Personal Development and Employability Skills Assessment 1

The aim of this report is to search a graduate level job by identifying its context and main responsibilities. Employability refers to a process and competency in order to get right job having successful career. It involves looking for a job that matches with academic qualification and potential. Personal development means improving one's present skills such as communication, speaking or listening, various technical as well as academic skills.

PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
AND
EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS
ASSESSMENT 1
1

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Identification of Job context:......................................................................................................3
Person Specification:...................................................................................................................6
Self reflection:.............................................................................................................................6
Personal Development Plan:.......................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
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INTRODUCTION
The aim of this report is to search a graduate level job by identifying its context and main
responsibilities. Employability refers to a process and competency in order to get right job
having successful career. It involves looking for a job that matches with academic qualification
and potential (Bridgstock., 2019). Personal development means improving one's present skills
such as communication, speaking or listening, various technical as well as academic skills.
Development in personal skills always benefits an individual in achieving great career and
growth in future life. The present report discusses about job description, person specification
along with listing of certain roles and responsibilities that are required to fulfil job. This also
involves self reflection comprising strengths and weaknesses which an individual possess in his
career and what all requires to develop or enhance. The job selected for preparation of job is
Finance manager.
TASK
Identification of Job context:
For the preparation of report a job of Finance Manager is being identified under which an
individual will be provided with various roles and responsibilities that a Finance Manager is
required to fulfil (Chand, Kumar and Mittal., 2019). An individual will get post of Finance
Manager after meeting all the necessary requirements along with qualifying an interview by
company. The description of job comprising its responsibilities, department, job position,
company, etc. is mentioned below:
FINANCE MANAGER
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Details
Post : Finance Manager
Department: Finance
Reporting to: Chief Finance Manager
Company : TESCO
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Summary:
Assist global retail company in the field of Finance with numerous operational activities that are
related to Finance department so to ensure all activities are conducted properly, appropriate
records, preparation of bills and receipts, faxing or emailing, searching of potential investors,
investing areas, resolving clients queries related to Finance and many others.
Job Purpose
The Finance Manager is asked to perform several roles and responsibilities in appointed field.
He is required to assure that the department is having flawless and proper working also an
update of performed actions are considered in order to attain company's goals or objective
within time limit. An individual should have effective communication skills as well as proper
knowledge in analysing the market.
Roles & Responsibilities
 Recording of Financial transactions.
 Deciding of particular tasks for each staff.
 Proper management of allotted work with a combination of high productivity among
employees.
 Updating and analysing excel spreadsheets on continuous basis.
 Faxing, emailing or gathering Financial statements and bills.
 Preserving all staff records.
 Closing deals in respect to company's investments.
 Looking for potential investors who can make their investments in company.
 Communicating up with investors and clients or other stakeholders.
 Providing support to Accounts department.
 Supporting in investment process so to have effective decision in acquiring and
investing funds.
 Communication with other employees as per requirement to get proper analysis of
market trends.
 Ensuring all written work in appropriate manner.
 Competent to perform work in pressure, changing environment and timely achievement
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of tasks which are allotted to him.
 Knowledge of Windows 10 operating system, Microsoft office word, power-point, excel
and various other software's.
 Potential in performing work on different Financial software's.
Required Qualification:
In order to perform job effectively, an individual should have competencies in doing each task
efficiently. Following are the main requirements by company in respect of skills and
knowledge.
 Minimum of four years experience in finance job field.
 A Graduation degree or diploma in Finance.
 Recognized certificate course in Financial software.
Other necessary skills:
 Strong skills in framing required informations in the financial software when needed.
 Potential to analyse, monitor and scan market trends.
 Competent to reply investors in positive and attractive manner.
 Ability to retain highest level of secrecy in information and appropriate management of
confidential data.
 Ready to work more like as on public holidays, or during company's crucial time as
required by Finance Manager in related department.
Acknowledgement:
The above job description does not mentions the role which is limited to here listed instead
there can be various responsibilities which can be asked to fulfil from Finance Manager to act at
his job post. The applicant can be asked to do other activities even which are linked with his
position along with complying to other rules and set of guidelines.
Person Specification:
Person Specification
Position: Finance Manager
Functional unit: Finance
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Reporting to: Chief Financial Manager
Attributes Essential Desirable
Experience and educational
qualification
Individual must have
minimum a graduation degree
cleared with more than 75%
marks from recognized
institute. Applicant must have
minimum of 3-4 year's
experience as a Finance
Manager will be regarded.
Individual having post
graduation with an
specialization of finace along
with possessing past
experience in a recognised
firm will be preferred.
Knowledge and Skills Individual must have
efficiency in skills related to
speaking and writing so that
can negotiate and
communicate with investors
efficiently and can also
experience effective
interaction with concerned
parties.
