Career Management Action Plan - Coursework Example

 COMPONENT 2: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN SECTION 1: CAREER ASPIRATIONS “This section asks you to outline your current career aspirations. You should identify your chosen occupation and job role within that. You may choose to differentiate between short, medium and long term aspirations.” “You should also identify the types of skills/competences that are required to be successful in this role (this must be supported by relevant sources and references), and your current strengths and weaknesses in relation to these skills/competences. Please identify ONE strength and ONE weakness only, and provide detailed supporting evidence.” Career aspirations My goal is to earn a management position within my present company. I intend to rise from the ranks, already having gotten far from my first and initial job as a Team Organizer. I want to be able to prove myself to management. I would like to be able to compete with nationals even though I am from another country. I want my superiors to see my abilities and my determination to overcome my weaknesses and constantly learn from everyday operations and processes. I envision myself as a member of the management team who will actively contribute to the improvement of the operations, and of course to the overall revenue of the company. I would like my efforts to be commended and acknowledged, and be able to set a path towards higher goals and position in the company. I would like to practice everything that I am now learning in the university to my current job. All theories and concepts must be applied on a practical setting to prove that my efforts to earn a degree complement the career part that I am trudging. I also want to further widen my knowledge on this industry that I belong to. I have entered a new world where we should deal with major infrastructure projects for governments, creating railway systems for better transportation. I do not have any background on this industry. I must always deal with skilled workers and engineers and contractors and must learn their lingo. In line with this, I should also learn computer programs that would enable me to provide the needed support to compete the projects. I aspire to be knowledgeable enough so I could work harmoniously with the team. Skills required/demanded in your chosen occupation/role My chosen occupation requires mastery of administrative skills. During my past jobs, I have been trained to systematically provide administrative support to team operations, which include organizing activities, documenting projects and tracking or routing documents needed to mobilize a project. I have also been trained to communicate effectively with clients, suppliers and management to maintain good working relationships. I have been able to carry out these responsibilities, making me an expert in administrative skills. This job also required excellent written and oral communication skills, with emphasis on being able to deliver oral presentations and reports to internal and external clients. I should be able to communicate directives and cascade information through written memos. I must have the capacity to create presentations that do not only indicate qualitative analysis, but also quantitative data. I must be able to handle numbers as well, and translate statistics into reliable data that could be basis for the creation of major projects. Among my current responsibilities are having to create Commercial Awareness Presentations for non commercial staff. With this, good presentation skills are really required. Technical skills are also needed for the job. I must be knowledgeable in particular programs and software, and must also have knowledge on hardware management because I communicate regularly with IT for certain system issues. Currently, I am well versed in Oracle Projects and other related systems. These are essential for me to provide administrative support as needed. Most importantly, management skills are needed for me to be able to hold out and implement successful projects. I must be able to handle a team of personnel and make them work towards common goals. 1.3a ONE Strength (with examples) I consider my being career driven as my primary strength. I have great motivation to advance in my career and I am focused on the steps that I need to undertake so I could move up. I like to set goals for myself. These goals are both short term and long term, and I always ensure that these are achievable and realistic. Basing on these goals, I try to enumerate action plans. My action plans are written and realistic ones which I constantly review to ensure that I am right on track. An example of this was during my first job in a salon in Covent Garden. I was able to get in through an entry level position as a receptionist. It was challenging but I learned everything that I could from daily interactions with clients and suppliers. Eventually, I learned the different career paths that I could follow. I learned all the skills that I could learn, and gained experience in managing the salon while the owners are away. At one point, I had the responsibility of managing the cash flow, negotiate with suppliers and even do customer service for our clients. I also learned how to be a hairdresser. Having undergone all these made me want to aim for higher goals. Each learning experience was fuelled by my desire to improve my skills and make a better life as a foreigner trying to make it big in London. From then, I already knew what I wanted in life, and my weaknesses did not stop me from taking steps forward. I am clearly motivated by my goals and will ensure that I take the right measures towards achieving