Personal Insight: My Application

This is a personal insight report written by a final year Bachelor of Commerce student who is eagerly waiting to join the professional business world after graduation. The report discusses the author’s role as a Junior Finance Consultant during their internship at a Real Estate Company Ltd, where they assisted the Senior Finance Consultant in various tasks. The report also discusses the author’s skills and abilities, such as their interpersonal skills, speaking ability, business awareness, analytical skills, and decision-making abilities. The report also provides an overview of recruitment trends and how they have changed over time, with modern techniques such as video-conferencing and teleconferencing interviews being used.

Running head- Personal Insight: My Application
Topic-Personal Insight
Student name
University name
Author notes

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Table of contents
Section 1: My role........................................................................................................................................3
Section 2: Recruitment trends.....................................................................................................................3
Section 3: My application............................................................................................................................5
Section 4: My interview preparation...........................................................................................................8
Section 5: Reflection..................................................................................................................................10
Reflection of my interview.....................................................................................................................10
Reflection of my personal insight journey.............................................................................................11
References.................................................................................................................................................12
Appendices................................................................................................................................................13

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Section 1: My role
I am a final year student of Bachelor of Commerce and is enthusiastically waiting to join
the professional business world subsequently completing my Graduation. From the age of 12, I
have developed keen interest in Finance and Account following my father. During my internship
days, I have joined Real Estate Company Ltd as a part time Junior Finance Consultant. The major
job role there was mostly assisting the Senior Finance Consultant in client meeting fixation,
communicate with them, shortlisting client profiles as per urgency and need, financial data
collection of theirs and developing future financial plan blueprints and I also helped the senior
financial consultant in his decision making when asked for and provided my response to him
(Baker 2016). Now I am qualified and well acquainted with the ongoing market competition and
business trends (Kishore and Sutcliffe 2015). My inter-personal skills are noteworthy which will
aid me in gaining the large customer base in future jobs. My speaking ability, specially fluency
has improved considerably after attending a number of company clients’ meetings. My business
awareness, situation analytical skills and business negotiation skills has been reinforced and I
have learnt to give consideration to every minor detail which previously I was not aware of
(Bakharia et al. 2016). Decision-making under situations of pressure is the main approach that
would distinguish a finance aspirant from the rest of other job roles.
Section 2: Recruitment trends
With time and opportunity needs the trend of recruitment have changed considerably.
Before the advent of globalization, face to face direct interview was the only suitable process of
recruitment in organizations. But at present modern techniques of recruitment include video-
conferencing and teleconferencing interview modes (Burns et al. 2014). Now a number of
round sessions starting from preliminary interview then followed by non-verbal interview, main
verbal interview, technical round if any and final HR round are held to judge the capability of
the candidate for the job role. The complexity of processes has been widened by technological
advancements and competition has influenced the scope of ‘survival of the fittest’ in the
organizational hierarchy (Grant and Hartley 2013). Modern system of job automation process

4PERSONAL INSIGHT
requires the candidate to be completely technology cognizant and have full awareness of
prevailing market trends.
The major drift of change has been faced by Finance and accounting. In the past book-
keeping and record maintenance were manually monitored. But with the emergence of e-
commerce the processes have changed and Accounting Information System (AIS) has
substituted the monotonous and tedious work of a traditional accounting system (Mohan and
Mulla 2013). As a result of which, key job roles have transformed accordingly. Present day
businesses want technologically sound finance candidates and candidates having basic
acquaintance of the accounting software like sage one, Xero, Zoho Books, and wave accounting
(Rivera 2015). Bookish accounting knowledge has become secondary whereas accounting tools
knowhow and practical outlook of them have become primary concern at present.
Now let me focus on the present-day HR trends of organizational recruitment. Present
day job opportunities on any field emphasis more on soft skills and personal attributes. A job-fit
candidate needs to have higher emotional quotient, cultural intelligence, empathy and cross-
cultural fusion (Smith 2017). Knowledge in academics is the entry pass of job selection where
final decision of job-role is confirmed by cross-cultural competency and diversified behavioral
profile. Present day Corporate culture is a result of mixed culture where increased team
cohesion improves ultimate organizational productivity. Organizational policies have changed
over time, and today’s financials highly acclaim the Value-proposition budgeting technique
(Stefan-Duicu and Stefan-Duicu 2015). Leaving aside the core financial data management
responsibility, financial planning, plan implementation, plan evaluation has become the primary
work of a financial manger. The calculative data evaluation is left behind to the software tools.
Gradual learning and vigorous training sessions have shown me the prevailing finance
trend. As a back-up alternative I have finished the full project on VCE & AIS and is now
proficient enough with the various financial accounting techniques and software tools. I have
focused on improving my soft skill areas and for this I am intermingling with people from every
arena of jobs. To improve interview skills, me and my fellow-mates have started preparing for
sessional mock interview so that it become easier to face challenges on the final day of

