Career Development

This document discusses the importance of career development and provides a gap analysis, SMART goals, and an action plan. It focuses on improving communication, technological, and change management skills. The goals are aligned with the student's career goals of achieving promotions and higher salaries.

Running head: CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Career Development
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Task 1. Gap Analysis:
The career module which I have chosen is management course module and the preferred
position which I would review is a managerial position. I have pointed out three key selection
criteria or KSCs which managers need to qualify. I can point out that I am in advanced levels as
far as communication skills and technological skills are concerned. I am a beginner in managing
change and would require to boost my change management skills.
KSC Discipline specific
Skills
Transferrable
Skills Development(B/I/A) Evidence
Communication
skills
Communicating
strategy related
information both up
and down the
hierarchical ladder
Methods to
communicate
business
strategies A
High level of
team member
participation
Technological skills
Using of technology
like cloud to
acquire, manage
and share business
information
Technological
skills to
subordinate
employees A
Timely
communication
with both
internal and
external
stakeholders
Change
management skills
Leading
departmental
employees towards
change to align the
departmental
operations with the
changing external
environmental
conditions.
Knowledge
about the
requirement to
adopt to
external
environmental
changes B
Relative less
resistance to
changes among
employes
Task 2. SMART goals:
The three smart goals which I want to achieve based on the information I have gathered
about myself with reference to the managerial position are, improvement in my communication
skills, taking technological training and advancing my change management skills.

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Specific
I would consider the challenges (what) which I would face while leading my
subordinates (who. I would aim to attain the goals within 12 months(when) by taking
further training in the company and reading articles as well as books at home (where,
how)
Measurabl
e 12 months
Achievable Training room, trainer, technological support, articles, internet
Relevant The goals would enable me to achieve my career mission of being promoted to higher
positions
Time-
bound April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020
Task 3: Action plan
Attached
I can point out upon reflecting that I have chosen the three goals in order to attain higher
levels of professional development. The first goal I have selected is to improve my
communication skills which I am a beginner. Enhancing my communication skills would enable
me larger teams of subordinates which I cannot do now and is the identified gap. I can point out
that on developing my communication skills I would be able to present my views more
convincingly before the participants which would allow to participate more proactively in team
meetings. Moreover, I would be able to lead teams containing subordinates from diverse cultural
and linguistic backgrounds. Thus, enhancing my communication skills would enabling me
establish diversity management in the teams I would lead in future. Moreover, I would be able to
communicate challenges and problems more accurately before the senior managers. Thus
developing my communication skills would enable me showcase my leadership skills. This
would enable me to potray myself before the senior management more strategically compared to
my co-workers. Thus, I would be able to gain higher level of professional development.

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
I can then point out that development of technological skills would enable me to perform
better. As I have already pointed out that I am technological strong and do know to use different
types of software to manage large data sets. However, I must also point out that technology is
dynamic and managers in order to be able to manage and use data, need to keep themselves adept
with the most advanced technology. I aim to develop my technological skills to be able to use
cloud and big data. This would enable me to obtain a huge body of data which I would use to
take decisions. Moreover, I would be able to share particular data sets with my seniors, peers and
juniors to gain their participation in decision making. Thus, developing new technological skills
would enable me take decisions more accurately since I would be able to manage a large body of
data on which I would base my decision on.
My third goal is to enhance my change management skills because as a manager I would
be required to lead my subordinates towards embracing the changes. I often face challenges by
my peers while adapting to changes. The gap of mine in this case is the lack of change
management skills which prevent me from dealing with these resistances effectively. Enhancing
my change management skills would would help me to deal with resistances to changes more
efficiently.
I have researched articles, newspapers and magazines to decide on the goals. I have
watched several videos on Youtube regarding the importance of development of communication
skills and the benefits which strong communication skills can attribute towards professional
development. Then I have watched videos on modern information and communication
technology which is emerging into strong driving factors in the field of management. I have also
spoken to my colleagues both seniors and peers. I asked them to give me feedback about my
skills, strengthes and weaknesses. Most of the feedbacks indicated that require to improve my

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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
communication, technological and change management skills. I have not found any further
information about work life balance. Work and life balance is so important in today’s life and
every management has to train to balance these two aspects. Unfortunately I could not obtain any
information about WLB. However, I am searching sources of information about WLB.
These goals are aligned to my career goals to achieve promotions and appraisals. They
would enable me to lead larger teams and take more accurate decisions.
These goals would enable me to find jobs in higher positions and at higher salaries post-
graduation.