Preparing for Success: Self Development and Responsibility

This document discusses the importance of self development and responsibility in achieving success. It covers topics such as the role of communication, academic and professional objectives, action plan, reflection, selection of reading logs, sources for finding jobs, enhancing employability, role of higher education, academic writing, skills needed for employability, and SWOT analysis. The document provides valuable insights for individuals looking to improve their personal and professional lives.

PREPARING FOR
SUCCESS: SELF
DEVELOPMENT AND
RESPONSIBILITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Summary......................................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................4
Role of communication................................................................................................................4
Academic and Professional Objectives.......................................................................................4
Action Plan..................................................................................................................................5
Reflection.....................................................................................................................................6
Selection of reading logs.............................................................................................................6
Sources available for finding job.................................................................................................6
Enhancing employability.............................................................................................................6
Role of Higher education in personal and professional development.........................................7
Role of Academic writing............................................................................................................7
Skills needed for employability...................................................................................................7
SWOT Analysis...........................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Self development is an extremely critical phase in the development of an individual where it
is necessary that the individuals analyse themselves and develop themselves regularly (Van der
Heijden and Spurk, 2019). The current report will identify the different aspects that are included
in the enhancement of employability and the importance of portfolio development in such
employability skills.
Summary
There is self-development is very important task to me, because this is the only way to me
for gaining high success in personal life. Of course, I need to put huge efforts for developing
various skills and abilities. Currently there are many productive resources available in the market
which can support me for improving different competencies. For example; book & journals,
articles, blogs, informative videos, trainer etc. Basically these are some major resources which
can support me for developing my professional and personal life. Currently I am able to take
huge advantages from these all resources. Currently there are various skills existing which I
highly need to be developed, like communication skills. I have highly required to develop these
skills, because currently most people always like to talk with that person who has well-developed
communication skills (Cicero and et.al., 2017). Basically, a person can’t develop it’s all over
personality and professionalism by avoiding communication skills. This is the main reason that I
highly need to improve or develop these skills.
I am completely ready to put my extra-ordinary efforts for achieving my academic and
professional objectives. Self-develop is only way to me for achieving these objectives. For
developing my-self, I have made a productive development plan for improving or developing
those all skills and abilities which currently I highly needs to be developed. In this development
plan, I have mentioned those all resources which can support in my person and professional
development. While following this development plan, I should use KPI (Key Performance
Indicator) to analyse success ratio of exiting skills. After making development plan, I have
reflected on ‘how my existing project work meets the learning outcomes. This is also necessary
task to me for developing myself. After giving reflection, I have made an effective CV. This CV
is enough to show my different well-developed skis, abilities and competencies. There are some
other specifications also I have included in this CV. There are I reflect also on that CV, because
reflection is necessary for analysing effectiveness of that CV.
3

Then I captured a picture of myself to ready for interview. Viewing picture of myself before
interview is necessary to me for knowing existing physical conditions of mine (Cook-Cottone
and Guyker, 2018). Reason is, every person always required to look energetic and enthusiastic
while participating in an interview. Otherwise that person can’t put an effective impression on
interviewer. There is picture of team work also has been added by in the portfolio for properly
developing my teamwork efficiency. After team work picture, I have prepared an effective
reading log. There is reading log has helped me for learning through different books & journals
and articles. In reading log, I have mentioned authors names also, for giving them full credit.
This is a common attribute of a professional person that, when a professional person uses any
other’s innovations, then it always gives full credit to actual owner of that innovation. Finally, I
have conducted SWOT analysis for analysing my existing strengths and weaknesses.
MAIN BODY
Role of communication
Communication is the main key in the academic and professional development where a
person who can easily communicate and present their view is always much more respected than
the one who is unclear. I have improved drastically my communication skills through the
academic learning that I have undertaken where I no longer stutter or hesitate to put forward my
point of view. I can attract the attention of the audience and I have developed this by regular
practicing of the speaking skills so that I can maintain my confidence level at all times and not
compromise with it.
Academic and Professional Objectives
My academic objectives mainly include attaining a top position in the current course that I
am undertaking and then to be a part of the top students for whom there are so many internship
and scholarships available that they can avail (Terri Brown, Newton and Seeley, 2017). Apart
from this I also I intend to excel in the other curricular activities that I have taken part in so that
my all round development and growth can occur. In the professional field I mainly intend to first
get selected in the top organisation and then quickly excel until I reach the position of general
manager in the company.
4

Action Plan
In order to achieve the desired objectives that I have developed for myself, I intend to use a
particular action plan that will help me effectively in achieving those set objectives;
Skills to be developed Actions or Activities Time taken
Writing Skills In order to develop academic writing skills
I will have to engage in comprehension
related activities where my skills related to
the ability of reading or understanding
something and then concisely and
relevantly describing it can be tested and
developed. This will help immensely in
academic and professional life.
3 to 4 months
Presentation skills Although my communication skills are
well developed, it is not of much use of I
do not possess presentation skill. I will
develop this by observing and learning
form my seniors and by taking special
classes for this where I will be taught about
the eye movement, hand gestures etc.
(Popović, Stolić and Kavaja-Stanišić,
2019).
1 month
Problem Solving ability In order to succeed in both academic and
professional life, it is necessary to develop
quick decision making and problem
solving skills so that well reasoned and
timely decisions can be taken even in
situation of crisis. This will help me
immensely in future career and education
both.
5 to 6 months
5

