Planning Your Career in Business

This report discusses the importance of a portfolio and CV in job opportunities, personal statement, and SWOT analysis. It also includes a detailed CV and personal SWOT analysis of John Kennel. The report is relevant to students and professionals planning their career in business.

Planning Your Career in
Business

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Section A .........................................................................................................................................1
Portfolio and CV..........................................................................................................................1
Organisation overview ................................................................................................................2
Section B..........................................................................................................................................3
Personal statement in support on my application........................................................................3
A detailed CV .............................................................................................................................5
Section C..........................................................................................................................................8
Personal swot analysis.................................................................................................................8
Smart goals for my personal development:.................................................................................8
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
A portfolio is an assembled document of various materials that represent an individuals
beliefs, skills, qualifications, education background, work training and experience at workplace.
It gives an insight into the personality and the work ethics that the individual follows at the
workplace or in general life (Adams,Wood and Alvarez, 2022). A CV is a document which
provides a written overview of a person's own life and workplace experiences and other
respective qualifications for a job opportunity. In this report, an explanation of what a portfolio
and CV are along with the importance that they hold for a job opportunity is mentioned. Next in
the report, a detailed personal statement and a detailed CV are presented with a personal SWOT
analysis and a SMART Goal setting to upscale myself.
TASK 1
Section A
Portfolio and CV
A portfolio is a collection of various different work samples, documents and projects which are
accumulated during an student’s school years and are showcased in a structured format. It
presents the student’s goals, the progress made, achievements attained and the competencies in
an organised format which is accessible and holds a strong purpose but not at any point
overwhelms a potential employer. The aim for the preparation of a presentable portfolio is:
 It showcases the current goals, development, accomplishments and the ability to wide
range of masses consisting new schools, teachers, counsellors of the enrolled courses and
the potential employers and parents also.
 Establishes concentration for the various learning activities and opportunities which
includes setting up of goals, planning for the necessary actions, making effective
decisions along with prioritising and tasks negotiation (Ali and Mehreen, 2018).
 It enhances the self-esteem of the student by presenting their positive accomplishments
which includes academic achievements, sports activities, leisure work experience along
with various cultural activities.
 Ideally, portfolios work as a necessary and relevant factor to their own development in
their careers and are provided with the duty to always keep them secured, presentable and
updated.
1

A portfolio acts as a natural moderator between the student-teacher discussions and even
provide customization in the learning experience of the student. A portfolio maintained
comprehensively over a long time period can even contain various different comparisons and
growth charts showing the students respective work. The contents of the portfolios includes
statement of purpose, resume, career goals and work philosophy.
A personal statement would act as an opportunity to assist or modify the other parts in the
application (Allen, 2018). This is your introductory chance as a student to assist the admissions
board in understanding what motivates you to choose a particular path or direction in your
career. The personal statements acts as your own story and describe the factors which assist in
shaping you as an individual. These assist to communicate some particular contexts such as your
values, interests and the goals you aim to achieve. The personal statement should add value in
the application you will submit to the admission committee and should leave an effective
impression for you.
‘CV’ stands for curriculum vitae that refers to “course of life.” It is a bref written
document that provides the information regarding your education, qualifications, the previous
jobs you did and even you personal interests sometimes. A CV which is prepared well can be the
reason why you get selected in the interview process at you dream job or dream organisation.
Therefore it is necessary that you are cl;ear on the points about what to mention and what not as
it will act as a predominant to the success you will achieve in future. An unique CV is an
essential part of your personal marketing which will help you to promote yourself in front of the
HRs of these big organisations so that at the time of the interview, you are the one standing out
away from the crowd. It should be such that the employer is clearly aware regarding important
topics such as your education, background, accomplishments and the skills (Altan, 2022).
Organisation overview .
Amazon is an American multinational technology company that focuses its operations on
e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming and artificial intelligence. The company is
referred to be one of the most influential economic and cultural forces globally. It is also one of
the most valuable brands in the world. It is one among the Big Five companies in the American
information technology sector along with Apple, Meta, Microsoft and Alphabet. Amazon
provides one of the best working environment to its employees where they are able achieve
maximum efficiency in their organisational works and tasks. At amazon the quality of work is
2