5PERSONAL INSIGHT
interview. My short-term goal is to be a financial consultant in a well- known and esteemed
Financial institution but opening my own business in future is my long-term prospect and I need
to be experienced enough for that challenge. I need to work on my problem-solving skills,
negotiation skills, decision-making skills, experience-based forecasting skills, communication
skills, and also customer management skills (Rivera 2015). The internship experience will help in
re-shaping my focused career goal and I am sure, my sincerity and flexibility to new ideas will
accomplish me in my desired job role soon.
At present the leadership styles and trends has transformed considerably. Now leaders
are highly flexible and are support authority delegation style. They support their team roles
likewise in strategic decision making. More diversified outlooks in group decision making
resulted in higher the degree of acceptance of the decisions. The structural framework in
organizations has become flexible with time and change need is stimulated when required. The
recruitment process now focuses on diversified job profiles to be the fittest job role criteria. In
this context, I have the most diversified job profile and I also have added advantage of job
experience that will help in competitive gain in my future job prospects.
Section 3: My application
Cover letter
Name of applicant
Address
Contact details
Date

6PERSONAL INSIGHT
Name of interviewer
Address
Contact details
Dear Mr/Ms Surname of interviewer,
As a response for application for the post of Financial consultant in your organization I am
writing this letter to apply for the same. As mentioned, I hereby enclose a copy of the job
application letter and my updated resume. I will provide references if required.
I have found the role of the financial consultant in your organization very alluring and would
like to showcase my competence for the same. I am assuming my robust academic credentials;
accounting software knowledge and my practicability of technological prospects will offer me a
place for the financial consultant position run. The factors that differentiates me include,
 I have a junior finance consultant experience at Real Estate company Ltd.
 I have full knowledge of various technological shifts as I am a regular writer (blog) where
I share my opinions on technological innovations and related financial developments.
 I have strong cross-cultural linkage and communication skills resulted from my
upbringing. I have lived in a varied number of places.
At present I am pursuing my Graduation degree and is a final year student of Bachelor of
Commerce. I have profound knowledge of Accounting Information System and is qualified in
utilizing its tools and techniques. For your convenience, you can cross-check my resume for
details of experience and other required credentials.
You can reach me anytime on call (telephone number) or contact at (email id)
I heartily thank you for your valued time and helpful consideration. I am looking forward about
this employment opportunity and talking to you to the earliest.
Sincerely,

7PERSONAL INSIGHT
Signature
Name
RESUME
Contact Details
Name:
Date of birth:
Address:
Contact information:
Deakin College email: [e-mail]
Summary
Course: Bachelors of Commerce
Campus: Deakin college Burwood
About me: I am a Commerce Graduate student in my final year. I have working experience as a junior
consultant in Real Estate company Ltd under the supervision of Mr. Sherlock Martin, senior Finance Consultant.
I am enthusiastic in studying about market trends and stocks and valuation fascinate me. I have spent my
childhood in many places and is currently is well-settled in Australia, but I am open to job offers at any location
across the globe. I was brought up in the most culturally diverse atmosphere anyone could ever had. I like
socializing with people from different cultures and I found this as the best chance to join such a well-integrated
and diversified work culture of yours. I find this job role very interesting and so was obvious to face the
interview round.
Work experience:
Job title: Graduation Project Internship
• Company: Real estate company limited
• Start date: 17/9/2016
• End date: 17/10/2016
• Experience type: I have practiced a number of functions of a fiancé consultant, like what do a consultant
actually do in reality? how customer satisfaction is maintained? how targets are achieved? I have learned
every facts and processes of file documentation, financial planning, decision making, customer handling and
client negotiation aspects. Post-training results have enhanced both my practical outlook and soft-skill
development. I have also grown increased level of confidence and my self-reliability has increased.
• Role and responsibilities: The primary responsibility areas include an inclusive understanding of fixation

