Career Plan After Graduation From Northumbria University - Case Study Example

?Summary of my Career plan after graduation from Northumbria Currently, I am studying at Northumbria and I am doing a BA degreein Business with Human Resource Management. I am actually intending to set my own business with the help of family members after graduating from the above mentioned university. First of all, I would like to work for the Saudi British Bank as a broker manager so that I will gain the required experience in dealing effectively with issues related to human resources management. My career path is mainly shaped by the theoretical knowledge I have so far gained in my studies which can be transformed into practice when I am operating my own business venture. In Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of business opportunities but there is need for one to have the right knowledge as well as skills in order to run a business effectively. It is my hope that the knowledge I have gained in my studies related to HRM will greatly help me to realise my dream of becoming a successfully entrepreneur. Introduction Whilst there are different trends in the careers pursued by different people after graduation from their respective universities, I believe that certain steps have to be taken into consideration in order to achieve the desired goals. It can also be noted that unemployment remains a great problem hence there is need to carefully decide on the career path that can be taken. As such, this paper seeks to outline my career plan for the next 10 years after graduation from Northumbria University. The paper starts by highlighting the meaning of the term career in order to gain a clear understanding of the whole concept. The main part of the paper will explore some of the factors that characterise the market place of the intended career as well as a reflective commentary on my intended career path and suitability for the identified target position after graduation. Psychometric test results will be attached at the end of the paper to illustrate the level of preparedness for this particular career. The paper will also look at factors such as competition for internships as well as employment opportunities and how these challenges can be overcome. Personal reflection about my career goals I am currently a second year student at Northumbria University and am studying for a degree in Business with Human Resource Management. I am aiming at setting up my own business with the help of my family in the next ten years after graduating from this particular university. I made a decision with my family that I must first study for a tertiary qualification abroad so that I can gain knowledge as well as experience in running and operating a small business given that each family member going to be part of the business venture has decided to study about a particular subject connected to it. Some of the family members are studying about accounting and finance but I have decided to pursue my studies in human resources management so that I can become a Human Resources Manager in the future when we open our family business venture in Saudi Arabia. After completing my BA degree in Human Resources Management, I am planning to study for my Masters degree in the same career which will be approximately one year and after that I intend to go back to my home country where I can work as an HR manager in a government controlled organisation called the Saudi British Bank in order to gain more experience through converting theoretical knowledge I will gain from my studies into practice. This will help me to build our own family business since I will have a wealth of knowledge in this particular field which I have long dreamed of. It is my strong conviction that the experience and knowledge I will gain within the next ten years will be very important in establishing a strong business venture which can also be a source of employment to other people given that the problem of unemployment is also noticeable in my own country. Essentials of career development According to the World Book Encyclopedia (2008), a career is loosely defined as a pattern of work or activities that are related to work that are often developed by individuals throughout their lifetime and these are often seen as their source of livelihood. A job that is developed over a period of time is regarded as a career and these jobs vary and they have a bearing on the person’s life. More often than not, it can be noted that many careers are pay based and they greatly determine the kind of lifestyle that can be led by an individual person. Tertiary education is very important in determining the structure of a career that can be pursued by an individual person. In Saudi Arabia, I have realised that people often lack tertiary education in order to operate a small business viably. However, during the contemporary period, it can be noted that it is not very easy for the graduates to get their dream jobs as a result of the competition that exists in the market place. In some instances, it can be difficult to get places for internships wile in other cases securing permanent employment in the desired career can be problematic as a result of various aspects such as competition. As such, I believe that the first step in pursuance of my career after graduation is to seek employment in the desired field so that I can get the required experience in starting on my own business. As long as the aspect of employment after graduation is concerned, it is my firm belief that the employer will play a pivotal role in the