Portfolio: Skills for Academic Life and Future Employment

This report explores the significance of a portfolio in developing skills for academic life and future employment. It discusses the various skills acquired through classroom learning, such as time and task management, group formations, presentation skills, communication skills, academic integrity, academic writing skills, reflection, CV writing, cover letter writing, plagiarism awareness, reading skills, and employability skills. The report also highlights the advantages of these skills in academic life and their relevance in the job market.

PORTFOLIO

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
SKILL REFLECTION.....................................................................................................................3
ADVANTAGES OF THESE SKILLS IN ACADEMIC LIFE.......................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
Portfolio is an academic work for a student which can be used in an educational sector for
students to develop a number of skills which can be used by them while they are studying in a
university of college as well as when they grow up and go out looking for jobs (Valentino and
Reardon, 2015). This helps in making a detailed evaluation for students regarding their positive
points when compared to others. This is also a standard criterion which includes promotions,
graduation and a number of other upgradations in life of an individual. The following report also
consists of a reflective account which have included all the skills required for the coursework.
SKILL REFLECTION
I am studying in college, there are a number of different skills which are developed in me
during the lectures attend it. I have affectively made weekly distributions of it throughout. This
will help me in identifying all my skills. Below mentioned are all those skills of mine:
Time and task management skills: The task here the first two pieces of work which I completed
my love I was required to complete an assignment. Management can be said to be a process
which is used to manage all the task which required to be performed. Time management skill
was an important aspect in accomplishment of assignments assigned to me. It is important that
the given task is completed within the given time period without tampering the quality of task. It
will help me in future so that I can efficiently utilise all the efforts of my team in an effective
manner. It is important that the required task to be completed must be divided into various small
steps along with time required to complete each step. This will help me in completion of works
and objectives within the given time in which my superiors ask me to complete the project.

Figure 1
Group Formations: This is the aspect which includes formation of teams as well as group in an
organisation whether corporate or educational. Group is formed well more than two people come
together either to work on the task or due to their common interests (Flores, Kleyn and Menken,
2015). I have learned about a number of steps included in formation of group through this I can
easily bring together a number of people to work towards a common vision or objective. A
number of norms to be followed while working in a team. I have also come to know about
formal as well as informal groups. I am a part of both formal and an informal group in my
educational institute.

Figure 2
Presentation skills: While in my college I have had ample possibilities to
attain presentation skills. Presentation skills are important for every individual as they allow a
person to connect with others in their environment. It also helps a person to attain certain
leadership qualities and a sense of responsibility while presenting something in front of others.
Presentation skills and influential personality reduces stage fear and helps an individual to
communicate effectively with a group. Important for a person to be a good communicator while
presenting something. Presentation does not only include verbal communication but it also takes
into account various signs, signals, postures and expressions. I have come to know about a
various number of ways to indulge people in such presentations.

Figure 3
Communication skills: Communication skill is an important aspect for every individual
surviving in this world. It was another important skill acquired by me while attending all my
lectures and my classes. This skill has been acquired by me in all forms which include
communications through words, actions and also written communication. Google Vodafone
electronic communication which is the new trend in today’s world. It is easy for me to build
strong conversation and cordial relationship with strangers through the help of my
communication skills. My communication skills will definitely help me perform well in my job
interviews.
Figure 4
Academic integrity: Virtue of characters including three steps which are discerning, acting and
saying openly is included in academic integrity (Basturkmen, 2014). From my experiences I
have learnt that it is important for a person to be honest. Being a student I came to know how
much my presence as well as my absence is going to affect environment and people living
around me. This also helped me for my overall development. The concept of academic honesty

comes with an opposite concept as well which is academic dishonesty. This refers to an unfair
advantage which a person might attain through dishonesty. Now I am able to differentiate
between both positive as well as negative aspect of academic integrity.
Figure 5
Academic writing skills: Every individual in today’s world need to acquire good writing skills.
While attending all my class lectures I came to develop good writing skills and also turning my
thoughts as well as ideas into a well explained script. This will help Me in facing a number of
cognitive challenges that I might definitely face sometime in my future. This have also helped to
develop a lot of confidence in me as now I can easily communicate through writing. Writing skill
is important because most of work in corporate is done through formal sets of writings and face
to face communications are limited. There can be a number of different schools which include
group discussion, formal, informal as well as complex writings. I have clearly developed an
understanding about all of it. It is important that the perspective you are choosing for writing is
correct and one needs to make sure that the message reaches to the intended person clearly. The
writing must be done in such a way that all the formats, grammar, paragraphs and important
aspects are included efficiently in it. I have developed good points in this skill set.

