What is a Statement of Background and Goals?

Along with grade point averages, graduate test scores (e.g. GMAT, LSAT), activities, and accomplishments, a prospective employer or graduate school may require you to write an essay about your background and goals. They are looking for factors that have influenced or shaped your career and/or research decisions. They will read your essay to determine whether you "fit" in their organization or program, based largely on the professional image you portray (the "story" you tell about yourself). When you write such an essay, you want to think about what details will help convey a professional image; also think about what you should leave out (while remaining honest and sincere). Other opportunities to write statements of background and goals may occur during your yearly review on the job, or in professional career development workshops. You may also be asked to provide a brief "bio" (biography) for an article you wrote for publication, a project you managed, a proposal you are spearheading -- or, you may be asked to sum up your background and goals before or after a professional speech you are giving at a conference, or a briefing you lead for upper management in your company.

In each of these instances, your audience changes, and your specific purpose may change, and thus your content will change -- even as you overall purpose is still to tell about your background and objectives in some fashion.

Directions (A):

• Write a one-page essay about your background and goals.
• Choose either a graduate admissions committee or a prospective employer as your audience.Your ultimate purpose is to be accepted or hired.Concentrate on establishing a professional image of yourself, but present yourself honestly.
• This is not a resume or cover letter, but an essay. You need write so that the reader(s) can follow a personal thread that ties your background to your goals. You want the reader(s) to remember you.

Directions (B):

Write a brief biography that includes information about your background and goals for:

1. your SOM instructor
2. your new date's parents
3. your career counselor

Tips For Proceeding:

• Take some time in class to brainstorm ideas: think about your educational background, work history, extra-curricular activities, sports, family, personal interests and values, professional/career goals, research interests, and/or some significant feature/event of your life.
• Analyze and profile your intended audience.
• Think carefully about your purpose and aim.
• Prioritize the information you have decided to include.
• Draft quickly: do not stop to edit the first time, but rather go back when you're through to revise,edit, and proofread.
• Review your draft and proofread.
• Revise your essay after peer-editing. Make substantial changes based on re-thinking your audience, purpose, and content.
• Edit and proofread.

Objectives:

• Gathering material for writing.
• Assessing the needs of a specific audience.
• Determining purpose and organizing content.
• Learning the process of writing from a rough draft stage through revisions, editing,proof-reading, and re-thinking your original thoughts.
• Re-writing a cohesive, polished response in order to "get your foot in the door."