8PERSONAL INSIGHT
and scheduling of client meetings, client profile acknowledgement, effective communicate strategy
development and collection of clients’ financial plans. I supported a number of decisions and have given
feedback on some as well. I learnt to emphasis on every minor detail provided by the client and have also
learnt how those could act as the change initiators. I assisted the Senior Consultant in his works.
Achievements / Qualifications
Achievements: I have taken active participation in interclass presentations, debates and GD sessions. For my
financial outlook I have been awarded several times. I have good consulting skills from an early age as I assisted
my father in running his corporative business works.
Qualifications: VCE Certificate of Completion and AIS certification
Memberships: I am a dynamic member of Financial Daily blogging site and share my thoughts in the form of
articles and blogs on financial markets and tech-innovations.
Career goals: For this time being, I want to be experienced as a Financial consultant in a reputed Financial
Institution and considering long term goals, I am eager to start my new business venture in future.
Personal brand: I am a very empathetic and cheerful person who loves mingling with people, I like working in
teams and have good social skills. I also love accepting challenges and therefore set higher standards for myself.
Both my robust negotiation skills and good team organizing capability help in dealing with any complex
situations effectively. I am a self-motivated human being. It is true that many a times I miss out small details
that need to be focused, but I am sure to learn them gradually with time. I am very enthusiastic and passionate
about my work field in finance.
Areas of interest: I love to study on new innovations and I am also a creative writer. Travelling around the world
and exploring new places are my interests and I love to study new cultural people and intermingle with them to
increase my soft-skill knowledge. I attempt to learn their languages and customs and try to upsurge my list of
diversified interests.
Section 4: My interview preparation
Three selection criteria which I think are my strengths are,
 Previous experience for the same job role being offered here. I have applied for the
financial consultant post for which I already have experience. This will be my primary
asset for this job application.

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 Strong Cross-cultural skills and high cultural intelligence. I have lived in a number of
places in my life and this widened my respect for every people of different cultural
backgrounds.
 I am efficient with the latest technological advancements and financial mobility, crucial
for highly uncertain market situations. My practical outlook is exemplary and impressing.
STAR Framework Support
Situation My internship experience has helped me in dealing with a lot of challenges. One
such case was the details related to the documentation process. I was working on
and filling the documents of a retired man and lost one vital point of his financials.
He told it but I unintentionally missed it out while documenting.
Task The Senior consultant when provided me the respective original papers I found that
there was a discrepancy. I got confused, thought deeply but could not discover it,
and my senior told me finally what I missed and how that point was of utmost
importance for the case. I again rechecked everything for my own satisfaction.
Action I re-listened the audio tape of the retired man’s discussion and could actually find
out what I actually missed. I was told that I need to be very cautious about
attentiveness and need to focus on every small details of a case. I appreciated my
senior’s advice and understood how a simple miss out point could be fatal for a
finance consultant.
Result From that time onwards, I pay consideration to every small relevant or irrelevant
detail and has learnt to contemplate the key factors for change. My listening skills
has improved and so are the logical sense development skills.
Situation I made some religious sentimental remarks when I was young, which I was supposed
not to make. I hurt one of my close friends who was from different cultural
background, through my words. He was upset and stopped talking to me. I felt really
bad and tried to sort things out.
Task I even thought of apologizing to him but he was not prepared to talk to me.
Action I then take help of one of our common friends and cleared the confusion and
apologized to him from the core of my heart. After that he accepted my forgiveness.
Result That incident has changed my cultural prospects hugely and I have learnt that every
culture needs to be equally honored and respected regardless of country, religion,

10PERSONAL INSIGHT
nationality or other variances. My viewpoint of cultural mingling changed after that.
Situation My father runs his own corporation business. Previously he used physical
calculation approach for financials. I suggested him to implement the new
automated machines that will reduce time and effort and will increase end result
precision. But he was concerned about the cost. I suggested him to look for some
good low-cost models available in the market.
Task After I received the internship stipend, I bought a low-cost model and handed the
machine to my father. He was not cognizant of its operational ways and I showed
him how it functions.
Action I helped my father a week or so in his financial transactions and he learnt them
gradually, I was really pleased and satisfied that my effort has abridged his effort to
a large extent.
Results I understood one true thing and that is learning process is endless and it never goes
in vain. It is of great help in crisis situations and I really thank my desire for
inventive knowhow for it. My father was happy for me and my practical outlook.
I would like to question them on,
one of their main strengths and how it helped them in dealing with practical real-life problems?
This question will showcase their problem-solving skill.
Next, I would like to ask about their emotional quotient. If they are having high EQ then how it
is helping them in communicating and vice-versa? I will also ask them to support the answer by
real life instances. The purpose will be to increase awareness of the importance of EQ in
workplace because modern work culture is deficit of EQ.
I will ask about their hobby, because hobbies will reflect passion and it will showcase an
embedded expertise area of the individual.

