Career Goals When My Academic

Career Goals

When my academic advisor called me into her office in my freshman year, I was worried she might be sitting me down to discuss the last paper I turned in for class. Although I was up all night working on the research report on investment banking, I felt like I hadn't begun to touch the surface of the topic and therefore did not know enough to possibly be able to write an essay that would impress my professor. Finance classes had been my favorite, and I truly valued my advisor's input and her role as mentor and in-class instructor.

Yet to my surprise and relief, my advisor did not take out my paper, and when I did receive it back, the essay was laden with read marks as I had feared. Rather, my academic advisor asked if I wanted to take part in a special on-campus organization for students interested in the subject of global finance. She told me that my academic focus on global energy would enrich group discussions and might lead to internships or special opportunities that would expose me to post-graduation career options. I was thrilled and after thanking her profusely, put my name on the club's list. Since then we have been collaborating on stimulating extracurricular projects that introduce us to some of the issues that are not covered in class, such as the range of career options available to individuals interested in global finance. The group facilitator pointed me to some Web sites and print materials that focused on global energy indexes.

Since being a freshman, I have thoroughly investigated the options available to me in the field of global energy finance. Global energy remains a volatile market sector and one that demands highly skilled professionals willing to embark on a challenging and demanding profession. I have become willing to devote all of my time and energy into the cultivation of my chosen career, which is why I am now investigating graduate school programs and their finance departments. The two specific career paths that I am investigating now include a position within an international financial organization, or one in a post as financial consultant to a major multinational energy company. In either capacity I will be working with the heads of major corporations to offer advice regarding investment and growth. I will benefit both firms and their stakeholders by disseminating knowledge of current market trends focusing on the highly specialized knowledge of the global energy marketplace. I might also discover ways to offer knowledge and support to finance ministries around the world, to help developing economies make decisions that will benefit their nation and improve the lives of their citizens.

With passion and determination, I will patiently yet diligently follow a step-by-step plan to reach my goals. First, I will graduate with my bachelor's degree in finance and global energy next spring. In my senior year I will have the opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of my choice. My senior project will focus on a specific area within my chosen discipline and to carry out the project I will learn about the protocols of academic research. Moreover, my project will involve creativity and collaboration with classmates and will demand academic diligence. The skills I develop throughout my senior year will carry over into graduate school and into my career, as I will undoubtedly write and read countless reports related to the state of international markets and the market climate relative to the energy industries.

Second, immediately upon graduation I would like to embark on a challenging internship post with a multinational corporation or finance firm. Because I relish the opportunity to work abroad and in different business and cultural environments, I would investigate opportunities on multiple continents. Part of my continuing education will be to travel to better understand market forces, regulatory environments, and other factors affecting international finance through first-hand experience. When my internship comes to a close I will embark on the third stage of my career development: graduate school. I will contribute energy and enthusiasm, diligence and determination to the program and hope to enhance the caliber and character of that program. Working with like-minded classmates and professors has been something I have looked forward to since that day I first met with my academic advisor in my freshman year.

Throughout graduate school, I will continually be on the lookout for the career posts that most reflect my level of commitment and areas of specialization. Therefore, the fourth step in my career development will entail networking. By networking through the graduate school and my instructors, I may learn about posts and careers I may never have heard of otherwise.