Developing the Professional - Assignment Example

Assignment One Developing the Professional Skills and character audit Intellectual (thinking) skills Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree I am a creative person who can adapt my thinking to circumstances I am able to organise my thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise situations I can identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately Comments: Adapting to different circumstances is a crucial factor that determines the survival and success of an individual in a work environment. In order to be able to achieve the same, being creative in terms of thinking is of utmost importance. I believe I have developed this understanding over the past years of my work experience in diverse fields. As such, working in different areas have induced a touch of creativity in my thinking which enables me adapt to any circumstances whereby I can come up with best possible solution which has always been in complete alignment with the organizational objective (Copeland, Farmer and Smith, 1997; Capra, 2002). Being calm and staying focused to the core of the problem are key ingredients of effective problem solving skill set. I have managed to do so, on a consistent basis for which I have been given appropriate recognition. My analytical skill set and organizational skills has helped me to understand the nature of a problem thereby developing solutions accordingly (Goleman, 1996; Ferdig, 2000). Professional/Vocational skills Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree I use a wide range of techniques in approaching and solving problems. I am comfortable with a range of research techniques I am able to analyse and interpret quantitative data I am able to analyse and interpret qualitative data My leadership skills are well developed and I can adapt them to different situations I am able to manage people effectively Motivating myself and others comes easy to me I am aware of my responsibilities to myself, the organisation and other people I treat people with respect and consideration Comments: In due course of my work life, I have encountered problems of diverse scales and magnitudes. The exposure to such circumstances has imbibed in me the knowledge of various problem solving techniques of which, some were self developed and some where communicated by others. Working with people from different background has helped me to understand the broad range of different techniques adopted by different individuals. To my understanding, I am always comfortable with all sorts of research techniques as long as they comply with the set standards as well as the organizational objective. The trainings and internship exposure that I have gone through has helped me to strengthen my interpretation skills of both qualitative and quantitative data. I understand the importance of such skills and I am well equipped in terms of knowledge and absolutely ready to im0plment the same as and when required. I have been considered a leaders right since my school days up until the last job that I did. I have been highly appreciated by my cohorts and colleagues for exhibiting my leadership skills and apt decision making ability. This has helped me to get my noticed in every field of work I have been through and henceforth has enabled me work my way up the hierarchy. Given the fact that I have strong leadership as well as people management skills that helped me to land a job very easily in reputed organizations. I believe that motivation comes straight from heart and this has always been reflected in the way others are motivated by me. That is one way of achieving personal as well as a wholesome objective efficiently. To be responsible is a universal requirement for each and every individual no matter where they are and as such it is the same in the job field as well. The way an individual takes responsibility defines hem/her. To my understanding, I am one of those who are always aware about all his responsibilities whether is to him, to the organization or to other people directly or indirectly associated with him and that is what defines me. Key/Common skills Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree I am able to use mathematical techniques to analyse data I can effectively interpret numerical data including tables and charts I am able to use a wide range of software on a PC I use a range Information Technology devices to communicate and access information I am a good listener I am able to communicate my ideas well in a face-to-face situation I can adapt my written style to suit an audiences needs I am comfortable presenting my ideas to an audience Whenever I have completed a task I always reflect on the experience with a view to seeking continuous improvement I manage my time effectively I am always prompt when asked to complete a task I am aware of the need to be sensitive to the cultural differences to which I have been exposed I am keen to learn about other people and their country and culture I enjoy working with others to complete a task I know my own character and am sensitive of this in a group situation I understand that a group is made of individuals and I am sensitive to the needs and preferences of others I will always ensure that I get my views across in a meeting I am willing to accept the viewpoint of others I always give 100% in a group task Comments: Mathematics was always my forte during the school days. I was a prudent as far data analysis is concerned, which is why I was able to grab the opportunity to work as an administrator in Ras Girtas Power Company and. My job responsibility was more analytical in nature a part of