Figure 6
Value of a reflection: Taking the help of all the classes and lectures I have attended I can say
that I came to know about deep understanding of a reflection. I had no idea earlier about a
reflection. But now I can clearly explain as well as write a reflection whenever required from me.
Reflection is basically dealing with present cancel present issues. It in walls recognition of
feelings for a person and what that person is going through in present scenario. A detailed
description of all this is mentioned in a reflection. A reflection has also helped in bringing
together a number of ways in concepts which can be included in timely learning.
Figure 7

CV writing: It is very important for every individual to understand the importance of preparing a
CV. CV is a document which contains all the awards all achievements of an individual that they
have acquired throughout their life (Baker N.and et. al., 2015). It specially comes in help for an
individual when they are looking for a job. An employer will first ask for CV if they are willing
to offer you a job. It helps individuals to showcase all their achievements without even
mentioning them while they talk. This makes the best first impression on employers and
companies you wish to work for. This is an important skill which helps throughout the academic
career. An effective CV will help an individual to make a great impact on their employer. This is
the best way to prove that you are better than your competitors. I made my own CV while
learning in college how to do it. My CV making skills have improved and the CV prepared by
me also helped me attain a temporary job at a supermarket where I work after my classes. It is
important for every student to develop this skill while studying in an educational institution.
Figure 8
Writing of a cover letter: Writing a cover letter is an important writing skill which needed to be
polish by me. Why are you telling my lectures I came to know about various rules of writing
cover letter? A cover letter contains I am opening paragraph, main body of the letter and at the
end conclusion of it. It is also essential that there are no typing or grammatical error in such a
letter.

Figure 9
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is unlawful and unethical practice which a number of people follow. I
came to know about it while I was studying in my college. There are various factors involved
with it which my lead to hamper overall future of a student or an employee as well. It is
advisable for everyone to stay away from plagiarism.
Figure 10
Reading Skills: Reading skills have an important role to play in overall development of an
individual. It is important for both students as well as working employees. I improved this skill

in me by reading a number of books apart from my academics. There is a lot of importance of
vocabulary, factor, skills, reflection which I came to know about as I started enhancing my
reading skills. It is a perception of people where they consider an avid reader as intelligent.
Figure 11
Employability Skills: Apart from all the skills which are mentioned above there are a number of
different skills required for acquiring employment in an organisation. Leadership, self-
development, social and ethical awareness, creativity and so on are some such skills which are
important to be applied in a people looking for job. I have developed all this skills overtime
which will help me acquire jobs in future.
Figure 12

ADVANTAGES OF THESE SKILLS IN ACADEMIC LIFE
The following report includes all of my experience through which I have analysed all my
skills which are beneficial for me in every aspect of life. This will also help me in future when I
will look for jobs outside the university. There were opportunities given to me through which I
was able to deliver weekly presentation in front of whole class. I had a stage fear from
childhood. While giving this presentation I was able to speak on stage. I had a fear to
communicate fluently in group. This also saw benefit as I gave this presentation. Through it I
also came to learn about plagiarism, communicating in group and also influencing people to
follow. I acted as a leader in a number of group presentation as well. I worked as a link between
various group members of mine. I have capability to indulge people in effective and interesting
communications now. I also learned a number of other academic skills like writing and specially
preparation of my CV. I have effectively created CV of mine which includes all the
achievements and awards I have attained throughout my life. After my college when I go out
looking for a job this CV will be my first impression on any employer. It will be the first thing
they will judge me on. Through it I can prove to them that how am I better than other applicants
who I am competing with for the same job. There were a number of other skills I developed in
myself while I was studying in college. I learned to make reports, write letters and a number of
other academic writing skills. These skills are going to help me in future while I perform my job.
This will help me to make formal communications during the work I do in corporate sector.
There is a lot of competition in today’s world. The jobs are limited and candidates are many. All
these skills will help me in proving myself better than others in external environment.
CONCLUSION
The above report specifies that classroom learning has an important room to play in overall
development for a student as there are a number of skills that they attain during this period. It
also helps them in future with development of their future career opportunities. It helps to shape
personalities of student for their overall development. When a student passes out college and
looks in front for job opportunities these skills comes in handy to students. This provide them
with better competitive advantage in the market while looking jobs. There are a number of
influences which these skills have directly as well as indirectly over a student and also helps
them to achieve employment.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Baker, C. N.and et. al., 2015. Teacher (mis) perceptions of preschoolers’ academic skills:
Predictors and associations with longitudinal outcomes. Journal of educational
psychology.107(3). p.805.
Basturkmen, H., 2014. Ideas and options in English for specific purposes. Routledge.
Flores, N., Kleyn, T. and Menken, K., 2015. Looking holistically in a climate of partiality:
Identities of students labeled long-term English language learners. Journal of Language,
Identity & Education.14(2). pp.113-132.
Valentino, R.A. and Reardon, S.F., 2015. Effectiveness of four instructional programs designed
to serve English learners: Variation by ethnicity and initial English proficiency. Educational
Evaluation and Policy Analysis.37(4). pp.612-637.