Career Action Plan - Essay Example

? PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE William asserts that career development and planning is the most influential economic aspect in the life of every person. Career takes the largest percentage of the most productive years in the life of an individual. This means that a career life has to be developed and built in a systematic manner that ensures objectivity of anyone’s life. On the other hand, the competitive job market characterizes the modern career world, which demands exceptional skills. The skills, which may include positive personality traits, technical competence and sociological skills like interpersonal communication. Appropriate skills coupled with market opportunities determines the best career an individual can adopt. These exceptional skills may fail to materialize if they are not nurtured and developed in the appropriate career environment. Once an individual has identified the most appropriate career based on the set of skills, the next step is to create a strategic plan of entering into the career field and achieving the desired goals within the stipulated period. In alignment with the works of William (2010), my career action plan will encompass 3 years. This will serve as a systematic strategy, which highlights on the steps, and actions with respect to the previous self-evaluation assessment. My strengths include exceptional communication, planning, and leadership skills. I am also enthusiastic, idealistic, and imaginative. In dealing with other members of society, I apply my intuitive personality and persuasion qualities to steers people towards the desired direction. With respect to the available opportunities, I choose pursue the career field of management. After settling on undertaking management, I will seek more information and clarifications from career advisors. This will enhance my identification of the best mentors in the field of management. Now, I will develop a three-year management action plan to highlight the fundamental steps and actions I will employ in accomplishing both my short term and long term goals within the tree-year period. My action plan will pursue short-term goals within the first year and long-term goals for the second and third year. My short term goals includes securing a first line management job within the first three months, demonstrating competence and gaining experience within the first five months after securing the job and striving to attain the team leader position after the first year. In the first half of the second year, I will use the gained experience and my interpersonal skills to co-ordinate the processes of the team in meeting their deliverables within the given period. By the end of the second year, I am striving to be promoted to the rank of assistant manager in any of the company’s department. My final goal is to head a department by the end of the third year. Based on these goals, I will initiate my plan by identifying potential employers of young managers within the first one month of the first year. I will collect information and profile details of these employers from advertisement articles, magazines, and newspapers. I will also identify the employers from online advertisement databases. Application of the suitable positions advertised will be the second step after acquiring the employer’s information. I will submit professional resumes detailing all my strengths and weaknesses. Thereafter, I will present my academic credentials to the head offices of the identified parties. All these are in accordance with the principles of developing an action plan as illustrated by William (2010) in his works. Once in the job, I will demonstrate my competence by applying the technical concepts of management in handling any assignment at my disposal. I will strive to acquaint myself with the company’s mission, objectives, and the ethical code of conducts. According to Tricia (2009), being conversant with these three elements will facilitate the performance of my day-to-day responsibilities within the management position in a professional and objective manner. I will stay as close as possible to every member in my immediate environment like my boss, colleagues, and my subordinates. I will strive to develop a warm and courteous relationship with every member of the work place. After I get acquainted with my work mates and the principles practiced in my work environment, I will move up to unleash my leadership and management skills within the work team. I will tirelessly work towards ensuring optimal performance of my team. I will be able to finish my individual assignments in time, hence assist my friends in case they have trouble in performing their duties within the team. Demonstration of such professionalism and technical competence will secure me a position of a team leader by the end of the first year. In the second year of my job, I will strive to increase my professional skills by attending management seminars and trainings provided by the company. I will enroll on some part time supplementary courses like certificate in information technology to enhance my ability to articulate technological tools into my management duties. I will also approach my mentors for advice concerning career development and practice. In this regard, i will be able to embrace the positive human qualities postulated in the works of my role models. According to Tricia (2009), reference of the positive social qualities of management figures in the job market and taking self-development programs will enhance the development of my interpersonal and leadership skills. Increased academic credentials and development of social interaction qualities will land me in the position of an assistant manager at any suitable department within the company. Once I am in an assistant manager’s position, I will steer the department towards achieving their objectives by developing a short-term strategic plan for the one year. As an assistant manager, I will ensure competence and professionalism of employees under my leadership. I will develop effective motivational and inspiring programs for the subordinates within the first two months of the third year. Tricia (2009) asserts that these assistance programs will serve to increase the employees’ productivity in their duties. I will also organize regular seminars and training programs for employees to boost their technical skills in their areas of responsibilities. In addition, I will employ my developed interpersonal and social skills in managing conflicts between the employees under my department. Efficient co-ordination of these action steps will realize my final long-term goal of achieving a departmental manager in the company. According to William (2010), the efforts dedicated to the pursuit of any goals in life are more likely to encounter some barriers. Some of the potential barriers may include my weaknesses as identified in the previous assessment exercise. With respect to my personality, I am extraverted. This