development of the prospective employee. Nelson (2002) posits to the effect that the employer plays a pivotal role in creating the opportunity as well as climate for the full development of the new recruit such that his or her capabilities are optimally utilised. Internship or in-service training is advantageous in that it enables the recent graduate to familiarise with the real life employment experience in his or he chosen career. It is my belief that when I get this opportunity, will be able to have a realistic assessment of my career expectations as well the requirements by the employer. During the current period, it can be noted that the economy is volatile and chances of getting permanent employment are slim hence I would like to utilise the opportunity of joining the Saudi British Bank so that I can get the required experience before I venture into my own family business. My career will be characterised by a flare of human resources management as I would wish to be an HRM in the future. The borderless economy that has been caused by globalisation has also significantly contributed to the performance of various economies. As a result of the advanced development in information and communication over the last two decades, it can be noted that the global village has shrunk and new investors are coming up with new ideas to fill the gap that may be overlooked by other bigger companies (Venter, 2003). In as far as employment creation is concerned, there is need for small business investors to harness on the opportunities that exist within their particular countries and this is the reason why I believe that I must first of all get the required experience in the field of human resources within a large company they I can utilise this experience as well as knowledge in running own family business. There are a lot of opportunities in Saudi Arabia and this is the reason why I have keen interest about becoming an entrepreneur. As a new graduate, it is my belief that I should be innovative in order to overcome some of the hurdles that can be encountered in as far as securing life time employment is concerned. In view of the scenario discussed above, it can be observed that competition among the graduates is high and it often lead to shortages of employment. The volatility of the economy is also another cause for concern given that huge multinational companies may be forced to downscale their operations in order to sustain their operations. Thus, there is need for the graduates to harness various market opportunities that may exist through entrepreneurship so that they will be better positioned to overcome some of the challenges related to unemployment that can be encountered in pursuit of their careers (Lamb, et al 2008). Thus, starting a new business is not an easy feat especially for entrepreneurs who are recent graduates from universities as they need to be skilful as well as knowledgeable in analysing as well as scanning the environment for possible opportunities that can exist. In some cases, there are gaps that exist in the market and these are not fully covered by large corporations hence graduates ought to utilise their skills to add value to the market which is the driving force behind my career. Key features about my intended career/basic tenets of HRM Basically, human resources management plays a lot of functions that affect the day to day operations of the organisation and I intend to gain more experience in aspects such as selection as well as interviewing when I am managing my own family business venture. It is generally believed that the effectiveness of the organisation is determined by the quality of the workers who form the foundation of that particular organisation. According to Armstrong (1999), selection is a process that involves choosing the best candidates from the pool of applicants available for the same post or posts within a given organisation. Selection involves discrimination of the candidates available so as to come up with the best people that can meaningfully contribute to the effectiveness of the organisation. As noted, this selection process forms the core function of the HRM and it plays a significant role in determining the effectiveness of the organisation as well as the improvement of its performance. In pursuit of my career, I would like to gain more knowledge in different functions of HRM since these play a significant role in the overall performance of the organization as a whole. The human resources approach to running of organisations state that human needs as well as organizational goals are mutual and compatible since they cannot be achieved independent of each other (Carell et al 1995). These aspects are interrelated and they affect the functioning of the organisation and this is the reason why I am particularly concerned with gaining more knowledge about the functions of human resources management. Grobbler (2006) states that research has shown that employees who quit their jobs within the first year in USA often cite wrong fit for the job. Thus, it is imperative to select the right people in the first place for the betterment of the organisation and I am strongly convinced that this will be my stepping stone towards the development of my career as an HR Manager for our family business in the long run. If people are enthusiastic about the company, they are likely to be productive in their work. In order to gain more knowledge about the selection process, I will first familiarise myself with different techniques that can be used in choosing employees during my period as an employee at