Skills for Overcoming Challenges in Graduate Studies

This report discusses various skills of a student and how they are used in different challenges. It explores the importance of communication, teamwork, time management, and business skills in overcoming challenges in graduate studies. The report provides insights and tips for improving these skills and creating a SMART action plan for self-improvement.

Graduate challenge

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report discusses various skills of a student and how they are used in different
challenges. For a student, there are various skills and aptitude that he will have to develop in
order to overcome different challenges and risks in future endeavors. In this report, discussion is
about four main skills those will help in overcoming challenges like apprentice challenge, t-shirt
challenge and presentation challenge.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................4
Communication skill...............................................................................................................................4
Teamwork skills:.....................................................................................................................................6
Time management skill...........................................................................................................................7
Business skill:..........................................................................................................................................8
Action plan:.............................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
To be successful in all professional capacities, the most important step is to overcome
various challenges. These challenges majorly involve interaction with stakeholders of that
process (Benson and Morgan, 2016). This report is focusing on discussion of various skills those
will assist in overcoming challenges in process of interaction and also coming out of whole
process with flying colors. A student has to develop these skills so as to attain success in future
desired objectives.
MAIN BODY
Communication skill
Figure 1 Communication process
Communication skill is referred to as that skill that enables an individual to
communicate effectively with other members of the setup. This skill is important in every aspect
and in every role. Whether personal or professional, communication skills play a vital role. It is
basicall a process which make sure that information is transferred to other people. In addition to
transmission, another important element of an effective communication process is that, it ensures
that message is received and understood by the recipient in the same meaning as was intended by

the sender (Cheng, Tsai and Liang, 2019). An effective communication process is formulated
when it involves bilateral action. This means that sender is delivering the message and receiver is
also responding in face of feedback. This two way process ensures that transmission of
information has been done in an effective manner (Evans and Richardson, 2017). There are
various components in an efficient communication process and it involves sender, receiver,
channel or medium, feedback. Sender means that individual or participant whose objective is to
transfer information to receiver. Receiver is the recipient and the person who requires that piece
of information. Next comes up the channel or medium, this is that component through which the
piece of information will travel and reach to the recipient. Last is the feedback and it can be
explained as the revert from receiver. This means that receiver is giving response for the received
message. Communication as shown in the above picture is a circular process. Communication
skills helped in overcoming following challenges as follows:
 Apprentice challenge: This challenge relates with the situation of confronting challenge
in managing employees in such a way that results in identification of productive and
creative employees. in this process, a leader wants to identify such persons or individuals
who are capable enough to make decisions and also come up with the position of making
a solution that helps in developing an individual. Communication skills helps in
overcoming this decision through interaction of staff members att all levels and this will
them to identify the resource which are required.
 Presentation challenge: Presentation is a medium through which an individual makes an
attempt to convey desired information and data to the audience. Furthermore,
presentation involves various tactics that has to be followed so as to gain maximum
benefits out of it. The most vital quality that can make a presentation effective is
communication skill. Therefore, I have good communication skill that has helped me to
deliver exact message as I thought of it.
T-shirt challenge: T- shirt challenge refers to a situation in which individuals are delegated the
task of designing a t-shirt. This design involves a motivation or message that is intended to be
delivered in the target market. The main issue arises at the time of marketing this t-shirt. Because
this is the process, in which challenge arises when a student has to establish the message and also
the brand value (Fearon and et.al., 2020). My strong communication skill has helped me to get

maximum sale point as I was able to communicate my motive in appropriate manner to targeted
audience.
Teamwork skills:
Figure 2 Teamwork benefits
These skills are the most important requirement that an employer wants in an employee.
It is a universal quality that has to be possessed by each and every person so as to work in
coordination in a setup of group or team. These do not require any specific place to showcase. It
has to be there by every individual irrespective of any industry or job place (Lencina, 2018). To
establish a cordial relationship with every stakeholder (like, clients, suppliers, employees,
colleagues managers, etc); the most important requirement is to ensure that the person to operate
efficiently in a team. This spirit makes not only the work smoother, but also the work culture
very comfortable and motivating. In simple words, teamwork skills are explained as those
qualities and abilities that will allow an individual to work well with other peer members during
conversations, project meetings and every other collaboration. Having teamwork skills is
dependent on own ability to communicate well, actively listen and be responsible and
honest. There are various examples of teamwork skills and they are- communication,