the best among all the big and reputed names that are there in the market as the employees at
Amazon feel that the jobs here are skill-oriented and hence is very beneficial for them in
improving their job skills and even uplifting their portfolios (Buford, Sharp and Stebleton, 2022).
Amazon gross profit for the previous year ending on June 30, 2022 was estimated to be $207.214
Billion which shows a 14.91% increase each and every year. Being a financial analyst at
Amazon, an individual with an eye for detail and who is good with numbers, Amazon would
surely be the best place to invest your knowledge and skills and get to learn many more of
essential skills better. I want to be a part of Amazon as it is one of the biggest brands world-wide
and provides with the opportunity to upscale yourself by learning and experiencing as while
serving the client and customer base f the organisation. Amazon impresses an individual to join
the organisation with the presence of various after rewards that it provides which include many
more opportunities, promotions in the organization and several career progress milestones. I
desire to assist Amazon in my capacity to help the organisation be better than yesterday and
assist them in framing long term value system for the customers, people in general and for the
society while providing an assistance to build trust in the business and capital markets.
Section B
Personal statement in support on my application.
Financial statements play a crucial role in present environment in the process to shape the
economy globally and the direction it may move in. As I have done my Masters in Finance from
the London Business School, I am presently working with KPMG as a financial analyst for past
2 years and I am considering changing my current work organisation as I realise there is so much
more potential in me which is untapped and the need to learn and upscale myself at a new
workplace (Dulek, 2022). I always had an interest in numbers and analysis for different
parameters and hence I thought that the finance field is the best for me. The individuals and
professionals working in this field are limited by their analytical and creative competencies. The
prospect to join this industry and work at Amazon as a new organisation excites me on a whole
new level as I can not wait for the various new opportunities and skill sets that I will learn and
implement working with Amazon. I look forward to join Amazon as my new workplace and I am
ready for all the opportunities and challenges which I will encounter at the workplace which will
assist to make my knowledge and skills more profound.
3

Summarising my academic qualifications, I completed my senior school certificate
examination in the year 2016 with a major in the subjects of accountancy and economics. I
completed my graduation in the degree of Bachelors of Commerce and Business Statistics from
University of California that helped me to broaden my knowledge and skill set pertaining to the
subjects I studies in my graduation. I maintained a CGPA of 9.2 throughout my course and
acquired the necessary academic knowledge in the domain of commerce, business statistics and
finance (Duncan, 2022). I feel that there is a need to further grow my academic profile and
learnings by pursuing a Masters degree in the field of banking and finance which will assist me
in advancing my career in finance i.e. the master's degree credential. I did my MBA in finance
from Stanford University so that I can discover the most suitable organisation for myself and
work in an environment where I can add many new learnings everyday and contribute in the
analysis and development of that organisation along with my personal growth and better
compensable employment opportunities. I applied for the role of financial analyst at Amazon as I
believe I am the right fit for this role. I am a self-starter and motivated individual with the right
attitude and aptitude appropriate for my field of work. I am very effective in my tasks and
perform as a single contribute as well as an indispensable team member. I am looking forward to
tackle the situations of challenges and new opportunities and bring some out of the box solutions
that help to convert the challenges in opportunities. With the references to the respective details
on my CV, I believe in ensuring quality, accepting vision, adding value and attributing actions. I
am a quick learner and thrive in challenging work environments and hence I believe I will be the
right fit for the organisation at Amazon. This job application will surely get me ahead of the
current competition and assist me in achieving my future objectives in my career and its growth
(Lebson, 2021).
4

A detailed CV
John Kennel
E-mail: [e-mail]
Contact No.:[phone]
Address: 221,Downing street,London, SW1A 2AA.
OBJECTIVE
Determined and an ambitious individual with two years of experience as a financial analyst, with
an exceptional knowledge of systems of financial modelling and reporting frameworks along
with a running knowledge of Tally and SAP seeking to join an organisation at the position of a
Financial analysts at Amazon. With a Master's degree of MBA Finance from Stanford University
SUMMARY
A confident and team-oriented financial analyst with specialization in developing and presenting
an effective analysis to assist the executive level decision making activities with information and
persuasive professional presentations. A skilled team associate who takes initiatives to plan and
work upon the tasks when they don't go as planned. A proactive and socialistic individual with a
skill-oriented attitude and strong communication with an interest in assisting other to take
effective decision making. An enthusiast and an active participant in all team meetings, key tasks
and job presentations.
SKILLS
 Financial Modelling
 Financial Reporting
 Python
 Data Analysis
 Business Analysis
 Data Mining
 Big Data Management
 Excellent in Excel, SAP and Tally
 Time management and skill-oriented
 Excellent communication: Verbal & Written
 Effective Decision Making
5

