Personal and Professional Development Skills - Assignment Example

Personal and Professional Development Skills University’s Name: Submitted by Name: Tutor: Date: Personal Development Journey From the onset, this seemed to be the most interesting and challenging course because it touches on the most challenging topics like “Understanding Myself” and some of the most interesting topics like social networking and job seeking strategies. Therefore, I became passionate of understanding the interesting topics while at the same time I feared engaging in some of the challenging topics, especially those required me to disclose personal information to my peers and the tutor. I grew up in a family where we rarely sit together and share personal information, as every family member was busy chasing his or her ambitions and also the strict gender roles in the Arabian society. The social setting in my home country, UAE, made me to develop secretive attitude. However, at the end of the course, I appreciated the importance of knowing oneself and sharing personal information with the people you can trust. The most interesting topic that I enjoyed the most in the whole of the course was “Job Seeking Strategies.” During the discussion on the topic, I could found myself in the lecture hall earlier than usual to ensure that I secure the front seat in the lecture hall to grasp as much information as I could. I have been dreaming to secure a descent job that pays high salary, but due to stiff competition in the labor market I feared that I may not have proper job hunting strategies to earn me my dream job. The passion to fully understand the job hunting strategies boosted my confidence, as I was able to fully understand what is required in the labor market, especially when it comes to attending interview and writing a perfect CV that can give me a competitive edge during an interview. I strongly believe that the skills will help me acquire my dream job when I am called upon to attend an interview and to present my skills. Apart from securing a better job that can earn me high salary, I also had the passion of venturing in a business. However, I believed that a person must receive formal entrepreneurship to become a successful businessperson, as I have seen many successful businesspersons with no formal education or who have never stepped into a business class. Therefore, I never thought the topic on entrepreneurship would be of any significant help until we went through it. At the end of the topic, I realized the importance of having certain business skills, especially when it comes to communication and understanding customers. This was the most beneficial course to me because it was touching on real life issues that I am likely to face in the real life situations. It has helped me understand myself, what is required of me in the labor market, how to be innovative, and it has also improved my social life. I am, therefore, convinced that I have a lot of information that can help me when it comes to personal and professional development and I believe I have what it takes to do develop myself to achieve personal goals in life. Re-evaluated SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis is the re-evaluation of the SWOT analysis that I submitted when we were starting the course. There is a difference between this SWOT analysis and the one I had submitted before because the course enabled me to effectively evaluate myself, which helped me to identify some of the strengths and weaknesses that I was not aware of before the course. I now realize that I had certain hidden strengths and weaknesses that I should work to enhance my personal and professional development to achieve my objectives in life. Internal Analysis Strengths Creative: This is the strength that I believe has remained constant even after pursuing the course because it was in the initial list of my strengths. The ability to nurture the entrepreneurship idea and start the business when I was 18 years old makes me believe that I am creative, as I am able to think outside the box. However, my creativity has increased after completing the course because it has enabled be me to think beyond my imagination, as I am now thinking of starting new medical center. This is the most important strength that I have because it will help me in solving complex problems and come up with new ideas that can make things happen even in difficult and challenging situations. Self-awareness: This is a weakness before completing the course and the course has changed it into strength. Before the course, I did not appreciate myself as unique individual with different qualities because I did not know who I am. This led to internal conflict that hindered me from achieving some of the goals that I had set. However, now I fully understand myself by clearly identifying my strengths and weakness, which is important in enhancing my strength and improving weaknesses for my personal and professional development. Communication and interpersonal relationship: Now I am able to clearly express my thoughts and ideas verbally unlike before the course when I feared expressing my views. Active participation in various seminars has also enhances my eloquence. I have also developed strong interpersonal skills, as I can easily interact with other people without any problem because I can understand them. I believe the strengths is important because I am now able to express myself freely and freely interact with people, which is important in achieving what I want. Weaknesses Resistance to change: This is the weakness that I had before the course and I still believe that it is a weakness that is should work on because change is inevitable. I am always convinced that what I am doing or thinking is the right thing and convincing me to change my mind is always very hard, especially if it is something that I passionately need. I fear that I can easily lose an opportunity due to resistance to change, which may hinder my development. I need to improve