Challenges and Skills Reflection for University Graduates

This report analyzes various challenges faced by university graduates and the skills required to overcome them. It includes a reflection on communication, teamwork, time management, and business skills. The challenges discussed include the T-shirt challenge, presentation challenge, and interview challenge. The report concludes with an action plan for improving skills and references to relevant literature.

MG408: The Graduate Challenge
CW2: E Portfolio and skills reflection.
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Content Page
I. Introduction....................................................................................................... 3
II. Analysis of challenges...................................................................................... 3
a. T-shirt challenge..................................................................................... 3
b. Presentation challenge........................................................................... 5
c. Interview challenge................................................................................. 6
III. Discussion of skills / reflection........................................................................... 7
a. Communication skills.............................................................................7
b. Teamwork.............................................................................................. 7
c. Time management................................................................................ 8
d. Business skills and competencies developed........................................ 8
IV. Action Plan........................................................................................................ 9
V. Conclusion....................................................................................................... 10
VI. References..................................................................................................... 10
VII. Appendices...................................................................................................... 11
I. Introduction
This report aims to analyse various challenges which occurs at the business
workplace. There are many activities that are performed by the business such as marketing,
advertising, branding, management and finance. All these activities require effective skills
within an individual (Sandri, Holdsworth, and Thomas, 2018). An university student has
many key areas which needs to be developed to secure its future career development.
Therefore, this report will outline the key challenges and analysing of skills for continuous
improvement.
II. Analysis of challenges
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There are many challenges which are required by the university graduate to develop
key potential skills and abilities. business environment is dynamic and has complex situations
which impact on the individuals to gain knowledge and abilities to be competitive in the
market. These challenges comes within the business functions such as performing marketing,
branding, finance and management activities. Business actually works at broader level that
require creativity, potential, consistency, communication, time management and various such
skills that helps in fulfilling aims and objectives (Curtis-Boles, Chupina, and Okubo, 2020).
These challenges helps in identifying problems and issues which become hurdles in running
business effectively. So that, I have decided to take part in challenges to gain knowledge
through my experience.
a. T-shirt challenge
The business functions many task and activities to come up with effective and
innovative products an services into market. Creativity is the major skills that requires within
an individual to provide innovative solutions and strategy for achieving maximum profits into
a business. This T-shirt challenge is an innovative way to carry out marketing, promotion and
advertising activity to effectively position own brand. I have participated in this challenge to
come out with creative ideas by developing bar codes on the T-shirt. I have learned creative
skills through participating in this challenge. The idea for giving unique designs and bar code
on the T-shirt will help to attract customers and provide customisation services. Participating
in this challenge enhance my skills to use digital software, brainstorm creative solution and
ideas. I have used many designs and colours to make T-shirt look attractive as per the
different choice of customers.
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Our logo T-shirt design
b. Presentation challenge
presentation is the key skills and potential which required in modern working
environment. It becomes crucial part into every workplace to attract clients, investors,
provide trainings and present new ideas or thoughts. Presentation skills helps in being
attributive and innovative to seek audience attention. This challenge is most crucial for me to
get success in university. As completing projects and presentation is crucial part of day to day
activities which helped me to enhance good presentation capabilities. I participated in
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preparing presentation for starting a new business(Yao, Garcia, and Collins, 2019). In which,
I have came across with key presentation attributes such as short and concise content,
attractive designs, use of bullet points, simple yet attractive slides overview to maintain
decent background. I have developed good teamwork skills through participating with
groups. I have learned how to maintain coordination and divide work amongst all individuals
to achieve targets effectively. It is one of the crucial challenge for me. A good presentation
keeps the overall impact individual capability and showcase professionalism. it is required in
the workplace to keep communication clear and concise.
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c. Interview challenge
It is also one of the crucial challenge for the student who is looking for good career
opportunities. Interview is the major hurdles face by individual while seeking jobs. There are
many skills and positive attitude is require to face questions and be confident in front of the
interviewer. Through taking participate in the challenge, I have prepared some most asked
question in order to get a job role in Amazon. An interviewer look for individuals behaviour,
confidence and knowledge throughout the interview sessions (Zapata, 2020). I gained
knowledge about some interview attributes such as to be responsive and professional while
talking, meet and greet plays vital role, body language and dressing sense is also must be
proper. While giving interviews and preparing for questions, an individual must maintain eye
contact and be a good listener as well. This challenge is require to be overcome to secure
career aims and objectives. I have learned that, interviews are a crucial part in business which
has taken by human resource manager of a company. To get this position, I need to have
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good communication, interpersonal skills to select effective candidates and perform HR roles
and responsibilities within the favour of organisation (Moir, Turpin, and Copley, 2021). It is
being a crucial challenge for me to look for future capabilities and talent. It is necessary for
me to get rid of this challenge by looking for good speaking and interacting skills to seek
attention of the interviewer.
III. Discussion of skills / reflection
1.Communication skills
it is one of the major skills required for every individual to get success at eduction at
and professional level. Good communication skills is combination of effective vocabulary,
clear voice and ideas. I have learned these skills through my graduate challenges like
presentation and interview. In which, I learned to speak fluently and clearly present my ideas.