Saudi British Bank. I would like to learn more about the interviewing technique which is often seen as more reliable compared to other techniques that are available. In order to achieve this desired aspect of my career, I will select the potential candidates to interview for different positions through the use of available CVs from the applicants. According to Grobbler (2006), the main aim of the interview is to determine the applicant’s level of suitability for the job by matching the information provided on the CV as well as the requirements of the jobs. The interview will then follow in order to ascertain if the applicant has the ability to perform the job, if the applicant is motivated as well as to establish if the applicant meets the needs of the organization. These are the basic functions of HRM that I would seek to familiarise myself with as an employee for the Saudi British Bank before I move to establish our own business venture. The effectiveness of the organisation mainly depends on the effectiveness of the employees and this is the reason why I want to develop my career such that I know all its demands with regards to the functions of the human resources department. It is my understanding that training and development will play a pivotal role in shaping my skills as well as experience in the desired career which deals with the aspect of dealing with people. The employees are the most valuable assets of the organisation hence an organisation that is concerned about its competitiveness as well as survival should utilise the interviewing technique in selection of the right candidates. If I build my career along this path, I believe that I will be able to realise my goals in the long run as I intend to start my own business venture. Since I have a passion for learning different aspects about other cultures, I also believe that I will be positioned to deal with various issues that are related to human resources management. How HRM concepts are going to shape my career path From the above argument, it can be seen that recruitment and selection should not be seen as the only areas that should shape the HRM policies of the organisation. Other aspects such as addressing the issues related to employee needs, managing conflicts, motivating the workers as well as appraising performance are also basic tenets that shape a career in the area related to HRM. As such, I hope to take a holistic approach when dealing with these issues since they determine the level of competence of the individual with regards to issues related to overseeing the functions of the HR department. Various social and cultural backgrounds affect the functions of the organisation and this is the reason why I wish to familiarize with different cultures so as to broaden my knowledge with regards to different cultural aspects that may affect their operations. Amstrong (1999) posits to the effect that culture in a particular organisation affects the way people behave and there are various factors that shape this particular type of culture in a given organisation. From this perspective, it can be seen that the human resources department has a pivotal role to play with regards to incorporating different values of people from different backgrounds in its policies in a bid to improve the performance of the organisation. Thus, as an HRM official, I would seek to consolidate my influence in shaping the culture of the organisation which is one of the main concerns of my career. Given that organizations operate in a dynamic environment, I will take it upon myself that the human resources department will play a leading role in ensuring that the performance of the employees as well as the organisation is directed towards the desired goals and objectives. It is important to conceptualise the theoretical frame work through the studies I am currently doing as well as to convert this knowledge into practice through the experience I will gain once I join full time employment after graduating from my current university. The performance of the organization is mainly shaped by the efforts of the employees and this is the reason why activities such as staffing, training as well as development of the employees are very important in the operations of the organisation. The HRM approach will mainly determine my career path since I am particularly focused on generating income through the efforts of the other people. This approach suggests that the needs of the employees need to be taken into consideration in a bid to increase the effectiveness of the company. This can be achieved through satisfaction of the workers who are often seen as the drivers of any organisation towards the attainment of its set goals and objectives. There is need to create a fine balance between the needs of the employees as well as the organisation so as to be better positioned to achieve the desired results. For this reason, the recruitment and selection efforts of the organisation form a critical function of the human resources management which can ensure long term survival of the company. Understanding these principles of human resources management will greatly shape my career path after graduating from Northumbria University. Conclusion From the discussion above, it can be observed that a career has something to do with work that can be done in a lifetime by an individual person. This particular type of work often determines the lifestyle that is led by a person. However, a career is developed over a period of time and there are various measures that can be taken in order for one to realise his dream. I actually intend to join the Saudi British Bank after graduating from Northumbria University where I will be able to gain knowledge in aspects related to my career which is linked to human resources management. It is my strong desire that after gaining the required experience, I will go back to my home country where I will start my own business venture with the help of the members of my family. The market environment during the contemporary period requires people to be innovative and that is the reason why I intend to mould my career around the aspect of entrepreneurship which can significantly help in lowering the problems likely to be encountered in the long run. Bibliography Armstrong, M 1999, Human Resources Management Practice. 