them. 1.3b ONE Weakness (with examples) Management Skills It has only been recently that I was given the task to supervise a group of people. As a Team Organizer, I have been given the challenge to drive my staff to achieve corporate goals. Theoretically speaking, I have knowledge to actually lead a group. I also believe in leadership by example. I try my best to set an example by being a good employee. I talk to my staff one by one of progress issues, and try to reward every successful endeavour. However, my management skills are challenged every time there is a member of the staff who does not effectively contribute to projects. Since my team members have distinct and different personalities, sometimes, it takes real effort to motivate them as a team. Therefore, I realize that I still have much to learn being a manager, and experience may really be the greatest teacher when it comes to this. Also, there must be good people skills, which I really still have to acquire. Sometimes, it takes magic to get a team to work harmoniously. With different personalities, views and opinions, conflicts still regularly arise. It is a manager’s goal to settle all conflicts to get the team to focus on common goals instead. SECTION 2: REFLECTION ON YOUR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT “This section asks you to reflect on THREE significant experiences/incidents where you have learned a new, or developed an existing, skill or competence. These experiences/incidents could be based in any relevant context (e.g. work, university, home, social clubs etc.) but must refer to skills that you believe will be important in your future employment and career.” Experience 1: Communication Skills Describe the experience Being a foreign national, I first came to London as someone who is not really good at speaking in English. My initial efforts to find a job proved to be futile because owners and managers would choose people who can effectively communicate with their clients. On top of not having a college diploma/ or degree, my inability to communicate well led me to numerous rejections when I was applying for jobs. Therefore, I realized that I had to take measures to learn the language. With this, I decided to take a short course to learn to speak the English language well. I enrolled in European College with the goal of acquiring better communication skills. Having done this, I was able to improve my grasp for the language, and provided me an opportunity to apply for entry level positions. What did you learn? From this experience, I learned that a formal education is indeed essential when you want to conquer language deficiencies. It is important to stay focused on your goals and to really make an effort to learn and understand not only how to communicate but also to make language a tool in building relationships. I had very stiff competition with London nationals who are also looking for jobs like me. And before I was able to learn English, I had no chance of competing with them. Knowledge best equips you to go after your goals, and the best way to start acquiring knowledge is to find people or institutions that could help you. How have/will you use this new skill to aid the achievement of your career aspirations? Language skills are very essential in any job, much more in a management position. Years after I first learned how to effectively use the language, I cannot communicate well enough to pursue higher dreams. My good communication skills would make me qualified to apply for a management position. Good communication skills are essential for a manager to carry out her duties and responsibilities. Experience 2:Multi tasking skills Describe the experience I used to be an employee for a local salon – my first job after finishing my basic English course. As first came in as a receptionist, eventually multi tasking my way as liaison officer for suppliers and customers, a finance person looking after the store’s cash flow, and as a manager ensuring the smooth operations of the salon. The owners probably saw my natural skills and efforts to learn more, that is why they did not hesitate in giving me additional tasks. I took these tasks as a way to learn more skills. Eventually, I was taught how to cut hair, and added this responsibility to my long list of tasks. Being able to perform numerous roles in one organization gave me a sense of self –confidence and even power. Even then, I felt that I had the power to learn as I will it. What did you learn? I learned that motivation and my hunger for knowledge will eventually lead me to the right steps towards achieving my goals. I felt that being able to conquer fears and difficulties ultimately brings you to greater heights. It would not have been possible for me to learn those skills had I not dared to study them. It would have been much simpler being a receptionist and not bother myself with additional tasks since I earn money anyway. But my drive to success and move forward with my goals enabled me to continuously learn. Multi tasking is a skill every employee must possess in order to succeed in the corporate world. Having been given a chance to practice multi tasking made me realize that I could do so much more with my time. How have/will you use this new skill to aid the achievement of your career aspirations? I will continue to motivate myself to always learn more than what is in front of me. With my goal to be a manager, I must continue to acquire the needed skills. A manager must not only have strong business sense, but should have people skills. He must not learn to motivate his team and push them to achieve common goals. Being a manager means leading by example. All of these I must learn to imbibe so