Employability and Professional Development - Essay Example

Employability and Professional Development (Reflective Essay) Introduction Various endeavors are undertaken for uniquely distinct purposes dependingon an individual’s interests and goals. In the pursuit of specific careers, students undergo vast amount of educational instructions, training, and development of skills to hone them for professional growth. One of the courses deemed relevant in training students for their professional lives is the “Effective Interview and Meeting Skills” Course aimed to focus on interview and meeting skills of potential leaders and managers. The course emphasizes the relevance of time management, planning, problem solving, and working in teams, among others. The skill of communication is highly critical in the successful development of interviewing and meeting skills. The process of communication has evolved from that containing simple channels and modes to that of diverse patterns including non verbal techniques. The discovery of its relevance especially in the field of business could never be taken for granted. The privilege given me by learning important theories, concepts, and practical applications of an employability and professional development course focusing on effective interview and meeting skills enabled the improvement of personal and professional facets necessary for undertaking transactions, not only in business, but more importantly, in my interrelationships with others. It is in this regard that this reflection paper aims to present how I feel my overall have been developed in the following areas: (1) time management, (2) problem solving; (3) teamwork; (4) self management; (5) planning; and (5) technological applications. Learning Proposals The course aims to equip students with sound and balanced theoretical concepts on developing personal and professional skills on the areas identified above. In this regard, detailed below are my personal reflections on my learning proposals. Time Management In every endeavor, one must learn how to prioritize on activities that are lined up in a particular time frame. In our contemporary world, the essence of time is critical if one wants to accomplish required tasks on a clearly stated schedule. The course emphasized that time management is first and foremost, the necessary element for success, both in one’s personal and professional life. Time management is critical in the workplace, in meetings, in conducting interviews, in finishing reports, among others. When planning, time must be explicitly stipulated in a structured and clear manner to ensure that tasks are accomplished as scheduled. Problem Solving All individuals are faced with situations that require making a decision. Even children, at very young ages, are given the opportunity to choose from among a set of simple alternatives: toys, food, clothes, books, or activities. As people age, their roles in life become diverse and more choices and decisions have to be made in the light of day-to-day endeavors and pursuits. Different studies present varying models of a typical decision-making process depending on their perspectives. Some models follow eight steps, others five. For purposes of making intuitive choices, I learned the following six steps in decision making is utilized, in conjunction with the cause and effect approach in problem solving. The six steps of this natural, intuitive decision-making process, according to Ethics Resource Center (2009, 1) are: “Step 1: Define the problem; Step 2: Identify available alternative solutions to the problem; Step 3: Evaluate the identified alternatives; Step 4: Make the decision; Step 5: Implement the Decision; and Step 6: Evaluate the decision”. Although the course focused on interview and meeting skills, the problem solving skills is critical to be learned and developed as problems are part of everyday life. By being aware that there are indeed structured steps to solve problems, decision making would be guided and be made easier. Knowledge of the steps in decision making is not an assurance that the decision maker would choose the most appropriate alternative in all circumstances. It only serves as a guide for decision makers to consider all relevant factors before coming up with the most appropriate choice. The most important lesson one must be aware of is that individuals learn from the experiences that they encounter. Scenarios requiring solving problems should be taken as opportunities to enhance one’s skills and strengthen one’s abilities to face whatever challenges the future brings. Teamwork The study of group behavior has a long tradition among social scientists in various disciplines. In the area of business, the need for relationships with other people is one of the strongest human drives that must be explored and developed. As work groups develop, the members come to play different parts in the socials structure. The emergence of different roles is a natural process. One of the most critical roles assumed by group members is that of leading the group. The course developed the following skills and strengths in teambuilding and group interrelationship: (1) cohesiveness where members are attracted to each other and engage in frequent social interaction. Feelings of belonging, acceptance and validation were enhanced. (2) Socializing techniques were developed and improved during the course of the activity. The group setting provided a safe and supportive environment which encouraged active participation of each member and thereby honed teambuilding and social skills. (3) Catharsis was provided resulting from a release of stress accorded by the free and uninhibited exchange of thoughts and emotions. (4) Leadership skills ensured appropriate control and group structure to develop providing guidelines to group behavior that make the group functioning orderly and predictably. (5) Interpersonal growth was accorded through learning and sharing of information and feedback, and being aware of each others’ skills and capabilities. Self-Management I can honestly say that I practice a straightforward lifestyle focused on achieving my personal goals. Currently, my ultimate goal is to finish my studies and to prepare myself for a future career. I have a talent for prioritizing activities that need to be accomplished. College education is basically voluntary and more expensive where students learn how to manage their own time. Students are expected to take accountability and responsibility for their academic performance through prioritizing compliance to requirements. More importantly, I am never apprehensive to seek much needed support (physical, emotional, and mental) as required in diverse scenarios. Timidity, pride, financial considerations, cultural diversity barriers, among others usually get in the way of availing academic support. I acknowledge that there are more benefits that would be derived from seeking ways and means to ensue that I stay in school until graduation than to allow barriers and hindrances to get in the way. Most often, I seek the right advice, at the right time, at the right place. Self-management is defined as the ability to “manage one’s own emotions and be resilient in a range of complex and demanding situations.” (NHS, 1) Self-management is classified as strategic when it is