7th Edition, Kogan Page Limited, New York: NY. Bartol, K 1998, Management, Third Edition, Irwin McGraw Hill, Boston. Brewster, C et al 2003, Contemporary Issues in Human Resources Management: gaining a competitive advantage. 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, CT. Cameron, H 1999, ‘Employee relations and organizational growth and decline: a case study,’ Journal of Industrial Relations, Vol. 33, pp. 196-219. Carrell, R et al 1995, Human Resources Management: Global Strategies for managing a diverse workforce, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, NY. Cottrell, S  2008, The Study Skills Handbook    Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Council for Industry and Higher Education, 2008, Graduate Employability: What do employers think and want, Archer, W. and Davison, J. (Eds), London, Council for Industry and Higher Education. Grobler, SW et al 2006, Human resources management in South Africa. 3rd Edition. Thompson learning, NY. Jackson, SE & Schuler, R 2000, Managing Human Resources: A Partnership Perspective. South Western College Publishing, NY. Lamb, CW 2008, Marketing, Oxford University Press, London. Naresh, M 1996, ‘The Modern Industrial Revolution, Exit, and the Failure of Internal Control Systems,’ Journal of Finance, Vol 48 No. 9, pp.929-34. Nelson, D 2002, Careers Encyclopedia. University of Cape Town, Cape Town. Steinhoff, D & Burgess, JF 1993, Small business management fundamentals, McGraw Hill Inc, New York. Swanepoel, BJ (Ed) 1998, Human resources management: Theory and practice. JUTA, CT. The World Book Encyclopaedia, 2008, World Book, Inc, NY: New York. Venter, R 2003, Labour relations. Oxford University Press, Cape Town. Wilton, N. (2010) An Introduction to Human Resource Management, Sage, London. Appendix 1 Cover letter Name: Bayan Alabdulwahed Address: 27 Baltic Quay Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE8 3QW Contact number: 07792538525 Date: 21/10/2010 Mohammed Ali Broker manager Saudi British Bank Dammam, Saudi Arabia, 54345/ 3454 Dear Mr Ali: I am applying for the position of broker manager at Saudi British Bank which was advertised in The Riyadh newspaper of August 6, 2011. The position seems to fit very well with my education, experience, and career interests. I have excellent communication skills and knowledge in training, learning and development. I’m still a student at Northumbria University and will graduate with a holder of a degree (BA) in Business and Human Resource Management. My studies included courses in English and human resource studies. It is my conviction that the work demands commitment and excellent communication skills especially between the trainer and the trainee and I am confident that I possess these qualities since I can communicate at all levels. I can engage with all levels of staff and I am an accurate worker with high attention to detail and excellent organisational skills. I have gained these skills during my studies as well as my internship. My educational background and goals seem to match your requirements well and I am confident that I can perform the job effectively. If you would like to schedule an interview or otherwise discuss my interest in this position, please call me at 07792538525 or contact me at my email address: bayan.alabdulwahed@northumbria.ac.uk . I will be available at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration. Yours sincerely Bayan Alabdulwahed Appendix 2 Curriculum vitae Bayan Alabdulwahed Address: 27 Baltic Quay, Gateshead Tyne and wear, NE8 3QW Date of Birth: 10nd June 1990 Nationality: Saudi Arabian Mobile: 07792538525 Email: bayan.alabdulwahed@northumbria.ac.uk Personal statement: I’m a student currently studying at Northumbria Business School and I am majoring in Business and Human Resource Management. I am a creative person and am very responsible. I am a hard worker and can work under pressure as an individual as well as a team. Education: 2011/2012 Pursuing studies in my second year for the program of Human Resource Management. 2010/ 2011 Successfully completed the first year of business with human resource with an overall average of 60.3%. Solving Business Problems 40 Financial Decision Making 65 Management 56 Human Resource Management 55 Business Processes and System 40 International Business Environment 65 2009/2010 International business Foundation Program. Northumbria University, United Kingdom. Successfully completed the program with a distinction. Reading A, Writing B, Listening A, Speaking A 2007/2008 English Course in Northumbria University. United Kingdom. Successfully completed the course with an A grade. 