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Section 5: Reflection
Reflection of my interview
The mock interview has acted as an anchor in shaping my career direction. I have
understood how hard it is to face real world business competition. It is true that only
theoretical bookish knowledge will not anchor me to the future position I desire to go. I have
known about my confidence level. Frankly speaking, I was quite nervous facing the interview
panel and need to work on my overall kinesics. I need to improve eye contact. I have stated all
things clearly and expect the interviewer will be able to understood my viewpoint. While
listening to others about their skills I feel anxious and lost focus. I need to concentrate more on
my own interview and keeping calm will help a lot. I also require to move the mirror interview
session to real life personal session and include my friends and parents in working my interview
lines. So, it was a decent start and fair attempt and I loved my presentation in the mock
interview. Now I feel extra-motivated and will give my best in the next interview session.
Reflection of my personal insight journey
During the early days of my Graduation Trimester, I was more relaxed and less
concerned about my profession as I am now. Studies and getting good grades were on my
priority list at that point of time. I have broadened my range of familiarity with time and now
involves more in creative and pioneering learning. I have joined online courses and other side
sessions on Accounting as I have learnt that I need to have extensive workability outlook. I have
joined some respectable certification courses which have added weightage to my resume. I
completed my job of a junior consultant with valor and utter seriousness, during my internship
days. I was acknowledged with positive feedback and huge encouragement from my seniors
there and their token of appreciation will help me a lot in my future endeavor.

12PERSONAL INSIGHT
References
Baker, T., 2016. The End of the Job Description: Shifting from a Job-focus to a Performance-
focus. Springer.
Bakharia, A., Corrin, L., de Barba, P., Kennedy, G., Gašević, D., Mulder, R., Williams, D., Dawson,
S. and Lockyer, L., 2016, April. A conceptual framework linking learning design with learning
analytics. In Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Learning Analytics &
Knowledge(pp. 329-338). ACM.
Burns, G.N., Christiansen, N.D., Morris, M.B., Periard, D.A. and Coaster, J.A., 2014. Effects of
applicant personality on resume evaluations. Journal of Business and Psychology, 29(4), pp.573-
591.
Grant, A.M. and Hartley, M., 2013. Developing the leader as coach: insights, strategies and tips
for embedding coaching skills in the workplace. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory,
Research and Practice, 6(2), pp.102-115.
Kishore, A. and Sutcliffe Jr, P.A., Careerimp, Inc., 2015. System and method for improving a
resume according to a job description. U.S. Patent 8,930,398.
Mohan, G. and Mulla, Z.R., 2013. Openness to experience and work outcomes: exploring the
moderating effects of conscientiousness and job complexity. Great Lakes Herald, 7(2), pp.18-36.
Rivera, L.A., 2015. Go with your gut: Emotion and evaluation in job interviews. American journal
of sociology, 120(5), pp.1339-1389.

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Smith, G.S., 2017. The accountant: a character in literature. Meditari Accountancy
Research, 25(1), pp.2-27.
Stefan-Duicu, V.M. and Stefan-Duicu, A., 2015. Global analysis of the financial analyst's job
within a company. Procedia Economics and Finance, 26, pp.261-267.
Appendices
Job description of a financial consultant
Key responsibilities
 Assessment of company’s financials
 Investment plan analysis
 Sourcing of capital expansion alternatives and evaluation of the same including funding and loans
 Forecasting revenue and cost
 Analysis of market trends
 Monitoring financial compliances
 Client monitoring and profiling
 Client financial planning
 Provide advice on stocks
Job brief
We are looking for a financial consultant who will guide the finance team in investment decision making, cost
management, cash management and daily company expenses. Key responsibilities include forecasting revenue
and cost, risk analysis, evaluation of capital expansion plans. Qualification includes graduation degree in finance
or accounting and experience as financial consultant in some large firms. The candidate should have,
 Degree in finance, accounting, economics and related fields
 Knowledge on accounting package and statistical software
 Knowledge on fiscal and monetary policies
 Good analytical skills and proficiency in report preparation
 Should be attentive to details
 Additional certification of CFP, AIS will be added advantage.