Portfolio in Computer Science - Personal Statement Example

Kenny’s Portfolio Personal Skills Profile I come from a diverse cultural background that includes influences from many regions of the world, and demands adaptability and an acute awareness of changing circumstances. This multicultural background as well as the fact that my parents were both schoolmasters ensured that my upbringing consisted of strong educational “conditioning” through disciplined study and intense workshops, many times in favor of important extracurricular activities such as sports and the arts. This encouraged the development of core skills associated with the applied sciences – analytical mind, strong memory, intellectual endurance- while discouraging “Dionysian” tendencies such as extroversion, physical exertion, indulgence in the fine arts and “rides on wild side”. My resultant aptitude towards the applied sciences leads to the development of certain core skills 1 with notable strengths in the Academic and Self Management Areas while my Communication and Interpersonal skills leave much to be desired. My structured thinking and “fluid” learning abilities allow me to research, accumulate, synthesize, analyze, organize, and interpret large amounts of information, information which once coupled with my problem solving and organizational abilities allows me to creatively and innovatively resolve most or all forthcoming challenges. My major weakness, probably due to my somewhat introvert character, lies in my weakness to actively communicate and effectively interact with my immediate and not so immediate surroundings. I am well versed in written communication and the use of information and IT systems tools and services, but am at a disadvantage when it comes to associating with co workers and students, and presenting orally my thoughts and convictions. Although I am fluent in several languages and do adapt quickly, this ability to change and move from my comfort zone can only be done on an individual or personal basis; I should have great difficulty in adapting as part of a team and I believe that my presence in a team would impede the performance of the said team. This apparently has to do with my perceived introversion and my individualistic “Apollonian” nature; since “No Man is an Island” this has to be dealt with if I am to be successful in any future endeavors. My background, influencers and resultant core skills point me in the direction of the Pure and Applied sciences in general, and the field of engineering in particular. I believe that my strong abilities in the areas of mathematics and physics as well as my ease of learning and strong problem solving skills will allow me to become one of the top performers in this field, specifically Communications Engineering. I am not sure that I would call this an aspiration. I guess my aspirations have to do more with making a descent living and have enough time on the side to be able to do the things I’ve never done: Play sports, learn music, adventurous travel, write, indulge in good cuisines and fine wines, and generally fill my life’s portrait with vivid colors instead of shades of gray. My basic strategy is to use my existing aptitudes as a tool, a medium and a catalyst to increase and maintain at an acceptable level my standard of living in order to enrich that part of me that has seemingly been ignored these past years: My “Dionysian” Self. I firmly believe that the above strategy will allow me to develop fully as a person and lead a balanced and full life, and to maintain through continuous development an impressive and excellent career, while simultaneously leading a full and happy life unaffected by the dreary grayness of today’s mechanized world. KENNY’S SKILL ASSESSMENT FORM 5 = Fully proficient; 4 = Very Comfortable; 3 = Average/OK; 2 =Needs attention/improvement; 1=Serious 1. ACADEMIC SKILLS 2. SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS Library research Able to research appropriate periodicals, websites, books and other references to draw together the required information. 5 4 3 2 1 Reflection on learning Able to stand back, review an activity or task, capture its essence and systematically plan the next steps. 5 4 3 2 1 Synthesis of data Having located relevant information from a variety of sources, to bring it together and present in a coherent argument. 5 4 3 2 1 Self awareness/Assessment Able to evaluate own strengths, values, weaknesses, progress and future learning objectives. 5 4 3 2 1 Critical thinking Consider issues from a range of perspectives and draw upon appropriate concepts and values in arriving at a critical assessment. 5 4 3 2 1 Action planning/Decision making Able to plan, set and meet own objectives and make decisions starting from a variety of possible options. 5 4 3 2 1 Active learning Willing to take an active role in learning and recognise personal responsibility for own lifelong learning. 5 4 3 2 1 Time management/Self discipline Able to prioritise tasks, manage and achieve results on time and within budget and/or other constraints. 5 4 3 2 1 Problem solving Able to negotiate obstacles in pursuing an objective and develop effective strategies for overcoming them. 5 4 3 2 1 Independence Able to work without supervision in unfamiliar surroundings and make a full contribution. 5 4 3 2 1 Project management Able to plan, monitor and evaluate using project management tools and techniques to provide workable solutions. 5 4 3 2 1 Initiative/Proactive approach Able to initiate activities and follow interests without supervision or prompting from others. 5 4 3 2 1 Creativity/Innovation Able to think laterally and inventively, to develop original approaches in defining and solving problems. 5 4 3 2 1 Budgeting Able to budget finances effectively and supplement income from part-time work when appropriate. 5 4 3 2 1 3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS 4. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Written materials Able to construct grammatically correct and well written/spelt essays and reports, using the most appropriate style for the purpose. 