2007/2006 The Seventh High School. Al-Hufuf. Saudi Arabia Graduated with an overall average of 96% 2005/2004 Saudi Arabian high School in Newcastle Upon Tyne. United Kingdom Kenton High School, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Key technical skills: MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, sai tool, Manga Studio EX Demo . Additional skills: Language: Arabic, English (ESF1 and 2) I’m a well read person. I’m interested in discovering new and exciting news in all fields. I like to learn about other cultures so that I can gain knowledge about their values which can improve my personality as well as qualifications. I am a successful person in leading teams and I would like to convert the knowledge I have gained in my studies into practice in a bid to improve my knowledge as well as skills in my desired career. What do I do in my spare time? I enjoy painting. I’m a good artist in traditional and digital painting. I am especially talented in drawing Japanese animation characters (anime) and using my imagination to create comics. I have my own gallery in an art website. I am also a good Photoshop designer. Referees: Bayan is a well educated student, and she is interested in integrating with people from different cultures. Caroline Burns, 2008 Northumbria Language Centre. Certificate of merit team work. 2007 The seventh High School. Al-Hufuf. Saudi Arabia . Certificate of good conduct, Norah Mohammed, 2006. Saudi Arabian high School in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Graduate Training Programme Application Form (Module HR0275) Student Application Form 2011 Position Applied For Broker Manager Organisation Name Saudi British Bank Name Bayan al Abdulwahed Address (Term Time) 27 Baltic Quay Address (Home) Gateshead Tyne and Wear Telephone (Daytime) 07792538525 Telephone (Evening) 07792538525 Email address bayan.alabdulwahed@northumbria.ac.uk . Date of Birth 10/6/1990 Preferred role Broker Manager EDUCATION School/College/University From To Qualifications Expected/Actual Grade Northumbria 2011 2012 Business with human resource Management BA Degree Northumbria 2009 2010 International business Foundation Distinction Northumbria 2008 2009 English Course Grade A The seventh High School 2008 2007 High school studies overall average of 96% The following questions are designed to provide us with more insight into your skills and competencies and will be used in assessing your application. You can use examples from all aspects of your academic, working or social life to demonstrate your capabilities but we ask that you use a different example for each question. Question 1: Describe a time when you have persevered against the odds and overcome obstacles to achieve a goal. Explain how you approached the situation, what difficulties you were faced with and what the outcome was. From my school experience, I had an exam that I only revised for in one night because I did not know that the exam dates were changed to an earlier date. However, I revised very hard and managed to pass it. I learnt from this experience that I should be aware of any change of dates or time tables before sitting for an examination. Question 2: Give an example of an idea you have had for improving performance or doing something better. Explain how you came up with the idea, how you implemented it and what benefits it has produced. My listening skills were not very good when I was studying the language course so I tried to improve it by watching Discover Channels about knowledge creation. I am interested in aspects such as world cultures and these significantly improved listening as well as communication skills. Question 3: Give an example of when it has been crucial for you to build a strong relationship with members of a wider team. Explain why this relationship was important, what you did to build it and how it helped you achieve your objectives. I was working in a group for a group assignment and my relationship with one of the group members was not well because this person was avoiding any form of connection between us. I tried to find out the reason for the behaviour by this person by asking him why he was behaving in such a way. Unfortunately, I could not get the answer. I then asked for support from my home tutor who told me that I should approach the teacher. The teacher talked to this person individually and the problem was solved. I realised that problems shared and discussed can be easily solved than just keeping quite. Additional Information – please use this section to include any other relevant information which you feel has not been covered elsewhere on this form. I’m a well read person and I’m interested in discovering all new and exciting news in all fields. I love to learn about other cultures in order to gain knowledge about their values. References – Please supply details of 2 referees. One reference must be from your most recent employer. References will only be sought with your permission. Name Mr. Mark Husain Norah Mohammed Telephone 0191 227 3206 053 1866 700 Address Squires building Northumbria university Newcastle upon Tyne Al-khaldeia street Al-hufuf Saudi Arabia Postcode NE! 8ST H09 845 Occupation/ Position Leader of international foundation programme Principal of the seventh high school Thank you for your time in completing this application form. Please email completed forms along with a covering letter outlining why you want to work for Saudi British Bank and what you feel you can bring to the role to recruitment@uk.hjheinz.com The closing date for receipt of all applications is 10th January 2005. Saudi British Bank will contact all applicants w/c 17th January to advise whether or not you have been short-listed. It is anticipated that assessments will take place w/c 24th January for successful candidates. Read More