responsibility, honesty, active listening, empathy, collaboration, awareness, etc. Following is
application of this skill in the process of overcoming challenges faced by a student:
 Apprentice challenge: I do not have a strong teamwork quality, therefore, this challenge
become even more fatal and disturbing. This is a process which involves the movement
in connected steps, but due to my weakness of not working in a team has affected the
process even more seriously (Martin, 2018).
 Presentation challenge: presentation making is also a big task and it involves gathering
knowledge. If an individual is not able to work in team, than it will lead to failure in
collecting data and information. This will ultimately result in preparation of not so good
presentation.
 T-shirt challenge: establishment of a new brand required involvement of many persons
and therefore, teamwork becomes even more important. But I am unable to work in a a
team thus, makes this challenge more difficult.
Time management skill
Time management is a skill that may help individual to manage business activities on
timely basis. It is a process of organizing and balancing time between multiple tasks is time
management. In the face of difficulties and tight deadlines, effective time management allows
individuals to complete a given task in a particular time period.Good time management skills
help to boost image and step forward in the workplace while a person can handle their calendar
and deadlines.
How has time management take place in each challenge :
 Time management skills in LSST presentation: Time management play an essential role
while individual attend their apprentice in university. It is required for them to attend all
the session on timely basis in order to effectively understand college working practices.
Due to lack of time management, it raise challenges for me to attend all the session on
timely basis (McDermott, 2019).
 Time management in Tesco presentation: In presentation, it is required for individual to
have proper time management that may help them to gather proper information as well as

represent effectively in front of others. Due to lack of time management I faced issues to
gather appropriate information of TESCO based on by task responsibilities.
 Time management in T-shirt challenge:In order to represent new ideas in front of target
customer, it is requires to manage time by analysing customer’s requirements and need. It
also challenge for me to represent my t-shirt idea in front of other on timely basis.
Business skill:
Business skills are abilities that help people understand the actions of consumers and
organisations and use this knowledge to facilitate the company's performance. These skills are
also known as soft skills that can require skills in team leading, leadership and communication.
In this major required skills are team management, decision making, time management, problem
solving and so on (Sheehan, 2020). All these skills are needed to manage all the business
activities in effective manner.
How has business skill take place in each challenge :
 Business skills in LSST presentation: For an individual, it is required to analyse the
importance of induction before starting nay work. These attributes are known as business
skill in which evaluation take a place. In the LSST presentation, I evaluate all the
learning practices within the learning duration.
 Business skill in Tesco presentation: A business presentation requires to be framed in
professional manner that may determine business purpose, recent activities, and future
action plan etc. Thus, the presentation of Tesco requires an ability to smartly represent all
the information in front of target customers.
 Business skill in T-shirt challenge: At the time of introducing new product in front of
target customer, it is required that individual appropriately understand needs and demand
of customer. These kind of tactics are known as business skill. Thus, I represent my idea
in front of target customer at the time of market requirement and customers need.
Action plan:
Action plan basically determines planning of individual that outlining different action to
reach one and different goals. This action plan is based on results of my skill evaluation in which
I analysed that I need to work on my time management and team working skill majorly. Both

these skills are required at the time of professional development thus I needs to make SMART
objectives for my self-improvement.
 Specific: It determines the goals that are more probable to achieve rather than nonspecific
goals.
 Measureable: Measuring success towards an objective allows individuals to remain on
track, meet target deadlines and gain experience.
 Achievable: Goals needs to be broken down into phases of action in order to prevent
being intimidating.
 Realistic: The desire to meet a goal can be affected by personal and situational
influences.
 Time bound: It determine duration in which individual is willing to accomplish their set
targets (Yamada and et.al., 2017).
My SMART objectives are:
 To improve Team management skill within 3 months with the help of effective
participation in team activities for my professional development by 25% more.
 To enhance time management skill within 4 months by taking participation in time bound
task in order to reduce time related challenges by 20%.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been summarised that it is required for an individual to
analyse their own skill and abilities on timely basis in order to make effective improvement in it
by evaluating its requirement. Analysis of skill is required for student, learner or professional in
order to manage their working activities in appropriate manner. The analysis of above determines
different skills and required needs for its improvement for the self-development. This analysis
could be based on arising challenges that may create hurdles in learning and development.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Benson, V. and Morgan, S., 2016. Social university challenge: Constructing pragmatic graduate
competencies for social networking. British Journal of Educational Technology. 47(3).
pp.465-473.
Cheng, Y.H., Tsai, C.C. and Liang, J.C., 2019. Academic hardiness and academic self-efficacy
in graduate studies. Higher education research & development. 38(5). pp.907-921.
Evans, C. and Richardson, M., 2017. Enhancing graduate prospects by recording and reflecting
on part-time work: A challenge to students and universities. Industry and Higher
Education. 31(5). pp.283-288.
Fearon, C. 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.
Lencina, R.G., 2018. Social Responsibility: A New Challenge in Graduate University
Education. Annals of Geophysics. 60.
Martin, D., 2018. First Semester: Graduate Students, Teaching Writing, and the Challenge of
Middle Ground by Jessica Restaino. Community Literacy Journal. 12(2). pp.102-105.
McDermott, R.J., 2019. Life, Career, and Graduate School–Challenge and Opportunity for
Students. Florida Public Health Review. 12(1). p.8.
Sheehan, M., 2020. Learning by Doing: The Challenge of Aligning Theory and Practice in
School-Based, Post-graduate, Teacher Education Programmes. In Teacher Education in
Globalised Times (pp. 261-272). Springer, Singapore.
Yamada, T. and et.al., 2017. Resting-state functional connectivity-based biomarkers and
functional MRI-based neurofeedback for psychiatric disorders: a challenge for developing
theranostic biomarkers. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 20(10).
pp.769-781.