planned and calculated to achieve a well-defined purpose. Self-management is only feasible and effective when one is in control of personal emotions and behavior given a variety of circumstances. In this case, the strategic self-management is directed to get a targeted job. Therefore, I must be able to balance my time between work and study. Planning One of the basic functions and responsibilities of a manager is planning. This function is actually closely related to time management as it outlines activities, budget, strategies, and courses of action on a stipulated time frame. For both interviewing and meeting skills, planning is an important element in structuring and designing an effectively structured interview, as well as preparing an agenda for a business meeting, among others. With a clear and concise plan, one would be able to measure and assess any deviation from it. This information can be utilized for future plans by determining the causes of deviation and by incorporating factors that influenced the change. Analysis Interpersonal Skills The course on effective interview and meeting skills provided me with the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills in terms of improving my relationships with others. By living a life of self-sacrifice and focused on what we can do for others, I was able to fully understand our selfish tendencies and egocentric ways. The concepts for self-respect and respect for others in authority, among others, are worth remembering. I am now aware that my communication with others should be more restrained in some ways where brutal frankness might mean hurting or demeaning others. This skill emphasizing on our relationships with people does not necessarily mean that we always have to be right or on top of all situations. It is more on realizing that there are appropriate means of communication which should be used for appropriate situations according to the kind of people we are relating with. This course made me aware that interpersonal skills mean our ability to establish and maintain a network of contact utilizing the gift of communication as a tool. Leadership and Group Skills I have been expecting a course in business to incorporate topics on leadership and teambuilding. This course not only met but surpassed that expectation. I learned that by living the values of Christianity in our lives, our leadership skills, as well as our ability to perform in groups would be heightened by the gift of communication. Actually, in one of the essays written by Schultz on Human Communication as an Extra Biological Gift, he averred that “communication is a gift that we have received and that we surely out to pass along for the benefit of future generations”. By developing our own personal leadership style and group behavior, the strengths and possible conflicts were highlighted and paved the way for my understanding that good communication skills make resolutions to problems easier and the lessons learned are more appreciated. I learned that the value that listening gives is a very important facet in the communication process. Since leadership and group skills entails many essential elements including skills of introspection, entrepreneurial skills, conflict resolution skills, peer skills, information processing skills, skills in unstructured decision making and resource generation and allocation skills, not one would be made possible without the gift of proper listening in communication. In additional, by learning more about leadership, I am more aware that traits of assertiveness, being genuinely passionate on one’s job, not being afraid of failure, among others, are preferred by most employers. Oral Presentation The most important development attributable to this course is my ability to conquer my anxieties during oral presentations. I am aware that in class discussions, school presentations and group activities, good oral presentation skills come as an advantage. With lessons imparted by Schultz on the concepts of listening and Christian ideals of communication, my fears and apprehensions were minimized during oral presentations. I realized that there is actually nothing to fear – that it is alright to make mistakes because as humans, we are designed to commit errors – and to learn from them. The lessons imparted from the course made me aware that oral presentations need some planning methods to prepare and organize my speech. Aside from determining my basic objectives and knowing who my audience is, I could create a stimulating and inspiring presentation with the use of visual aids and other instructional materials. In addition, correct communication methods like appropriate and concise, clear statements should be observed within the given time frame. By building my personal confidence in interpersonal relations, leaderships and teambuilding skills, my oral presentation skills are appropriately honed. Research and Planning Skills Finally, every educational endeavor entails some form of planning and research. Planning, as previously mentioned and as stipulated in business and managerial courses, is one of the functions of a manager. Research, on the other hand, is a prerequisite in environmental scanning. Both areas need business communication skills to assist the individual in efficient planning and research methods. I learned that these skills would be beneficial for the accomplishment of future goals. By learning that we are all destined to accomplish a purpose in life, planning and research guide our path and lead us to the correct direction towards our goals. The course enabled me to be more vigilant of issues which would help me in the simple accomplishment of day to day activities. Research gives the more information on academic concerns which need to be addressed. Planning helps me schedule activities towards my personal and professional development. This course provided valuable information on tools that are useful to an individual in terms of relationships, tasks, operations, and future endeavors. Conclusion The value of the development in the abovementioned skills due to the theoretical concepts and practical applications accorded by the course in effective interview and meeting skills cannot be overemphasized. This course accorded lessons which are applicable to an individual in uplifting one’s condition in life. By assisting the individual in honing the skills important for effective business communication, one would be equipped to face whatever challenges in life. These encompass the very essence of our existence – to realize that communication through interaction is a gift to express that living is just a means to be of service to others. The course was instrumental in honing the most critical skills needed to be employed. The learning proposals guided me on the skills that need to be improved to increase my potentials for employability. The modules provided the opportunities for both personal and professional growth through a multidisciplinary approach. In the process, I have developed a sense of confidence in being equipped and qualified to pursue my career goal in the near future. Reference List Ethics Resource Center, 2009, PLUS: The Decision Making Process.Viewed 04 May 2010. NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, n.d. Self-management. Viewed 04 May 2010. Read More