which was to handle issues such as Health Insurance and claim as well as arranging travel tickets and hotel reservation. I also had a strong exposure to the SAP system which was required to hand leave requests and over time work done by employees. By doing so, I was able to enhance both my data analytical skills as well as my skills on different software on PC platform. In addition, my experience of 5 years of working with the Doha Bank as Qatari Career Development Officer has enhanced my communication as well as people management skills due to the fact that a major part of my job responsibility was to interact with employees, students as well as the Government. With the advancement being made in the field of IT, various devices are being introduced into the market which is actually helping their users to do their work efficiently, comfortably and conveniently. Such has been the case of me as well. Although I was never a tech-savvy person but I managed very well to get acquainted with the modern technology. It has helped me to communicate as well as access information freely and I can proudly say that I am an advanced level user of mobiles, tablets, laptops and PCs. One of the leadership traits that I’ve always maintained and will continue to do so is listening to others. I believe that knowledge can be gained from anyone and that no one person knows everything. Thus listening to as many people as possible actually ads to my wisdom and helps me to enhance my mind palace. This has helped me in every step of my life where I was able to make sound decisions. Listening to other is not a one way process. It always leads to a conversation and that is another benefit of listening because when one listens he/she tends to communicate as well. It is very similar in case of me as well. I have interacted with a group of people as well as a single person and that has helped me to strengthen my communication skills and I now realize that I can convey ideas to both individuals as well as to an audience very effectively (Boddy, 2002; Alan, 2002). I have always been very attentive to the task that I was assigned with and I have always endeavoured to give by optimum best to finish assignment. I have always been able to do so because of my time management skills. In the initial days of my career, I always use to focus on all the assignments together and never broke them down to fit into appropriate schedules. That sometimes resulted in me failing to meet the deadline. However, after that I realized the importance of scheduling my tasks and since then I have always been able to meet the deadlines without failing in a single case. This is precisely the reason why I was always regarded very highly in all my previous working places (Argandona, 2003). I have always enjoyed working in a group and I know that effective group work is the key to success. As such, I realize that fact that in a group one has to work with people from different culture. Thus one of the primary requirements of working in a group is to know about the group members’ culture and background. I have always been very keen in learning about others culture at the same time I have always taken the initiative to explain my culture as well. In this way I was able to know my name mates very well and so were they. This helped us to gel in very easily with each other and the end result was an effective and efficient team where each group members respected and co-operated the others. SWOT Analysis STRENGTHS Effective time management skills. Extensive work experience and industry exposure Good listening capability. Data-analysis skills. Great motivator. Effective Leadership ability. People management skills. Good communication skills. WEAKNESSES Elementary level writing skills. Shyness Decisions are sometimes driven by emotions. Sensitive to certain issues. OPPORTUNITIES Enhance my writing skills. Avoiding being shy by interacting with people from a different culture. Travelling to different places and meeting new people. Enhancing the networking skills. THREATS Completely new work environment. Adapting to a new culture. Elementary writing skills. Objectives Area What I am going to do. How I am going to do it When I am going to do it by Writing Enhance my writing skills By joining training institute who give special attention towards formal writing. Beginning of next month. IT skills Be acquainted with the latest IT software packages that are being implemented in the field of HR. By doing internships in HR firms where such IT software packages are implemented extensively. Within the next six months Cultural knowledge Learn about new culture By accessing online databases as well as books. In addition, talking to people will also broaden the knowledge In the process Avoid shyness Be more open and enhance networking skills By interacting with as many people as possible. By attending various networking events. In the process. Emotional attributes Gain control over my emotions Reading different books, attending lectures and events focusing on emotion control, Mediation. In the process Force Field Analysis Abdulla Al-Mohannadi Email: Abdulla.almohannadi@gmail.com Doha, Qatar PERSONAL INFORMATION Birth Date : 1982 Gender : Male Nationality : Qatari Driving License : Available Marital Status : Married Languages Known : English & Arabic CAREER OBJECTIVE To secure a challenging opportunity where I can utilise my qualifications in a role which will allow me to grow and develop in a professional environment. As an experienced HR, I would like to excel in the field of HR with my excellent presentation and communication skills. I would like to utilise my ability of managing people as a