Reflection
The learning outcomes are formulated so that we can understand the importance of self
analysis, development and evaluation and the project is in accordance with those learning
objectives. I think that the development of portfolio, understanding of the different skills that we
have and the ones that we need to develop, preparation of CV all are in accordance with the
objectives of the learning outcomes where we have to basically analyse ourselves in the
academic and professional context. I think that this module or assessment has contributed
immensely towards the development that we plan to undertake and will help us in future i.e.
practical life as well.
Selection of reading logs
There are various books and articles that I plan to read so that I can analyse myself more in
depth and develop understanding related to the actual kind of person that I really am. I am
planning to read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
and other articles that have been published on how self improvement and development can be
induced n order to gain more success in the life (Van der Heijden and Spurk, 2019). I also plan to
read some blogs and current real life tries of people so that I can get motivated and understand
the need to constantly develop myself without any break or off. This will ultimately help me in
having a better future and leading a better life only.
Sources available for finding job
In the current era of hugely advanced and active social media and other connecting
platforms, finding correct jobs have become particularly easier and we are able to easily search
for relevant jobs based on the ratings reviews etc. The various methods that I would use for job
searching are platforms such as LinkedIn where it is easy to get in touch with potential
employers, job fairs, walk in centres where immediate feedback can be received, the employment
agencies who constantly alert about some very good opportunities etc. All these will help me in
surfing through the various job profiles and then select the ones that are most feasible according
to my qualifications and preferences.
Enhancing employability
The employability basically involves skills that are or will help in performing the jobs that
have been allotted in a better manner so that when the employ generation is raised, it can lead to
creation of better jobs for me as an individual. I can increase the chances at better employment
6

options by focusing on the development of more skills and talents specifically the skills that I
have included in my action plan as well such as the communication, presentation and problem
solving skills etc. (Mackay, 2017). These will collectively lead to improvement of the options
and opportunities at employment that I can generate successfully
Role of Higher education in personal and professional development
Education has always been an integral part in everyone’s life where even if the ultimate
objective is job or no job, education is a must. By enrolling in the higher education university, I
can adequately state that I have been assisted immensely in the development of both personal
and professional skills and character. I learnt in personal life that coordination and
communication is very important in ascertaining the success of whatever plans that have been
formulated and in professional life I understood that the higher education helps in the
development of career and in creating better job opportunities as well for the company.
Role of Academic writing
Academic writing not only helps in easily conveying the main intention behind the
communication that is to take place, but it also helps in maintaining the professionalism behind
doing so. It is necessary to learn how to communicate in a professional manner and this involves
better reading, writing and communicating skills (Gott, Bauer and Long, 2019). Therefore, I can
adequately say that the academic writing skills are extremely important in the development of
professional career and advancing on it. I can further ascertain that these can be improved by
constantly working on it under the guidance of a supervisor who can improve the work that is to
be done.
Skills needed for employability
Some of the basic skills that are required in an individual according to me for better skills
development include:
 Decision making
 Problem Solving
 Communication skills
 Presentation skills
 Written and oral skills
 Time management skills
 ICT skills
7

 Multi tasking
SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis is an important and critical tool in better analysis of oneself and also
assists in working on the improvement of an individual. For myself, I can conduct my SWOT
analysis in following manner:
Strengths
 I can adequately credit that I am a good
communicator and can capture the
attention of the listeners easily.
 My time management skills are also
very well developed and can help me in
the future as well to develop multi
tasking ability that is extremely
necessary.
Weaknesses
 My major weakness is that my
presentation skills are not very
developed and I often tend to get
nervous which spoils my
communication as well.
 Another weakness is that I am very
analytical and this reduced my problem
solving skills as well as I take too much
time in decision making.
Opportunities
 The major opportunity for me lies in
the development of ICT skills that are
extremely necessary with the changing
business environment (Kelley, 2017).
 I can also utilise the opportunity of
making myself oriented with
completion of multiple asks at the same
time that will increase my performance
and efficiency.
Threats
 The major threat that I currently face is
that if I do not develop myself regularly
then this might make me redundant and
I might not get employment
opportunities.
 Reduction in the employability can
affect my existing skills as well if I do
not get to use them accordingly and this
can ultimately affect the career
prospects.
CONCLUSION
The research done above concludes that the development of portfolio is extremely important
in the creation of better employment opportunities and in improving the overall future prospects.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cicero, D. C., and et.al., 2017. The Inventory of Psychotic-Like Anomalous Self-Experiences
(IPASE): Development and validation. Psychological assessment. 29(1). p.13.
Cook-Cottone, C. P. and Guyker, W. M., 2018. The development and validation of the Mindful
Self-Care Scale (MSCS): An assessment of practices that support positive
embodiment. Mindfulness. 9(1). pp.161-175.
Gott, T., Bauer, T. and Long, K., 2019. Student leadership today, Professional employment
tomorrow. New directions for student leadership. 2019(162). pp.91-109.
Kelley, P., 2017. The Impact of Maternity Healthcare Employees Professional Development on
Pregnant Teen Health.
Mackay, M., 2017. Professional development seen as employment capital. Professional
development in education, 43(1), pp.140-155.
Popović, A., Stolić, D. and Kavaja-Stanišić, D., 2019. Contribution of University Library"
Svetozar Marković" to continuing professional development of employees in
librarianship. Čitalište. (34). pp.32-39.
Terri Brown, B.S.N., Newton, A. and Seeley Sr, D., 2017. Examining Job Satisfaction and
Professional Development of Registered Nurses during Their First 18 Months of
Employment.
Van der Heijden, B. and Spurk, D., 2019. Moderating role of LMX and proactive coping in the
relationship between learning value of the job and employability enhancement among
academic staff employees. Career Development International.
9

10