Candidate should caries good
technological skills that is
necessary for analysing
market trends and other data
collected from market and
shareholders. He must possess
skill in doing multiple task in
one moment as needed having
effectiveness in its results.
Self reflection:
Self reflection refers to analysis of one's existing skills along with its proficiency level
which he currently possess. This gives an idea of those areas in which a candidate is having
strong holding or is weak so that can enhance analysed areas along with efficiency in them (Di
Gregorio, Mauri and Mazzucchelli., 2019). A reflection of self based on educational journey is
done below through identification of responsibilities that I can perform and certain knowledge,
skill and support I need to fulfil those responsibilities:
 Communication Skills: Communication plays a very vital role in having effective
negotiation and interaction with investors, clients and other stakeholders (Fahimirad and
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et. al., 2019). A Finance Manager should have enough communication skill in order to
get success in his task. I am having good command over my communication skill and can
bring benefits to the company.
 Technical Skills: The technical skills that are related with this job profile includes
operating on Windows 10 system, Microsoft Office, Financial software's, etc. I have been
working as a Finance Manager in previous firm where I have worked upon such skill
hence I am efficient in above mentioned technical skills.
 Coordination: My previous organisation was a medium size business and now I am
working in large organisation that demands for more coordination among employees
(Fearon and et. al., 2020). I am not much comfortable in coordinating with such large
team which I need to develop. I feel myself little back in this skill. I will work upon this
and enhance my team coordination.
 Problem Solving Skills: This means providing solution to a problem that is hindering
smooth flow of activity or bringing any kind of issue in business (Goodwin and et. al.,
2019). It is very important to have problem solving skill because no task can be achieved
without facing any problem. I am little weak in solving critical problems which I am
going to develop through solving sample problems on daily basis. This will help me in
getting proficiency in solving any kind of problem that may arise during my work.
 Knowledge of marker trends: Analysing and monitoring is very important work which
every finance personal does. Financial market is very dynamic and gets fluctuation by
every second so it is very important to have knowledge about it in order to be a
successful Finance Manager (Husam and Abraham., 2019). I am less confident in
monitoring market trends as sometimes my predictions proves wrong. I need to work
upon this so that I can have right predictions and analysis of market with the help of
which I will be successful in completing task effectively.
 Knowledge of having effective negotiation: In finance negotiation is an inseparable part
on which every finance manager has to hold command. Negotiation takes place at the
time of getting and making any kind of investment with investors and clients (Laguna-
Sánchez and et. al., 2020). Hence it is important to have effective knowledge and skill in
having negotiations. Having an experience with working in previous company I am
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having negotiation skills in me by use of which I can bring benefits and profits to the
company.
Gibbs model is a framework that talks about a process which can be applied in order to
analyse one's potential and doing reflection (Martínez-Cerdá., Torrent-Sellens and González-
González, 2020). The process comprises of several steps such as description, feelings,
evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan.
Step 1: Description: I am applying for a post of Finance Manager in a recognised firm in
UK which is required to work under chief Finance Manager. I was asked to analyse current
trends of market in order to know financial and investing statistics of company as well as
reaction of rival firms. I was not experienced in analysing reaction of competitor firms while
making certain investments or acquiring funds from market. I studies various aspects along with
past analysis done by another manager in same firm. After proper study I applied those concepts
in presentation of my report which I was asked to do by Chief Finance Manager. During my
work I realised I have missed one aspect that is important to consider in getting proper results
and reviewed my project to include the missing component. Later on it was felt that now I am
going in adequate manner to find the outcomes.
Stage 2: Feelings: When I was allotted this work I felt worried as this was not done
before by me so got stressed for effective results. But during my study I felt that I will perform
my task in very efficient manner with no flaws in it and I got success in completion of my work.
Stage 3: Evaluation: The chief Finance manager did not behave rudely by knowing my
weak areas rather supported me with regular motivation. During my work I evaluated my weak
areas and decided to work upon all so to have command over them which will help me in future.
Stage 4: Analysis: The concept which I missed in my work frightened me because it was
crucial part of the report. I analysed the progress of my work and found that I have followed all
the guidelines in preparation of report in successful manner. There are some areas in which I was
very efficient and gave my best to those.
Stage 5: Conclusion: From the whole process during work I came to know my strong as
well as weak areas along with a practical implication of theoretical aspects related to market
study and competitors reactions. I enjoyed my work and developed professional as well as
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friendly relation with my seniors and colleagues who found to be very supportive and polite with
me.
Stage 6: Action Plan: My plan is to get efficiency on my weaknesses by taking certain
knowledge as well as real practical for the same. I am going to take some video lectures in order
to learn and overcome my weak areas. On the other hand I will continue to develop my those
skills in which I have tight holdings so that can apply them according to market trend or demand.
Personal Development Plan:
Area for
development
Maximum
Time
duration to
achieve
those
skills:
Target time
period to
achieve skills:
Current
situation?
Ways to
achieve
mentioned
skills?