WORK EXPERIENCE
Junior Financial Analyst
KPMG (January 2020- Presently)
Achievements:
 Maintained and monitored organisation funds, equity investments which included the
cash inflows, outflows, risk rating and performance analyst along with effective record
maintenance
 Decreased the cost relating to inventory and materials by 32% in the fist year of my
working.
 Led a division and gave assistance and guidance to a team of 13 individuals.
 Managed and successfully three projects with a budget over $150K.
 Involved in the preparation of weekly reports and did presentations to train the new
joining staff at the organisation.
 Provided support relating to a strategic forecast of the reports.
EDUCATION
 MBA Finance
Stanford University- (2017-2019)
 Bachelors of Commerce and Business Statistics
University of California- (2015-2018)
 Intermediate (Senior Secondary School Exam)
State Senior Secondary School, New York- (Year-2014)
CERTIFICATIONS
1. Chartered Financial Analyst Certification ( LEVEL 4 )
 Learned portfolio management and investment analysis.
 Ethical standards, professional standards with different quantitative methods , financial
reporting and standards along corporate and equity financing.
 Derivatives and alternative investment
2. Financial Modelling And Valuation Analyst
 Analysis of financial statements, finances, accounting.
6

 Valuation of business and financial modelling
 Advanced Excel and SAP skills.
INTERESTS
 Artificial intelligence
 Painting
 Environment sustainability
 Learning Languages
VOLUNTEERING
 Volunteered at 23 Hours/ Month at ABC Education Governance NGO- (2015-2017)
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
 1st Runner Up: Represented KPMG and showcased presentation on Big Data Financial
Analysis at The State Business Executive Meet.
 Lead the Team winning the Title of Best Analysis & Execution Group.
 Interstate Debate Competition winner at Stanford University.
7

Section C
Personal swot analysis.
SWOT analysis is a strategic management and planning technique which is utilised to
assess, evaluate and determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to an
organisation or an individual. These majorly relate to the business competition or the project
planning which is initiated (MacGregor, 2019). It is also known as situational assessment or
situational analysis. It primarily assists an organisation or an individual to determine and develop
an awareness regarding the different factors that are involved in effective decision making
keeping all factors in mind. Below is the SWOT analysis of John Kennel:
STRENGTHS-
 I have two years of work experience
as a financial analyst.
 Ability to assess and evaluate Big
Data.
 Effective understanding and
application of feedbacks and
responses.
 Accuracy in Financial analysis and
in-depth researches.
 Excellent with SAP, Excel and Tally
 Strong team management
 Self confidant and Strongly
motivated.
 Can work and produce results in
under-pressure situations.
 Aware of industry demands and
upscale myself accordingly.
WEAKNESSES-
 Detail-oriented which sometimes
delays the tasks to be finished on
deadlines as I aim for perfection in
my work.
 Unable to ask for help when needed
and hence burden myself with many
tasks.
 Unable to prioritise the tasks
according to the urgency needs.
 I am not aware as to how to brand
myself in a successful manner.
 Adaptation to a new work
environment.
OPPORTUNITIES:
 There is presence of more stable
THREATS:
 High competition in the market for
8

