The phrase “less is more”often is associated with design, but the notion that keeping things simple carries over to how you describe yourself and your interests to people. This especially holds true to your online presence. Keeping it simple is the backbone of social media platforms such as Twitter, which limits messages to 140 characters forcing users to keep their communication succinct.
There is a benefit to being forced to use fewer words. It helps you think about what you want people to know instead of losing them in the details, and it teaches you a new way to communicate — one that is brief but meaningful. Being able to adapt your communication style to your audience is part of your career growth.
To be competitive in the marketplace, you’re required to get comfortable in using social media not only to expand your networking connections but as a tool for conducting business. This is exactly the message that some top MBA programs are presenting to future applicants. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, universities such as Columbia Business School ask prospective students to answer certain questions in 200 words or less.
This concept of brief-but-meaningful communication appears to be grabbing the attention of top business schools as they follow Twitter’s lead and ask applicants to keep their answers brief. This new strategy appears to help MBA schools get a snapshot of the applicant’s creativity. For example, this summer, University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Management offered a full scholarship worth about $37,000 to the MBA-program applicant who gave the best answer to an essay question using Twitter. Just think about it — 140 characters or less will earn someone a tuition-paid MBA degree.
But, the good 140-character answer is not as easy as it sounds. That’s why there should be a good bit of practice and thought behind how you say what you want others to remember most about you.
Using Twitter as part of the application process is an attractive option for business schools, because it shows them how a student embraces creativity and innovation.
In any setting, demonstrating how well you understand social media will be to your advantage. Using it in a professional way will help you demonstrate to a potential employer, or in this case a business school, your critical-thinking skills.
Here are some suggestions for brief communication:
Identify what you would like people to know about you.
Answer the question“What are you known for?” as it relates to your career or field of interest.
List five of your best accomplishments and circle the skills that made them successful.
Write down what you want to say, then start editing, choosing meaningful words to convey your message.
Be creative in order to save space, and shorten words as needed.
Do you think the 140-character Twitter limit is a benefit or a liability?