5 4 3 2 1 Groupwork/Teamwork Able to cooperate with others, make a variety of contributions to help the group achieve its goal. 5 4 3 2 1 Oral/Visual presentations Able to distil information, present ideas to an audience using visual aids and answer questions to defend a case. 5 4 3 2 1 Understanding/Tolerance of others Recognise and accommodate the fact that others have different needs, feelings and/or behaviour. 5 4 3 2 1 Active listening Open and able to hear and understand verbal messages without prejudice or assumptions 5 4 3 2 1 Negotiation Ability to know what is wanted, to negotiate assertively (not aggressively) and to come to a mutually agreed outcome. 5 4 3 2 1 Foreign language/s Able to read, speak and understand foreign languages, where and when appropriate. 5 4 3 2 1 Peer assessment Able to give constructive feedback to student peers and to receive/ accept similar from them. 5 4 3 2 1 Numeracy Able to manipulate numerical data in any context in which you would be expected to participate. 5 4 3 2 1 Leadership Able to manage, guide or facilitate a group to maximise its success and the contribution of all participants. 5 4 3 2 1 Information skills Able to seek, store, retrieve, synthesise, use and present information in ways appropriate to the task, including the use of C&IT. 5 4 3 2 1 Manage change/Adaptability Able to make / manage change and comfortably face changing circumstances and new challenges. 5 4 3 2 1 IT skills Able to use computer applications to the level required and appropriate to the problem in hand. 5 4 3 2 1 Job Post2 Job Position: Permanent Location: Cambridge Job Hours: Full-Time Job Role: Advanced Technologies Company:  Mylen Recruitment Salary: £excellent package and prospects Job reference: J6002 Posted Date: 10 March 2010 14:05:46 Graduate Engineer or Computer Scientist Urgent requirement with an Immediate Start Date for a Graduate with an excellent first degree or PhD in engineering, computer science, mathematics or related discipline and proven strong mathematical skills and interest in applying mathematics to solve problems. To work on client assignments developing digital signal processing software for a wide range of wireless systems and products. Technical staff work on client assignments in multi-disciplinary project teams, sometimes on more than one project concurrently and in different team roles. A strong desire to learn to develop and implement solutions based on different technologies and for different target markets is essential. The Customer base is diverse and ranges from blue chips to start-ups. High quality work is essential from every team member. You will work on the design, implementation and testing of signal processing software on high-performance and unusual hardware platforms. As a project team member you would be responsible for carrying out your specific project tasks within the time-scales and budgets agreed with your project managers. There are many aspects to the work in addition to design. As your experience develops, you might wish to take on further responsibilities. To meet the requirements of this role you will have: An excellent first degree or PhD in engineering, computer science, mathematics or related discipline Proven strong mathematical skills and interest in applying mathematics to solve problems Imaginative and inquisitive mind, eager to learn new skills and to develop solutions for interesting and complex problems Strong C programming and software engineering skills Good communication skills, both written and verbal Kenny lastname, B.Eng. Street Municipality PostalCode,City,Country Telephone email March 15, 2010 Mylen Recruitement Cambridge UK Dear Sir/Madam: My name is Kenny LastName and I am forwarding to you my CV as an application for the position of Advanced Technologies, Job Code J6002. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from the University of Soandso with specialization in computer and communication technologies and specific competence in the areas of digital signal processing and related systems technologies. As my course grades will attest I have above average analytical capabilities which when coupled with my strong problem solving abilities allow me to develop solutions for interesting and complex problems. In addition, my previous work experience as a summer student allows me to address any situation and adapt to any work environment. My date of graduation is June 2010 and should my qualifications interest you, please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience. My sincerest wishes, Kenny LastName B.Eng. Kenny phone Address, city,state,zipcode email Professional Aspirations I am interested in pursuing a career as a design engineer in the mobile communications industry. Notable Skills Strong Mathematical skills Inquisitive with strong analytical and problem solving capabilities Competence in algorithm development and general programming methods Class A honors degree Work Experience Summer Student: Signal Processing Hancock Industries, Athens Georgia July to September 2009 Summer Student: DSP chip design Allied Signal, Newark July to August 2008 Education B.Eng. Honors Electrical Engineering (Computer and Communications Option) McCay University, London UK July 2010 References Available Upon Request. Interview Feedback Form3 Candidate Name: Position Applied For: Education Level: Candidate is a good fit for this position Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Please rate the candidate's skills (1 is low, 5 is high)   1 2 3 4 5 Organization Communication Presentation Appearance Technical Ability Should we hire this candidate? Yes No Further Interviewer Comments At this point I am not ready to recommend hiring. We should re-interview the candidate in a couple of weeks and assess his ability to work under pressure in a team based cross continental environment. I should emphasize that persuasive communication abilities and presentation skills are essential since we engage in customer presentations on a weekly basis. Reflective Statement The whole process of preparing this portfolio has been one of intense reflection, experimentation and constant research into new areas which enabled me to