contractors and workers either from office desk or directly at site. I have the opportunities to become the person in charge for various jobs throughout the project. For example, I was to lead the work of cathodic protection system for a gas pipeline project starting from the design, materials purchase, installation and finally testing. Throughout each of these stages, I was working with people older than me. It was hard because they all have much more experience than I do. Communication became the key here. During technical meetings and negotiations, I learned to convey my opinions and critics in a respectful manner. I also prepared data and facts to support my arguments whenever necessary. This way, I got their attention and also their respect.

A leader should have initiative. Although I was not part of the cost and budget team, I always tried to reduce our cost whenever possible. There was one occasion when we need to purchase additional few hundreds meters of electric cable. Previously, we had always bought these cable from our cathodic protection sub-contractor. Seeing how expensive the price they offered, I took the initiative to look up in the internet the contact of one cable manufacturer and asked our procurement team to request a quotation from them. It turned out that they quoted a price that was about 60% cheaper. However, the delivery time of this offer is longer than the first offer and construction should not be stopped because of material shortage. I proposed to our team that we should buy a hundred meter cable, which could last for about one month, from our sub-contractor and buy the remaining from cable manufacturer. It was agreed; we were able to save money and the construction work was not postponed.

I believe integrity is one the most importance trait that my country needs from its leaders right now. And integrity is what I have been keeping as my life value. I was once offered by our supplier if I want to mark up the price written in the invoice to my company so I can keep the excess money. As a normal human being, I did hesitate for a moment but then I came to my sense and rejected their offer. I have to keep myself accountable and trustworthy so that people will follow me.

To conclude, I believe I have the important traits required to be a future leader in my country. Communication skill to become the bridge between Chevening community and Indonesia, initiative to seek improvement in every aspects, and integrity to lead the people.