It boost my confidence while interacting with large audience. During the T-shirt challenge, I
perform group discussion, teamwork and a lot of research which required communication
skills (Avolio, Benzaquen, and Pretell,2019). Therefore, I have learned to actively participate
in debates, presentation by working on vocabulary, good sentence framing and catch on
English. In interview challenge, I lack in clearly present my knowledge and ideas due to poor
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confidence and fear of rejection. It is my weakness which I need to work on for future
improvement.
2.Teamwork
This is also a potential skills to be present in individuals as well as students.
Teamwork is highly necessary while working in groups, working on mutual goals and
objectives. While working on each of the above presented challenge, I have gained a lot of
improvement in my teamwork skills. I learned to work in coordination, respect each other
opinion, work collaboratively and give support at time of hurdles. I have learned leaders
attribute to inspire, motivate team members to work hard and achieve objectives. In my
presentation challenge, I guide and instruct each of members to avoid confidence and divide
work as per their specialisation.
3.Time management
In order to work in complex and uncertain business environment, time is the key to
grab opportunities and seek market potential. Therefore, through being a part of graduate
challenges, I learned to develop time managements skills as each challenge has it set
deadlines. It made me more focused and concentrated towards my gaols and future
objectives. I have learned to prepare work schedule and manage time for my studies and
projects to keep them in balance (Pierucci, 2019). These skills have helped me to achieve
deadlines and gain success in university. Somehow, I lack in giving time to each activities
which needs to be done at priority. This reduces the work quality and shows improper time
management.
4.Business skills and competencies developed
With the experience of my graduate challenges, I have developed many business
skills and competences that shows me complex and competitive business functions. I have
learned to be creative through involving in T-shirt challenge. It shows me better promotion
and advertising tactics to secure a competitive position into market. Presentation, interview
and T-shirt challenge has enhanced my competences to be a good leaders, maintain co-
ordination and interpersonal relations with peers.
IV. Action Plan
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Skills Current status Action to be taken Where to be
Communication
skill
I have good
vocabulary but
lacks in fluency.
I need to indulge in
continuous
speaking by taking
part in debates and
speeches.
I want to get fluent
in both verbal and
written
communication
skills.
Teamwork skill I have problems
solving and
inspirational
personality.
Sometime, I lacks
in keeping control
in actions which
creates delay and
improper
coordination.
I need to indulge in
group tasks and
projects to en
enhance my
teamwork abilities.
I want to be an
effective leaders
through taking
professional
guidance and join
internships.
Business skill I do not have much
wider business
skills. It require
problem solving,
multitasking,
creative and risk
taking abilities.
I need to enhance
in job opportunities
to work in practical
circumstance to
gain better
experience.
I will be a part of
reputed business
firm to learn
necessary skills.
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Technological skill I have good
technical skills
(Stock, 2021). I
could easily work
on MS-excel,
power point but
lacks in Ms-excel
and other software.
I will take classes
and experts
knowledge to learn
technological skills.
I will take IT
classes at
university and
wants to gain
knowledge about
computer and
digital software.
V. Conclusion
The report has concluded that, there are various challenges which is required to be
overcome by the individuals. These challenges provide relevant experience to secure future
career objectives for the students. Therefore, the report had presented T-shirt, interview and
protestation challenges through which there are many skills which have developed and some
require further improvement.
VI. References
Sandri, O., Holdsworth, S. and Thomas, I., 2018. Assessing graduate sustainability capability
post-degree completion: Why is it important and what are the
challenges?. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Curtis-Boles, H., Chupina, A.G. and Okubo, Y., 2020. Social justice challenges: Students of
color and critical incidents in the graduate classroom. Training and Education in
Professional Psychology, 14(2), p.100.
Yao, C.W., Garcia, C.E. and Collins, C., 2019. English as lingua franca: Exploring the
challenges and opportunities of English language on Vietnamese graduate student
learning. Journal for the Study of Postsecondary and Tertiary Education, 4, pp.209-
225.
Zapata, G.C., 2020. Sprinting to the finish line: The benefits and challenges of book sprints in
OER faculty-graduate student collaborations. International Review of Research in
Open and Distributed Learning, 21(2), pp.1-17.
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Moir, E.M., Turpin, M.J. and Copley, J.A., 2021. The clinical challenges experienced by new
graduate occupational therapists: A matrix review. Canadian Journal of
Occupational Therapy, p.00084174211022880.
Avolio, B.E., Benzaquen, J.B. and Pretell, C., 2019. Global Challenges for Business
Education and the New Educational Agenda: Graduate Attributes and Teaching
Methods. e-Journal of Business Education and Scholarship of Teaching, 13(2),
pp.80-99.
Pierucci, L., 2019. Challenges for teaching wireless communications standards at the
graduate level. Education Sciences, 9(4), p.298.
Stock, W.A., 2021. Does graduate economics education address the cognitive challenges of
effective teaching?. The Journal of Economic Education, 52(1), pp.53-63.
VII. Appendices
T-shirt Challenge
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Presentation Challenge
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Interview Challenge
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