increase my self awareness through enlightened self insight and self understanding, One of the things that became apparent in this trek, as will be further elaborated in the following paragraphs, is how entrenched I was –and still am- in my comfort zone, and how difficult it was -and still is- to change habits, to delve into new behaviours, and to accept the fact that I could be wrong. Indeed it became evident to me that –high grades or no high grades- I could be the one that is actually impeding the performance of a team and duly affecting other people’s progress, where at one time I believed that they were affecting mine. Another factor that has come to light is that even though there is ample literature addressing the issues of behavioural change –managerial or otherwise- the literature and available support sessions seem to only act as first steps in a very long and winding staircase that can only be climbed through self discipline, initiative, courage and trial and error. I find it very unlikely (as will become evident from the following paragraphs) to acknowledge success when my reactions revert to old manners in unprecedented and spontaneous circumstances. The phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” applies to my case even though I am not so old, and certainly not of the canine species. My strategy nevertheless remains the same as was stated at the beginning of the semester and I maintain that my strong abilities in the areas of mathematics and physics as well as my ease of learning and strong problem solving skills will allow me to become one of the top performers in the Engineering discipline, specifically Computer and Telecommunications. This again is not an aspiration but a catalyst to financial security which will eventually award me the luxury of engaging in things I’ve never done before such as learning sports, music, going to exotic travel destinations, indulging in fine food and wines and foreign cuisines thus filling my life’s portrait with vivid colors instead of shades of gray. My basic strategy is to use my existing aptitudes as a tool, a medium and a catalyst to increase and maintain at an acceptable level my standard of living in order to enrich that part of me that has seemingly been ignored these past years: My “Dionysian” Self. This past semester has brought to light certain things; things that I took for granted in the past and things that have now injected me with renewed self confidence and brought new light on old perspectives. In essence: My grades, interviews and general feedback confirmed my suspicions on my strengths and weaknesses and suggest that I have good knowledge of who I am: I know myself! The basic assumptions I had about my core skills were correct, but my level of deficiency in the areas of People Communication and Interpersonal skills is greater than I thought. The aforementioned conclusions were the result of much study as well as online self assessment exercises4, trial and error and interaction with fellow students, teachers, tutors and my immediate and not so immediate social circle and supervisors, and of course interviewers. My grades in the sciences and areas of applied mathematics and physics reflect a natural talent in these areas – as per my core skills- but performance related feedback insofar as project presentations (overhead slides) and public demos, communication and face to face negotiation activities whether for technical specifications or salary levels, and any related intercommunication activity that requires the creation of impressions, convictions, face to face negotiations, or public relations leaves much to be desired. In addition, my participation in teams and teamwork related activities exposed at an early stage my irritability and lack of patience with these activities, especially when it came to agreeing on goals, helping weaker members catch up and being part of the team’s successes and failures. I found myself highly irritated by weaker (or what I perceived as weaker) team members and resented the fact that many times the team seemed to impede my progress. Only after realizing my own deficiencies and erroneous judgement did I realize the value of working with a heterogeneous set of people that complemented each other’s abilities, and worked for a common goal instead of individual agendas. Only then did I understand the value of the Roman statement “In Unity the Power”. I regarded, and regard the above issues as major show stoppers as per my life strategy and aspirations since communication and interpersonal skills are essential ingredients in any professional career as are teamwork, an open mind, flexibility and the ability to adapt to multicultural and multinational environments. In addition, since we are clearly living in an ever changing word, where the rate of change seems to rapidly increase decade after decade, these essential career requirements are also imperative if one is to have a fulfilling personal life. It has become quite evident that world markets and economies are tied together because people –partly through new communication mediums such as the internet- are tied together. As stated before, I was fortunate to have identified these human relationship deficiencies early on in the semester and proceeded to take steps to minimize or eliminate them altogether. After doing some reading especially in the areas of organizational behaviour and related subject matter that dealt with human behaviour in both the working and social environment, it became clear that certain core skills cannot be eliminated, but can of course be put under control. This was no easy task and aside from accessing the available literature and journal, I sought to find a role model with a similar background, and similar aspirations. This individual that I now consider a role model, and who has chosen to remain anonymous, has more than 20 years in the area of Mobile Telecommunications and has occupied, and still occupies high profile highly respectable and responsible Executive Positions in corporate management. Our discussions were intensive and I gained valuable insight into how companies work and how personnel