Academic and Employability Skills: Reflection on Public Speaking, Time Management, and CV Writing

This project report reflects on the importance of academic and employability skills such as public speaking, time management, and CV writing. It includes a self-reflection using Gibbs reflection model and covers the description, feeling, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan for each topic.

Academic and
Employability Skills

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
Public speaking and presentation.................................................................................................3
Time management skill................................................................................................................5
CV writing...................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Skills play an important role in student’s life. The significant skills which are employability and
academic skills are crucial as they guide learner in their academic career and makes them more
productive. It is imperative for students to polish their skills so that they can grab career
opportunities. In their academic career, skills facilitate in cutting down studying hours and they
can utilise their precious time in learning new skills. Students who can make use of time
effective can capture various academic opportunities. Skills are crucial and have numerous
benefits by which students can make bright future. This project report is based self-reflection by
using Gibbs reflection model and cover three topics which are CV writing, time management and
public speaking and giving presentation.
TASK
Many people believe that the best way to learn is by experience. It becomes difficult sometimes
as people unable to understand about their learning and experience and might act different when
they encounter with same situation. Sometimes, they do not remember whole experience and
fails to depict experience. In this report, I’ll be using Gibbs reflection model and this model was
propounded by Graham Gibbs in order to provide a structure for analysing learning experience.
This cyclical model helps me in writing my experience regarding study and allows me in framing
of action plan so as to know what did not go well. The topic chosen for this report is Time
management, CV writing and public speaking and presentation by using Gibbs reflection cycle.
Public speaking and presentation
 Description- In this stage whole situation is discussed in this phase. Me and my team
members were provided with group presentation and in order to divide topics, we have
conducted a group session. There are various sections in our presentation and in order to
make presentation more effective, we have divided topic among ourselves. I was
expected that the working of public speaking will be completed by end of day and we can
get enough time to rehearsal so as to demonstrate to public. But we have to drop our plan
as one of our team member had hesitation to speak in front of public. So I decided to
speak the content of his part and try to present in an effective manner.
 Feeling- This phase depicts about the experience of stage which I have faced while
delivering presentation. In the initial stage, I was bit nervous as it was first time to speak

in public. But my team members fill me with motivation and supported me to present
well. It was a great experience for me and at some instance I got frustrated by various
questions but with great patience and communication skill, I answered to all questions
and delivered a good presentation. After completion of presentation, audience applauded
me for great confidence and good communication skill. Looking back to my presentation,
I was much satisfied with my presentation and gain confidence to speak in public.
 Evaluation- In this phase, I evaluated what went well and what not. In context to y
experience regarding public speaking and giving presentation, I had evaluated that all
things went well and all my peers contributes their valuable efforts in making
presentation successful. In addition to that, one person cancelled plan and it may
negatively impact on presentation but somehow I was able to manage by taking
responsibility of his content. I have realised that due to mismanagement of time which
adversely impacted on my confidence level.
 Analysis- this phase helps me in makings sense that what happened and what valuable
information could be extracted from that. I have analysed that due to good
communication skill I was able to deliver presentation confidently. Along with this, better
planning and team management makes our presentation better. I was happy that I gained
confidence level and now I can effectively take participate in public debates. With this, I
come to know about importance of peer to peer learning and working in a team could
elevate efficiency of project. I have gained some of managerial skills which I can use in
my professional career.
 Conclusion- From the above experience regarding public speaking and giving
presentation, it was concluded that working in a group enhances efficiency of project as
different individual have different set of skills by which they can make task successful.
There are some situations in which I have to take decision based on analysis so as to
achieve success. I will improve my critical thinking skill, planning and management skill.
 Action Plan- In order to improve some of my skills, I will take help of public influencers
and experts so that I can effectively enhance skill. Along with this, I will rehearsal in
front of my peers so that they improve my weak skill.

Time management skill
 Description- Before attending lectures regarding time management I was not familiar
with this concept and was unknown to its importance. I was not aware what role does it
play in student’s life. By opting Gibbs reflective model, I am sharing my experience
regarding time management and its importance at every instance of life. In class, our
class tutor told about importance of time and how work should be done within given
time.
 Feeling- During taking lectures, my tutor assigned me with a project along with
completion deadline. It was difficult for me to complete project within time as it was less
for me. I got nervous and started thinking how project will be done within given time and
this made me depressed. I have no idea regarding time management and I was anxious
regarding project. Time was going faster and I have decided to set a goal and based on
that framed strategies so as to allocate time between activities.
 Evaluation- In this phase, I evaluated that time management is important for everyone
and it is imperative to utilise in a best and effective manner so that it yields positive
outcome. It also makes individual punctual towards work and can manage their time with
activities. With proper time management, I can effectively frame strategies so as to
accomplish given task. I noticed that my time management skill is weak and needs
further development. But somehow I was able to complete task effectively and handled
all issues.
 Analysis- This phase helps learner in in making sense about what happened. I use this
phase in analysing about experience regarding time management skill and how I can
improve. I have analysed that I was lacking in time management and if I was good at I
have done better in my project. As I was unable to manage time and gets panic when I
was provided with project. But somehow I was able to manage time and allocate more
time to important task. It is imperative for me to improves this skill as with this I can
accomplish given task within prescribed time.
 Conclusion- From the above experience regarding time management, it was concluded
that this skill is important for me and helps in doing task within given time. In addition to
that, I can prioritize important work and can manage time effectively. Time management
helps in doing work in a given time and after completion of this project, I was confident