key for doing well in HR stream. My aim would be to utilise my experience related to the world of HR in the best possible way. SKILLS Communication skills Dealing with difficult and stressful circumstances Excellent skills in the public relations Rapid ability to learn Hard working and takes initiative on work assigned Knowledge in Windows Office. Time Management. Leadership, Team Building, Motivational Skills, Interpersonal & Communication Skills. Ability to work under pressure, decision making & Problem Solving Skills. Computer Skills: MS Office & Internet Usage. EDUCATION Lincoln University United Kingdom "Current" 2014 Master International Business Oxford Brookes University, England 2010 Bachelor Degree in Business & Management College of the North Atlantic Qatar 2009 Diploma in Business Administration HR New Horizon Qatar 2003 Diploma in Information Technology Qatar Petroleum 2002 Technician Preparation Program Other Trainings: Young Business English Course in London School of English (2011) Training Course in Human Resource Department at Aljazeera Children Channel (2009) Government and Investigating Report (2008) Business Leadership in New Horizon (2008) Hospitality and Tourism Course in CHN Holland University (2005) English Courses ESL Certificate in CHN Holland University Qatar – one academic year (2005) English Course in American Education Centre (2004) H2S / BA Certificate in Qatar Petroleum (2003) English Course in New Horizon (2003) English Language Course in Qatar Petroleum – Qatar (2002) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2012 to present as an officer (Lieutenant) in the Army and Force Qatari Emeri Air Force 2011 to 2011 Ras Girtas Power Company as Administrator Responsibilities Employment Contracts, job offers, memos, e-mails & all kinds of letters. Counselling & offering assistance to employee. Arranging the travel tickets & hotel reservation. Handling Health Insurance & claim. Handling leaves requests & over time (SAP System). Maintaining employee’s files. Developing Organizational policies Communicating with the candidates & conducting interviews. Coordinating with General Retirement and Social Security. . Making company related policies and agreements. Problem Solving Skills. 2005 to 2011 Doha Bank as a Qatari Career Development Officer Responsibilities: Counselling & offering assistance to employee. Maintaining employee’s personal files. Coordinating with the Candidates. Communicating with the Ministry of Labour. Following up the sponsored students Productivity Advice to Help Students Communicating with the local and International Universities and Colleges. Solving Employees Problems Writing addendum to the original contract Communicating with the Direction and Guidance Department Recruiting through the workforce management Qatarization Participating in the local carrier fair Representing the Bank in different meetings Developing Organizational policies and procedures Communication letters Qatar Petroleum as Assistant Operator from 2001 to 2005 Responsibilities Mechanical knowledge which includes knowledge of tools and materials. Knowledge of relevant equipments, policies and procedures involved in that particular maintenance site. Overall understanding of the work expected. Repairing and replacing defective equipments or parts using hand & machines. Cleaning and lubricating of parts. Maintaining overall cleanliness and proper functioning of the area or tools or the machinery. JOB ADVERTISEMENT Job Description  HR PMO Officer - VGL0000UK (PMO-Project Management Officer) As Vodafone continues to evolve, our commitment to innovation has never been greater. Already the worlds leading Mobile Telecommunications company, our goal is to pioneer a world of total communications solutions, where fixed, mobile, voice and data will all become one. And with approximately 407 million customers to cater for across the globe, there has never been a better time to jump on board. At Vodafone, we don’t just produce innovative products, we develop amazing people too. We’re a brand that loves change – if it’s not happening naturally then we’re creating it ourselves. It’s in our DNA to push forward, to create a better future, to never rest and find new ways that help people communicate.  That’s the lifeblood that runs throughout Vodafone. We are driven to empower people. We are committed to helping our people perform at their best and achieve their full potential.  We aim to create a working culture that is inclusive to all and believe that having a diverse workforce which reflects our global footprint will help us meet the needs of our globally diverse customers. We want to attract the best talent there is globally - whoever you are, wherever you come from and whatever professional background and experience you have. Apply today to join world’s leading Mobile Telecommunications company. We are currently looking for a PMO Officer to join our The PMO Officer to join our Newbury based team. The purpose of the role will be to support the PMO Lead, Programme and Project Managers to deliver their projects within time, cost and quality. The PMO Officer will provide tools and process support for all Team members, ensuring adherence to reporting and financial calendars, maintain the validity of information, and track the status of Projects and Programmes to meet deadlines set by the organisation. Managing all standard PMO deliverables, including Issue, Risks, planning activities. The PMO Officer also is involved with improving the Project and PMO processes, where possible finding efficiencies that can assist projects delivery more successfully. Key accountabilities: Provide guidance on processes, tools, document