selection is made; I also gained valuable insight into how I can minimize certain behavioural characteristics while positively re-enforcing others. When it came to increasing my “socialization” and participation attributes, the key item was to force myself into behaving properly instead of reacting adversely and immediately. In other words I would force my “human” brain to overrule instinctive decision or reactions made by my “dinosaur” or primitive lobe resting somewhere in my cortex, and consistently force myself to behave properly as the circumstances demanded. I would not react negatively to suggestions that seemed to conflict with my own, and instead of openly disagreeing with a point of view, I will strive towards consensus through a “Socratic dialogue” 5rather than argument. When it comes to applying for the right job, and generally when looking for work I have gained valuable perspectives into the way companies operate in general, and how Human Capital departments function in particular: It is common knowledge that one of the essential responsibilities of any Human Capital department is to find suitable candidates for a particular job or set of jobs. A job is usually described by a job description and every job description is defined by a number of required inputs, tasks and expected outputs. The job performer is of course assessed on the quality of the outputs through the performance appraisal process. The list of functions or tasks that are required to perform a job imply related skills, some of which require hard characteristics since we are born with them or end up with them somehow at a later stage, and soft skills which can be improved through training. For example playing the piano requires certain hard characteristics such as 10 fingers and an ear for music. If somehow we are born without hands, or due to some misfortune we loose both hands, then it would be difficult to become a pianist. We don’t have the necessary hard characteristics. If we have an ear for music and the right fingers, then we can improve our soft skills through piano lessons and become a pianist, or at least play piano. Hard skills that are related to certain characteristics are set for life; soft skills can be learnt, trained and retrained. With the above in mind it would be fruitless to place an introvert individual in a job that requires extroversion (for example: sales) and an extrovert person in an isolated position say for example in an astronomical observatory located on some isolated mountain peak. Going back to my core characteristics, I am by nature an introvert although with the disciplinary moves I mentioned above I can honestly state that I have moved considerably towards the light extrovert scale, but not enough to apply for positions requiring a high extrovert bubbly type of person. So at least for my requirements, sales positions would be out of the questions and my target domain would be some sort of design or technical support engineering position that would require teamwork and where decisions and strategies are forged based on technical information and specifications rather than people or Machiavellian related manoeuvres. If I were to interpolate my findings and extrapolate my career I would expect an eventual directorship in a technology or Research and Development related industry and definitely not in the business strategy, product management, or marketing and sales domain. The fact that I have chosen a career path and an industry, and the fact that I have a down to earth realization of my shortcomings does not mean that I am done and ready to embrace the working world and that my education is complete. The interview feedback and results6 suggest that my appearance and performance during the interview left much to be desired. The interviewer more than once asked me to relax, I was continually sweaty and during my initial and final handshakes the interviewer (much to my embarrassment) wiped his hand with a tissue, and I frequently stuttered, mixed and trembled some of my phrases revealing nervousness and discomfort in one to one sessions. I was able to answer most of the technical questions and did extremely well in the 30 minutes technical test, but the oral interview was very close to being a disaster. I was fortunate to have an experienced interviewer who understood my hang-ups, calmed me down even to the point of getting me a glass of water ( I preferred a Cola at the time but I did not want to push it) and guided me along without forcing any issues past the point of no return (with regards to my stress levels). It became quite evident that even though I had done a number of things to improve my “socializing” factor , I still have a long way to go if I am to work in any type of national and international team based environment. I remain convinced that my initial strategy is correct and I am fully committed to pursuing a successful career in the technical domain, and coupling this with a rich and colourful private life. I want to lead a balanced and happy life, and perhaps eventually leave something positive for posterity. I do have much to do in the area of self betterment but I am not yet convinced that this can be achieved through courses, sessions, or any other formal self improvement mechanisms. Of course I can be wrong regarding this but I firmly believe that the way to self fulfilment –through a successful career and a balanced personal life- is based on trial and error rather than emulation of any process referred to in the literature, and is consistently filled with stumbling road blocks where the path to salvation and success lies in patience, persistence and perseverance. Bibliography 1. The Art of Building Windmills, Peter Hawkings,Graduate Employment Unit, June 1999 2. Dinosaur Brains: Dealing with All Those Impossible People at Work, Albert Bernstein, Ballantine Books, September 1996 3. Any Good Book on Organizational Behaviour 4. How to Shoot from the Hip Without Getting Shot in the Foot: Making Strategic Choices Everyday,James D. Stein, Wiley, September 1990 5. Psychology Applied to Work, Paul Muchinsky,Wadsworth Publishing,August 2007 Read More