Personal Positioning Techniques

Today’s Assigned Topic: Personal Positioning Techniques; Discuss three or four things you can do between now and the time you graduate to position yourself for your desired career.

As I am quickly approaching the end of my undergraduate academic career, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are still things I can do to position myself for my future. Positioning yourself for success is a never ending endeavor. In order to accomplish this, I must have a clear vision of where I am now in relation to where I want to be. In addition, a well defined sequence of steps that I will take to achieve my end objective is critical. I have always liked the adage, “proper planning prevents poor performance.” Therefore, I have chosen several steps that, I believe, will help me to position myself for future success. These are: GMAT preparation, internship opportunities, networking, and continuing education.
One current area of focus, during these last few months before graduation, is effective preparation for the GMAT exam. The GMAT is a prerequisite to entrance into graduate school. Therefore, currently I am enrolled in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business GMAT Prep Course. Every Wednesday, I attend three hours of lecture consisting of the strategies and skills necessary to succeed on the GMAT. I have taken several practice exams and have seen improvement. I have also established a benchmark for myself. My goal is to obtain a 700 or above on the GMAT. This will not be easy, but I believe that it can be done. A 700 or higher will provide me with access to many top level graduate programs all over the world. This will increase my options concerning continued education.
Another area that is essential to positioning myself before graduation is internship opportunities. Internships are an extremely effective avenue to build effective resumes. Therefore, I have applied for an internship with ASAP International Holdings Inc. Through correspondence with them I have been accepted into their internship program. I will be moving to Guangzhou China on January 15 for a time period of at least six months. While there I will continue to gain experience in the arena of international business. I will learn many facets of hotel management and have an opportunity to continue my study of the Mandarin language.
In addition to building my resume, my internship will also provide me with an amazing opportunity to network. While in china I will be able to meet and work for many individuals with incredible international experience. These individuals will be an avenue for future employment. Therefore, I must do all in my power to impress these individuals with my knowledge and experience.
The last thing I can do to position myself for a future job is plan now to attend graduate school. As discussed previously, I am preparing to take the GMAT entrance exam. This preparation, in addition to my normal course work, will help me prepare for grad school. I will also be focusing on keeping my grades at acceptable levels during this last semester. Perhaps even more important than grades, I will be maximizing the knowledge and theories presented in my classes so that I might apply them in the workplace.
There is still much to be done to continue my preparation to enter into the international business arena. However, I believe that my dedication to excellence in my academic progress and my international experiences will be of great importance in positioning myself for the future.