templates and controls to ensure a consistent Program and Project delivery. Development and maintenance of Level 2 PERT Plan between all HR Programs Drive Project plan synchronicity across all HR Programs through dependency lead activities and WBS. Provide consultative support for Finance, Planning Assurance, Reporting, Risk & Issue Management, Planning and Finance related activities and associated processes and tools Identify and drive forward opportunity for process improvements Manage Program SharePoint sites through initial set-up and access Communicate Portfolio, Program and Project level reporting processes and policy changes Prepare input and output material for, and attendance of the Program Board Meetings Provide guidance on Program Risk & Issue Management Create & maintain Program plans & roadmaps Maintain Program level financial tracker Review and coordinate Project level financial trackers Provide assistance with on-boarding of new resources Skills and experience: Provide guidance on processes, tools, document templates and controls to ensure a consistent Program and Project delivery. Development and maintenance of Level 2 PERT Plan between all HR Programs Drive Project plan synchronicity across all HR Programs through dependency lead activities and WBS. Provide consultative support for Finance, Planning Assurance, Reporting, Risk & Issue Management, Planning and Finance related activities and associated processes and tools Identify and drive forward opportunity for process improvements Manage Program SharePoint sites through initial set-up and access Communicate Portfolio, Program and Project level reporting processes and policy changes Prepare input and output material for, and attendance of the Program Board Meetings Provide guidance on Program Risk & Issue Management Create & maintain Program plans & roadmaps Maintain Program level financial tracker Review and coordinate Project level financial trackers Provide assistance with on-boarding of new resources. Key performance indicators: Financial Spend analytics Program/Project plan adherence Program Management KPI’s Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel, Visio and MS Project Prince 2 Practitioner, or equivalent Methodology Understanding of project CAPEX and OPEX financial control. Job Type: Full-time Employment Type: Permanent Closing Date: Ongoing (Vodafone, 2014) Cover Letter 04/03/2014 To The Recruitment Manager Vodafone ref: VGL0000UK Dear Sir/Madam I am a postgraduate student pursuing my Masters degree in International Business from Lincoln University United Kingdom. I would like to be considered for the post of a HR PMO Officer in the organization. I am very interested to work in this field and would like to take this opportunity to put my ideas and skills into practice in order to develop myself along with the organization.  I would like to make the best use of this opportunity and that is why I am applying to Vodafone for the post of a HR PMO Officer as I believe that, this platform will give me an exposure to a professional working environment whereby I will be able to learn and grow along with the organization. This job will be a perfect platform for me to put into practice my communications skills that I have developed over the due course of my life, thereby enabling me to interact with many people all over the world and to learn and know more about them thus enhancing my communication skills. While working with Ras Girtas Power Company and Doha Bank, I learned to provide assistance to my superiors and I had to work under strict deadlines. I had to schedule my tasks and report the status of every single assignment on a timely basis to my superiors. This is where I believe I can be of great assistance to the PMO lead where my major responsibility will be to support the PMO lead and other project and program management officers to deliver their projects within time, cost and quality. My previous work experiences as well as my experiences while pursuing my Masters and Bachelors degree, where I was actively involved as a team leader as well as a team member, has taught me to work along with a team and delegate tasks and resources among the members. This has taught me the importance of coordination and team work and the ways to implement them. I would like to implement the knowledge that I have earned, in a way so that it can contribute to the development of the organization. Although I do not have much experience in this field but I can assure you that given the proper training, I will be able to learn quickly and know more about this field and can serve efficiently.  Thank you for your kind consideration. I am looking forward to the opportunity to speak with you in person so that I can express my interest in working with the organization in this field. Sincerely, Reflective Journal entries Name Enrolment Number Course Xxxx Xxxx xxxx SEMINAR 1 Q1 What do you consider were the three most important things (planned or unplanned) that you learned in this session? Briefly describe how they were learned 1 Learning to work as a team leader as well as a team member. This was possible because of the nature of tasks which were assigned to us. The tasks required extensive planning and comprehensive group work. 2 I realized that each and every individual were respected and their skill sets were appropriately adjudged. The session helped me to identify my strengths and weaknesses distinctively. 