subject: Factors To Avoid While Preparing Sba Disadvantage Narrative [print this page] Applicants of the 8A certification are bound to submit a social/economic disadvantage narrative statement to the SBA. Such narrative statements include events of any social or economic disadvantage experienced by the applicant in the past. Such a narrative is presented to convince the SBA that the applicant has experienced social or economic discrimination in life in the fields of employment, financing, market restrictions, license, bonding and leases. To get a narrative accepted by the SBA, few points should be taken into consideration including:
Short quotes
A disadvantage narrative can be strengthened by including quotes. However experts suggest that the included quotes should be short and must not be more than few sentences. Not more than seven quotes should be included in the narrative. An applicant can also include few references to reinforce his/her narrative. However, it must be made sure that the narrative must sound like a story and not like a bibliography. Generally, the narratives presented by an applicant sums up to 6-7 pages. The quotes included in such narratives should focus specific issues such as graduating with a dropout rate from a high school or residing in a locality which has a very high crime rate.
Personal Story
The prepared narrative of the applicant should be more like a personal story than a report. Many applicants of the 8A certification believe that including more quotes and facts can make the narrative more authentic and genuine, which is not true. Social/economic disadvantage narratives should have a personal touch and must clearly mention the events and incidents of the applicants life which is related with discrimination or harassment that has suppressed the potential of the candidate to flourish. It is mandatory that the narrative is in first person and methodically recounts the episodes of discrimination in personal and professional life of the applicant. Applicants of the 8A SBA certification are highly recommended to include only events of negative experience in the narrative and should not mention and positive approach they have induced.
Precise information
An applicant should be more specific and precise while explaining the personal and professional experiences. The narrative must include event summary, name of the supervisor, witness of the incident, date of the event, economic or financial fallout of the event. This would validate the event even if court documents are missing to authenticate it. Hence, it is highly recommended to include only precise and apt information in a social/economic disadvantage narrative, sine such statement give a more clear idea about the candidate and help the SAB form a better image of the candidate.
Preparing a proper and systematic 8A certification disadvantage narrative is not a difficult task is certain principles are adhered. While preparing the narrative statement, it is mandatory to take into consideration the above mentioned points to avoid rejection by the SBA. Rejection of the narrative by SBA takes apple time for re-submission. For an SBA application to get accepted at the first take, a proper narrative should be prepared by keeping in mind the above mentioned points and rule out every possibility of mistake that may impede the application process.