on the weakness because the world is dynamic and changes are everywhere. However, there is a significant change since I completed the course to analyze the situation and reconsider my stand. Too sensitive: I am always very sensitive in almost everything that goes around me that makes me to be cautious all the time. I always find myself taking thing personally even in instances when I should be more rational. The sensitivity is likely to prevent me from making quick and irrational decision that can lead to time wastage. However, the weakness is slowly turning to strength because I can use it to engage in critical thinking that can lead to creativity due to a topic we covered in the course about innovation and creativity that require strategic and critical thinking. Reluctant to delegate: I hardly have confidence on other people and their ability to successfully complete the task. I always believe that I am only person that complete a task successfully. This is a weakness that I should work on because it is hard to handle work alone, especially when there is a lot to be done. It can also interfere with my relationship with colleague or my juniors in the work place, as I will keep on supervision the delegated work. I need to develop confidence on the ability and skills of other people to enable me delegate task when there is a need. External Analysis Opportunities Social network platforms: The course has enhanced my ability to socialize and network and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn offer the best opportunity to get in touch with a large number of people (Cross, Parker and Borgatti, 2002). The ability to identify my strengths and weaknesses will enable me to potential job opportunities in the internet that can enable me to outshine other applicants. Relevant entrepreneurial experience: I am already running my own business and with the added entrepreneurial skills from the course, I can easy succeed in running a bigger business that can earn me better returns. Pursuing a post diploma in medical home care to give me an upper hand when operating home care business that I intend to open. I will be able to offer quality and reliable services that can give me a competitive advantage. The diploma can also boost my CV when I apply for job. Threats High competition in the job market: there are many people who graduate annually and the rate of unemployment is also relatively high in both UAE and London. Only people with experience are likely to get the limited jobs available. Competition in the medical industry: The high number of unemployment is forcing youths to venture into business, which is likely to raise competition due to high number of players (Bell, 2015). Large players in the medical services in the industry are also threat because they enjoy economies of scale that give them a competitive advantage. My weaknesses can also be a threat if fail to work on them as they can ruin my opportunities in the job market and business world. Vision and Goals My primary vision is to secure a well paying job in my home country, UAE, after graduating. I will strive so much ensure that I secure my dream job by the end of my first year after graduation. However, achieving the vision is not an easy task due to the limited demand in the labor market, which has led to high level of unemployment. Therefore, I need to further my education and get some experience to have an added advantage in the labor market. I will ensure that I take short and long courses after my graduation to boost my CV by having relevant qualifications required by employers. Goal 1 Getting a formal job in the UAE Specific I would like to secure a job that is line with my area of profession because I will be able to deliver and get promotion faster. But I will have an open mind to accept any relevant job to gain experience. Measurable It is a measurable goal because I will either get a job or not Achievability The goal is achievable because I am going to graduate with good grades and I also have the added advantage I have studied in one of the respected institutions in the world. Relevance The goal is relevant because it is compatible with my life dream. Time-bound I intend to secure within the first year of graduation. Goal 2 Pursue a post graduate medical diploma in medicine. Specific I will narrow in the relevant medicine discipline after consultation. However, I am likely to choose a medicine course that is in line with my business. Measurable It can be measured because I will either pursue the diploma or not Achievable The goal is achievable because I have passion for medical services and I am already running a business related to the line. Relevance I have been in the medical business for about 5 years and this can boost my business and CV. Time-bound I intend to start the diploma in one years after graduation and finish the diploma within two years Goal 3 Pursue a post graduate degree Specific The post graduate degree will depend on my first job because my aim is to get relevant qualifications and skills to get promotion so that I rise to the top of the organization. Measurable It is measurable because I will either pursue the degree or not Achievable The goal is achievable because I would have worked and save some cash to pursue the degree. Relevance The goal is relevant because of the stiff competition in the job market where only people with relevant knowledge, skills and experience get promotion. Time-bound I intend to take my post graduate degree in three to four years after my graduation and it will take me around two years to complete. Reference List Bell, J. 2015. Unemployment concerns prompting Arab youths to start businesses, survey finds. Retrieved from http://www.thenational.ae/uae/unemployment-concerns-prompting-arab- youths-to-start-businesses-survey-finds Cross, R., Parker, A. and Borgatti, S.P., 2002. A bird’s-eye view: Using social network analysis to improve knowledge creation and sharing. IBM Institute for Business Value, pp.1669- 1600. Read More