3 I have learned to coordinate with group members in a better way which resulted in an increased output efficiency of the group. Q2 Summarise the value that you will add to an organisation by this aspect of your professional development Having understood the core of team work and task delegation, I will be able to manage people in a better way alongside being able to allocate resources efficiently. In addition, I can be of huge benefit to the organization given the amount of past work experiences that I possess. Q3 How else will you gain from this learning? The learning will help me to mould my leadership as well as my interpersonal skills in such a way that it will lead to an all round development of myself. I will be in a better position to manage my tasks and at the same time when I combine my learning with my existing experiences, I will be able to formulate effective strategies and device appropriate solutions. SEMINAR 2 Q1 What do you consider were the three most important things (planned or unplanned) that you learned in this session? Briefly describe how they were learned 1 Ways to identify the alternative strategies to a particular problem was a huge taking from this particular session. 2 Working in a group where I had to convey ideas as well as listen to others has helped me to bring upon improvement in my communications skills. 3 I was able to develop my thinking ability and was able to able make it more creative in order to set forth ideas appropriate to the circumstances. Q2 Summarise the value that you will add to an organisation by this aspect of your professional development Having attended this session, I was able to enhance my creativity as far as my thinking ability is concerned. In such a context, I will be able to add to the organization I work for by assessing the nature of a problem efficiently and use my creativity to come up with effective solutions. Q3 How else will you gain from this learning? I will be able to enhance my analytical skills whereby I can effectively analyse a particular situation, set forth alternative plans so that in case if one fails the other can act as a contingency. SEMINAR 3 Q1 What do you consider were the three most important things (planned or unplanned) that you learned in this session? Briefly describe how they were learned 1 One of the main things that I developed in this particular session was to convey my ideas clearly in front of an audience. I was taught different ways of engaging with the audience and conveying my ideas as interactively as possible. 2 I was able to identify the strength and the weaknesses that lie within me, as far as communicating in front of an audience is concerned. 3 I was also taught about demonstrating my confidence through my gestures and postures while communicating my idea as doing atht will enable me to convince the audience more often than not. Q2 Summarise the value that you will add to an organisation by this aspect of your professional development Having developed my communication or rather information conveying skills, I will be able to better produce my ideas and strategies in front of the board members or high authorities as and when required. Q3 How else will you gain from this learning? I also look forward to develop my skills of communicating with people from different cultures and backgrounds as that will help me learn more about them and their culture and alongside that I’ll be able to develop my networking skills. SEMINAR 4 Q1 What do you consider were the three most important things (planned or unplanned) that you learned in this session? Briefly describe how they were learned 1 This session focused a lot on improving the networking skills of an individual. I was able to understand the importance of having this skill as it is going to help me in the future to help my organization widen their customer base. 2 In this particular session I was able to learn about various ways of initiating a conversation and taking it through to conclusion. I was also taught regarding the right topics to talk about while attending a networking event. 3 I also learned a lot about different ways of engaging industry level experts in a particular conversation so as to exhibit my knowledge in that particular field and at the same time drawing their attention to the company I work for which in turn will help me to promote the services offered by my company. This might result in the conversion of these listeners into potential customers of my company. Q2 Summarise the value that you will add to an organisation by this aspect of your professional development By enhancing my networking I will be able to promote the services and products that are offered by my organization with underlying objective of widening the customer base. Q3 How else will you gain from this learning? I also look forward to develop my attitude while speaking in front of industry experts and learn different ways of effective formal communication. Reference List Alan, R., 2002. The Serials Data Migration Dilemma. Technical Services Quarterly 20 (4), pp. 29-38. Argandona, A., 2003. Fostering values in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 45 (1/2), pp. 15-28. Boddy, D., 2002. Managing Projects. Edinburgh Gate: Pearson Education. Capra, F., 2002. Life and Leadership in Organizations: The Hidden Connections, Random House. Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Copeland, N., Farmer, J and Smith, P., 1997. Data Migration: a Brief Primer. Colorado Libraries, 23 (4), pp. 22-25. Ferdig, M., 2000. Complexity Theories: Perspectives for the Social Construction of Organizational Transformation. Lisle: Benedictine University. Goleman, D., 1996. Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. London: Bloomsbury. Vodafone, 2014. HR PMO Officer - VGL0000UK. [online] Available at: https://vodafone.taleo.net/careersection/2uk/jobdetail.ftl [Accessed 4 March 2014]. Read More