Work
Progress
Coordination
skills
04/05/21 In order to
develop
coordination
skills in me I
will need to
initiate team
interaction or
coordination
with my
department
employees and
support staff
as much as
possible which
will help me to
upgrade my
Currently, I
am not much
proficient in
having
effective
coordination
with my
team or
department
employees
and cannot
develop
effective
team work
regarding set
targeted
For this, I need
to take certain
initiative for
building team
coordination.
This can take
place through
doing various
tasks that is
helpful for me
in enhancing
my
coordination
skills and
effective for
future tasks.
The overall
progress
will be
judged by
my aptitude
along with
feedback
from my
team
members
who will
guide me in
respect to my
development
in enhancing
knowledge
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existing skills
that will be
useful for
coming tasks
and activities
under my job
role.
goals and
objectives
which can
have impact
on final
results.
and skills.
Problem
Solving Skills
28/05/21 In concern
with problem
solving skills I
am required to
analyse the
problem from
its root with
various hidden
issues in it.
That will help
me in solving
problems
related to task
or activities.
Due to
absence of
effective
problem
solving skill
I am
sometimes
unable to
take
effective
decision
which
creates a
negative
impact on
my
performance
as well as in
successful
completion
of task.
In order to
attain success
in developing
my problem
solving skills. I
need to
practice
sample
problems
related to my
job work that
can help me in
taking
effective
decisions later.
In this case,
the progress
report will be
analysed on
the basis of
my decision
making sills
or effective
analysis of
problem that
will help me
in successful
completion
of my task
along with
having an
opportunity
of
promotion.
Study of Market
trend
10/05/21 In order to
enhance this
Due to less
knowledge
In order to
achieve this
My progress
of achieving
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skill I am
required to
analyse market
trends properly
from basic on
daily basis.
of market
analysis I am
unable
determine
proper trends
which brings
inefficient
results.
skill I need to
study market
theories as
well as analyse
the market
daily as much
as possible.
this skill will
be analysed
either by me
or by my
superior
which will
help me in
having
proficiency
for future
tasks.
CONCLUSION
From the above report its is concluded that employability requires various kinds of
academic as well as other skills that helps candidate in getting best suitable job for him.
Developing of personal skills assists individual in having proficiency over them along with
certain expertise in it. This helps candidate in showing his capabilities and potential from which
company can be benefited and attain success. It is very essential to have technical, analytical,
logical and market knowledge to be a Finance Manager. Effective negotiation and
communication skills are required in order to close various deals with investors and clients.
Working on one's weaknesses helps candidate in overcoming those areas which are identified as
weaknesses. Through preparing a personal development plan one can have better reflection over
his skills that are required to get improved within specific time in order to use them effectively
for future upcoming tasks.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bridgstock, R., 2019. Employability and career development learning through social media:
Exploring the potential of LinkedIn. In Challenging future practice possibilities (pp. 143-
152). Brill Sense.
Chand, P.K., Kumar, A.S. and Mittal, A., 2019. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS
RELATIONSHIP TO EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND EMPLOYER
SATISFACTION WITH FRESH ENGINEERING GRADUATES. International Journal
for Quality Research, 13(3).
Di Gregorio, A., Maggioni, I., Mauri, C. and Mazzucchelli, A., 2019. Employability skills for
future marketing professionals. European management journal. 37(3). pp.251-258.
Fahimirad and et. al., 2019. Integration and Development of Employability Skills into Malaysian
Higher Education Context: Review of the Literature. International Journal of Higher
Education. 8(6). pp.26-35.
Fearon and et. al., 2020. Graduate employability, skills development and the UK’s Universities
Business Challenge competition: a self-determined learning perspective. Studies in
Higher Education. 45(6). pp.1280-1297.
Goodwin and et. al., 2019. Can students be taught to articulate employability skills?. Education+
Training.
Husam, H.A. and Abraham, P., 2019. Employability skills development through assessment in
higher education: Students’ voices on reflective assessments. Glob Acad J Econ Buss. 1.
pp.36-42.
Laguna-Sánchez and et. al., 2020. A university training programme for acquiring entrepreneurial
and transversal employability skills, a students’ assessment. Sustainability. 12(3). p.796.
Martínez-Cerdá, J.F., Torrent-Sellens, J. and González-González, I., 2020. Socio-technical e-
learning innovation and ways of learning in the ICT-space-time continuum to improve
the employability skills of adults. Computers in Human Behavior. 107. p.105753.
Olivares and et. al., 2019. Action learning: challenges that impact employability skills. Higher
Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning.
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Scott, F.J., Connell, P., Thomson, L.A. and Willison, D., 2019. Empowering students by
enhancing their employability skills. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 43(5).
pp.692-707.
Yao, C.W. and Tuliao, M.D., 2019. Soft skill development for employability. Higher Education,
Skills and Work-Based Learning.
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