I could eventually be an effective leader. I must continue to manage my time so I could perform all tasks at the same time and in the best manner possible. Experience 3: Administrative Skills Describe the experience In my desire to advance further and move up from being a staff for a salon, I was prompted to enrol in a short course that would make me qualified to apply for administrative positions on a real company. After getting my Executive PA Diploma in finance, I was able to learn the concepts behind good administration skills. This made me confident in applying for jobs that required greater responsibilities, and I got fortunate enough to land a job in a small company called VT Limited. As a secretary/ administrator, I gained hand on experience in coordinating with all levels, from co employees, suppliers, and partners and with upper management. I was relied on to keep things together so to speak. I had to organize things to keep my department going. From message taking, to filing and organizing information, I had the responsibility that all systems are in place and that I give support to the operations team. With this, I was able to hone further my administrative skills. What did you learn? I learned that to kick off a really good career in the corporate world, one must be able to ace the entry level position. Performance is the only basis for management to promote you to the next position. If management is satisfied with your performance, you have good chances to be considered for the position. Being new in the corporate world, there should be something to begin with. The administrative skills that I have acquired enabled me to seek greater heights. Now, I am aiming at gaining better understanding of the organization I work with so I could further reach my goals. How have/will you use this new skill to aid the achievement of your career aspirations? I could say that I have excellent administrative skills. Having been in rank and file myself, I could say that I could be effective as a manager because I can empathize. I know what is it like being a staff, and I understand the difficulties of being at the receiving end of all legwork requirements. I also know what is it like to talk and negotiate with suppliers. Any manager who has not gone through that would not understand the feelings of his staff. He would not be able to effectively manage his people. I can utilize these skills so I could prove to my superiors that I can move up and accept greater responsibilities ahead. SECTION 3: CAREER MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN “The following section asks you to set yourself THREE key objectives related to your career development for the next twelve (12) months. Each objective should be SMART, i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-framed.” “For each objective you should outline specific actions that you will have to undertake if you are to achieve each objective. You must also set a specific and detailed time frame for achieving each objective.” Objective 1: State the objective. My primary objective is to be promoted to Commercial Manager Outline of specific actions associated with the achievement of the above objective. To achieve this, I must consistently and effectively deliver my responsibilities as a team leader. I will do this by ensuring that all deliverables are accomplished. I must also continuously hone my communication skills, which does not only mean mastery of the language, but also be able conduct effective presentations and preside meetings as well. I also intend to make my superiors aware of my career goals so they could help me monitor my progress and eventually consider me for the job. Lastly, I must complete my university degree to be truly qualified. Time frame for achievement of the above objective. I should be able to achieve the objective within 12 months. Objective 2: State the objective. Acquire confidence in communicating to potential clients and upper management by immersing myself into more projects. We are basically a construction company serving governments for railway systems. Outline of specific actions associated with the achievement of the above objective. To do this, I will endeavour to join meetings and gatherings where I could get pointers on how to effectively communicate on that level. I now belong to a large company and most of the clients are really important people. I should therefore learn as fast as I could. I should also learn by volunteering to conduct presentations myself. I should ensure though that I am fully prepared before doing this. I do not have experience in the construction business, but with my current job, I have to deal with contractors and engineers. Therefore, a good way to gain more knowledge is to learn the system well. Time frame for achievement of the above objective. I must be able to do this within the next six months. Objective 3: State the objective. I want to finish my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies, Outline of specific actions associated with the achievement of the above objective. It is particularly difficult to achieve this when I am employed full time. But I am focused on getting my degree that is why I need to effectively manage my time. I must maximize every opportunity and not waste my time doing mundane things. I also need to enlist the support of other university groups to enable me to finish requirements despite the limited time I spend in the university. Group projects are usually effective for working students like me. I could contribute for a project but will have other people helping out. Time frame for achievement of the above objective. I should be able to do this in the next 12 months. Read More