economy.
 Meeting new individuals with
diverse work experiences and
knowledge.
 Need for big data management in
today's times which I have.
 Upskill myself with the advance
work environment and work
cultures.
 Learning from people around me and
make myself a better individual.
the jobs of financial analyst.
 Do not have a Financially stable
position.
 Lack of skills relating to analysis of
historical data.
 Covid-19 has impacted all economies
and has not fully recovered.
 Lesser work experience as compared
to other aspirants who have a high
work experience.
Smart goals for my personal development.
Setting up goals is a powerful procedure which help you evaluate about your idealistic
future and motivate yourself to work in a manner where your visions can be achieved into reality
(Feller and Peila-Shuster, 2019). This process assists an individual to assess the direction in
which you want to proceed in life as when you will exactly be aware of the goals you intent to
achieve, the activities following it will surely lead you in that direction with highly concentrated
efforts. It will even help you to find the distractions, if any, more effectively and ignore them
straight away.
SMART Goals For Better Performance
Specific Improve my productivity with a 50% better margin with all my
financial tasks so that I am able to achieve the results more
effectively and complete them efficiently.
Measurable This 50% increase in productivity will surely give me the
motivation to upscale myself and learn more skills at the workplace.
Attainable I intent to utilise the effective tools and productivity modules
available so that I am able to effectively increase my productivity
and attain better quantitatively desired results.
Relevant Higher productivity will surely produce improved results with a
high rate of satisfied clients and customers. This will assist the
business to even achieve word of mouth promotion leading to
9

higher approaching client numbers. All of this together will help me
boost my morale and confidence and make myself feel more
encouraged to put by best foot forward and aim for higher results.
Time-bond I aim to achieve the desired results from this goal setting within a
period of next 6 months starting from next Monday.
10

CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that portfolios and CV are an essential
documents when an individual is going for a job interview and it also explains the reasons why
attaching a CV and portfolios together is necessary along with a personal statement so that all the
respective qualities and abilities of the person can be observed by the interviewing authority. It
clearly showcases all the skills, abilities and achievements that the person has achieved till the
present date and helps them decide on whether or not to take this individual as an employee in
the organisation. In the later part of the report, an effective SWOT analysis of John Kennel is
done to make the person generously aware of himself and preparation of a Smart plan is done to
attain better and effective productivity.
11

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Adams, C., Wood, A.J. and Alvarez, D., 2022. Integrating Community Service into Your Career
Success. In Health Professions and Academia (pp. 37-52). Springer, Cham.
Ali, Z. and Mehreen, A., 2018. Understanding succession planning as a combating strategy for
turnover intentions. Journal of Advances in Management Research.
Allen, P., 2018. Artist management for the music business. Routledge.
Altan, Z., 2022, June. An Ontology Model Oriented to the Career Planning of University
Students. In 2022 International Congress on Human-Computer Interaction, Optimization
and Robotic Applications (HORA) (pp. 1-7). IEEE.
Buford, M.V., Sharp, M.J. and Stebleton, M.J. eds., 2022. Mapping the Future of Undergraduate
Career Education: Equitable Career Learning, Development, and Preparation in the New
World of Work. Taylor & Francis.
Dulek, R., 2022. Take Two Xanax and Call Me in the Morning; or, Career Tension in Business
Communication. In The Business Communication Profession (pp. 9-29). Routledge.
Duncan, G., 2022. Looking Beyond the Car in Front: A Guide to Making the Right Career
Choices at the Right Time. Routledge.
Feller, R. and Peila-Shuster, J.J., 2018. Career development plans: Designing a client’s “What’s
Next”. In Career Counseling (pp. 211-237). Routledge.
Lebson, C., 2021. Your Career Is Grounded in Your Education. In The UX Careers
Handbook (pp. 13-23). CRC Press.
MacGregor, S., 2019. Deconstructing the man made city: Feminist critiques of planning thought
and action. In Change of Plans (pp. 25-50). University of Toronto Press.
Mumba, M.N., 2022. A Nurse's Step-by-Step Guide to Transitioning to an Academic Role:
Strategies to Jumpstart Your Career in Education and Research. Sigma Theta Tau.
Nytch, J., 2018. The entrepreneurial muse: inspiring your career in classical music. Oxford
University Press.
Peltokorpi, V., 2022. The “language” of career success: The effects of English language
competence on local employees’ career outcomes in foreign subsidiaries. Journal of
International Business Studies, pp.1-27.
Stackowiak, R., 2018. Remaining Relevant in Your Tech Career: When Change is the Only
Constant. Apress.
Zamudio, M.T., 2020. CRAFTING A NEW CAREER DEVELOPMENT PATH BY ADDING
INCREASED EMPHASIS ON OPERATIONAL TOURS FOR NAVY SUPPLY
CORPS OFFICERS AT NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL (Doctoral dissertation,
Naval Postgraduate School).
(Mumba, 2022)(Nytch, 2018)(Peltokorpi, 2022)(Stackowiak, 2018)(Zamudio, 2020)
12