personality trait may present some problems in the process of relating with my fellow workmates in the team or even in the department. My extraversion may create situations of personality conflicts especially between the introverted employees of the company. Another barrier that may actualize in the pursuit of my goals is the level of motivation and willingness of the subordinates under my leadership to perform their duties as per my expectations. Some may not be comfortable with my directions and technical principles hence this may hinder objective delivery of duties and accomplishment of stipulated goals. To overcome these barriers, I will strive to develop a health relationship between workmates and subordinates by minimizing the effect of my extraversion in personal and professional interactions within the company. According to Tricia (2009), a career as a manager demands that an individual should possess excellent management and leadership qualities. Management involves co-ordinating and organizing of human resources within an organization. Therefore, a potential manager ought to possess the essential skills that will facilitate the effective delivery of these functions. The first quality required of a manager leadership. A manager must be able to initiate and direct a project by influencing and motivating the subordinates and other team members. A manager should be judgmental and intuitive in all his or her undertakings. Intuition will help the manager to predict and develop an insight of a situation, hence acting appropriately to provide a working solution. Development of sound judgment requires wisdom and discernment. The quality of judgment enables a manager to make objective decisions in providing solutions to the numerous management issues. In addition, a manager should possess exemplary communication skills. Every manager should be able to interact with all members of the organization in the language they understand. After performing the MBIT personality test, I scored highly in the concepts of intuition and judgment. Based on the same personality test, results show that I possess robust communication skills. Therefore, my strengths and skills qualify me to be a manager. Sample Curriculum Vitae Personal Details Name: Gender: Nationality: Languages: Contact Information Cell Phone Number: E-Mail Address: Education Background 2009-2011- I undertook a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree program from the school of business at University of Venus. I graduated in December 2010 after I successfully defended my thesis on the application of information technology in management practices in the modern world. 2005-2008- I undertook an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) from the school of business at Mercury College of Business Studies. I graduated in November 2008 after I successfully completed my project on the effects of globalization on the modern business arena. Occupational Experience June 2011-March 2012 I worked as an assistant manager at Equity enterprises in New York My Job specifications as an assistant manager at the store included the following; Developing work plans and strategies for the subordinates in the store Making minor decisions regarding the business concepts of marketing and human resource management Conducting training programs to first line managers within the company Co-coordinating the responsibilities and specific duties of all the team leaders in the store Involved in conflict resolution processes between the employees in the enterprise Exceptional Skills I can effectively articulate the following skills and competences in performing any most of the management functions; Microsoft Office programs like MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, PowerPoint, InfoPath, MS Office Groove and MS Publisher Internet use and access Systems development and systems management Computer programming using programming languages C, C++, COBOL and BASIC Objectives My professional aims are to respond to the management needs of the company by employing all my skills and expertise in handling organization, planning, and directing duties. I am fond of conducting team leadership exercises and providing training and mentoring assistance to my colleagues and subordinates in any work environment. I am also interested in conducting project co-ordination and management in any area which falls within the scope of business and management concepts. Interests Studying Travelling Mentoring Guiding and Counseling Referees Excellent and reliable reference available on request Sample Cover Letter City, Address, Phone Number, E-Mail Address, Date. To Mr Tom Venus, Mercury Company Limited, P.O Box 444, New York, 30100. Dear Sir I possess sufficient skills for the post of a technical team manager courtesy of the advertisement that appeared on page 4 of the united magazine on April, 9 2012. I am a 27-year old MBA degree holder from the University of Venus. I decided to apply for this position after reading and acknowledging the requirements of potential candidates. I possess the required competences and skills courtesy of my academic credentials. I possess good communication skills, good leadership skills and a reliable aspect of judgment. I am having one-year experience in a medium level business enterprise as an assistant manager. I have enclosed my resume containing my academic background in the application documents. Attached herein also include my additional professional and exceptional skills in the resume. I have considered all the requirements appearing in the advertisement and found that I have all that is required for this position. I appeal for the opportunity to present my professional philosophies and objectives through an interview exercise. I can participate in any kind of test meant to determine my competence and professionalism in the aspects of management. In case of any ambiguity contained in the documents, I am available on for clarifications on phone. I will also co-operate fully in providing any other additional information concerning my academic and occupational history. I am looking forward fro your consideration. Yours Faithfully, Signature……………………………. XYZ Advertisement Mercury Company Limited Vacancy: Technical Team Manager’s Position Requirements Candidates should have at least an undergraduate degree in any business field A Masters degree program will be an added advantage Candidates should possess good communication skills Interested candidates should have verifiable leadership qualities Interested candidates must be good team players Responsibilities Provide leadership services to the team Manage the efforts of all the team members Provide technical training to team members Create work plans and strategies for the team Collect and compile all the reports of the technical proceedings of the team References William, M. B. (2010). Career Action Plan. California: Meridian Education Corp. Tricia, J. E. (2009). Career Development. New York: CIPD Publishing. Read More