Essay內容:
Since I began studying business administration in university,
I have wanted to pursue a career in international management
for companies planning to expand into the Asia-Pacific
region. To achieve this objective, I must broaden my
business knowledge and acquire up-to-date managerial
skills. Furthermore, I must gain international exposure
to be able to view issues from a global perspective.
My
professional experiences have contributed to the formation
of my objectives. After graduating from the Business
Administration Department of National Taiwan University,
I joined ABC Company, Taiwan.
ABC
is an American company, one of the leading retailers
worldwide with a presence in 10 countries across 4 continents.
While working at ABC, I have made contacts with the
export department of ABC America and I spent one month
in Shanghai, China training local employees. These valuable
experiences have helped me gain exposure to the international
environment.
I
have witnessed the business interests of ABC shifting
from South America and US to the Asia-Pacific region:
the ABC group has 24 stores scheduled to be in operation
by the end of 1999. In 1998, ABC had the highest sales
volume, U.S.$ 789 million, and the highest growth rate,
23.7%, among its competitors in Taiwan. These figures
are a clear indicator of Asia's retail market's potential.
With
this change, people with retail business training, effective
marketing skills and understanding of international
business will have more opportunities to succeed in
the global market. As I am eager to contribute to the
future growth and development of Asia's retail market,
my main career objective is in this area.
My
past three and a half years of work experience has been
concentrated, yet extremely diverse. Through various
job positions within ABC, I have had opportunities to
observe the latest trends in consumer needs, to sharpen
my negotiation skills and to learn management methods.
I started as an assistant to the store manager of the
ABC Taichung store. I have been promoted three times
to reach my present position as the Department Head
of Merchandise Division.
Although
I have attained considerable personal and professional
growth through these experiences, I feel that my business
knowledge and marketing skills are not sufficient to
face the ever-changing global environment. To better
prepare myself for a multinational managerial position,
I need to acquire formal business training and to learn
business administration on a global scale, with a focus
on marketing and business strategy.
Taking
into account my educational and professional experiences,
I am seeking a top quality master's program that can
further strengthen my training. After carefully reviewing
the graduate programs of the top United States and European
business schools, I am especially interested in the
Kellogg MM program.
From
various sources of information and personal experiences
with Kellogg MM alumnus, I have come to admire what
your program has to offer. The main factors underlying
my desire to enter the Kellogg MM program are (I) Kellogg's
strong curriculum and faculty; (II) Kellogg's focus
on teamwork and its cooperative and encouraging learning
atmosphere; (III) a diverse student body and an internationally-oriented
curriculum, which helps students learn from one another
and forge a global perspective; (IV) your outstanding
placement office: I am immensely impressed with Kellogg
MM's list of recruiting companies and it's successful
placement records. Coupled with the offerings of the
alumni network, the Kellogg experience does not mean
just a degree, but invaluable career and business opportunities
for its graduates.
Upon
receiving my MM, I plan to seek employment with a well-established
American or European retailer who has interests in developing
in the Asia-Pacific market. I am confident that with
my past working experiences and advanced business education,
I will be a highly competent manager in this growing
market. My short-term objective is to conduct a feasibility
study of various Asian countries to analyze the local
conditions. With results from the feasibility report,
we can determine whether we should enter the market.
Countries
such as Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea
are politically stable, have low inflation rates, are
open to foreign investors, and most importantly, have
retail businesses still in the infancy stage. With these
factors in mind, the potential for development in this
region is almost unlimited. The next step is to set
strategies for the retailer to successfully adapt to
the specifics of the local environment.
Our
strategy must track the rapidly changing shopping habits
of Asia-Pacific educated customers. I plan to become
an active contributor to Asia Pacific retail business.
My ultimate career aspiration is to become the Asia
Pacific regional director of my company. I believe that
being able to think globally and act locally is my biggest
asset.
I
am convinced the Kellogg MM program will fully satisfy
my educational and professional needs and assist me
in attaining my career goals. Learning from world-renowned
scholars, I wish to acquire cutting-edge knowledge to
strengthen my quantitative and analytical skills. I
expect that through interaction with fellow students,
I can gain further international exposure and broaden
my global perspective. If given the opportunity, I believe
my experiences and background will add to the flavor
of the Kellogg MM program.