enough to do multiple task at once. I can use this skill in my professional and academic
career. I will set goals regarding study and will try to accomplish within pre-set time.
This makes me more productive and punctual towards work.
 Action plan- I frame this action plan so as to complete my project. I have set goal of
completion of project and divided activities. This helped me very much and reduces
overburden of whole project. I found this approach very well and effectively completed
within given time. When I have completed project, I have analysed that I have still some
time and I can use in reviewing or in doing alteration in project. I was surprised to know
about importance of time management.
CV writing
 Description- I was studying academic and management course in which I come to know
about CV writing. I have made CV but do not aware about various errors which I have
done. It is important to have a well drafter CV to get good jobs and placements at
different organisations. CV stands for Curriculum Vitae and is a document which
contains all educational as well as personal information that can be used while applying
for job. I was not aware about CV writing and there are various mistakes found in pre
framed CV.
 Feeling- In my learning days, I got panic as I was not getting calls from nay organisation
though I have applied in some companies. I was nervous as what went wrong that I am
not getting any phone calls regarding job opportunities. After seeing my CV, my tutor
told me that my CV was not drafted properly and needs further modification. It looks like
an unattractive document with no headings and not highlighted too. This pushes back
recruiter for calling regarding job opening. I am good at critical thinking and
communication skill but due to poor formulation of CV, I was unable to get job calls.
 Evaluation- In this stage, I have evaluated that CV is not just writing about personal
skills and details regarding qualification, experience and other but far than this. I have
taken help of tutor to make my CV good and make essential modification which are
needed. In addition to that, it is important to highlight headings and make them bold so
that it looks attractive. It is needed to add relevant skills which was not earlier mentioned.
My tutor advised me to add skills and competencies that I possess so that recruiter may
find seeking skills.

 Analysis- From the above experience, I have experienced that it is important to add up all
relevant skills that a candidate possess and I come to know about various mistakes that I
was doing in drafting CV. In addition to that, various essentials which I have gained
through this learning.
 Conclusion- Fro the CV writing experience, it was concluded that by writing good CV I
can capture attention of recruiter and get better job opportunity. It is important to have a
well drafted CV with contains all essential information regarding such as experience,
qualification, skills and competencies and personal details.
 Action plan- As I was not familiar with CV writing but after this, I had suggested my
friends about importance of CV writing and how it can help in getting better job
opportunity. I am sure that I will get interview calls after doing changes in my CV. I will
take help of internet so as to enhance this skill by downloading CV template.
CONCLUSION
From the above project report, it was concluded that reflection may be referred as a technique
which is used to share or depict learning experience. In order to reflect upon self-learning, Gibbs
reflection cycle is used as it facilitates in recording things which happened and by constructing
experience from experience, thoughts and feelings can be shared. This report covers three topics
Time management, CV writing and public speaking and giving presentation.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bhagra, A. and Sharma, D.K., 2018. Changing paradigm of employability skills in the global
business world: A review. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 12(2).
Griffin, M. and Coelhoso, P., 2018. Business students’ perspectives on employability skills post
internship experience: lessons from the UAE. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based
Learning.
Hardy, M.M., Powell, J.W. and Pharris, L.J., 2020. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TIME
MANAGEMENT SKILLS AMONG BUSINESS MAJORS AND ACADEMIC
CLASSIFICATIONS. International Journal of Education Research, 15(1).
Lunga, C.M., 2020. EFFECTIVE CV WRITING: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO
DEVELOPING A GREAT/WINNER CV.
Nisha, S.M. and Rajasekaran, V., 2018. Employability skills: A review. IUP Journal of Soft
Skills, 12(1), pp.29-37.
Sera, L. and McPherson, M.L., 2019. Effect of a study skills course on student self-assessment of
learning skills and strategies. Currents in Learning, 11(7), pp.664-668.
Wolff, R. and Booth, M., 2017. Bridging the gap: Creating a new approach for assuring 21st
century employability skills. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 49(6), pp.51-54.
Макашева, А.М. and Исабекова, Б.М., 2016. Effect of time management skills on students’
academic performance. Юный ученый, (2), pp.26-29.