The recycling depot - UBC Sauder Application: Personal Profile

Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation.

What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?
(Maximum 1,500 characters) - Any feedback is appreciated and welcomed!

As I entered the recycling depot for my shift, my co-workers informed me that the sorting machine was malfunctioning. With no machine to count and separate the bottles and a growing line outside the depot, I devised a strategy to maximize efficiency.

To do this, I assigned two people per cash register, with one person counting the bottles and the other recording the number and types on paper. However, with more people at the register, fewer people would be organizing the bottles at the back. I anticipated that having fewer people organizing bottles would lead to the team of bottle organizers being overwhelmed, so I planned to slow traffic by using only one register and increase productivity by adding more people in the back when needed. My manager approved the idea and opened the doors for the line outside.With effective teamwork, we also developed micro-strategies along the way. During the time I would be counting, my partner would be organizing our workspace, and while my partner gave the deposit to the customers, I would already be counting the next batch of bottles.

And the plan worked. The strategy of juggling between tasks and prioritizing different areas when needed was so efficient that the manager used the same process when we were getting the machines repaired. I infused the importance of strategy in adversity from that day forth. Taking a second to stop and analyze a situation can turn any volatile situation into a controllable one.

You seem to have had an assistant leadership position at the recycling plant. It is important that you acknowledge the position that allowed you or gave you the authority to strategize for the workforce. That also adds to the impression of how responsible you are as a person and worker, and as a future student or student leader.

The process used is impressive but without your own work position background, leads the reader to question on whose authority you were acting when you made the suggestion to the supervisor. You are out to make an impression here so make sure all important information is included.

The lesson and outcome provided could very well leave a lasting impression on the screener so just improve in the part I mentioned when you revise and update the response statement.