Professionalism and Self-Reflection: A Guide for Students

WEEK 1
Q1. What do you understand the term “professional” to mean? Support your answer with
at least one reference and correctly use in-text referencing in your answer.
The term “professional” presents an individual being expert in a particular field that includes
vital knowledge in that particular sector. Their professional behavior while performing that
particular profession makes them efficient professionals (Ibrahim, et. al., 2012). The professional
behavior includes these qualities and characteristics:
 Responsible and integrated: Professional is the individual who takes responsibility for
his work and committed completely to his work. Not only expertise in work but also
integrity and responsibility in behavior is also needed for the purpose of being called a
professional.
 Exhibits competence: Professionals are people who have expertise in their sectors and
jobs. They have mastered their work with higher qualification and proper training. It
helps in building the confidence at workplace with colleagues, suppliers, clients and
managers.
 Respect: An individual is considered as professional if he has ability to show the respect
to the people with whom he is dealing during any business. For being professional it is
necessary for being courteous, fair, punctual, active listener etc.
Reference
Ibrahim, R., Mansor, A.Z., & Amin, L. (2012). The meaning and practices of Academic
Professionalism: Views from Academics in a Research University. Procedia- social and
behavioral Sciences, vol. 59, pp. 520-527.

Q2. What is the importance of a professional reflective journal- to support your answer,
give one or two specific examples? Please note, we are talking about a personal reflective
journal and not a commercial or industry one.
A professional reflective journal is personal statement or record of the students or professionals
for their learning experiences. In this reflective journal, the students or professionals called as
learners can record, maintain and reflect their observations and their responses to different
situations for the purpose of exploring the ways of thinking. These professional reflective
journals are actually very useful and a helpful learning tool for the students and instructors as
well (Ben, 2007).
These reflective journals are used in grasping knowledge, recording the thought process of the
student or professionals and solidifying their learning experiences. It helps students in
formulating or creating the new opinions as well as thinking, exploring and practicing skills
learned in any class. For example, professional journals can be used by the professionals to
record their day to day activities and what they have learned and where they need to improve.
One more example is for the students; they can analyze their learning outcomes and explore new
methods that help in increasing their extent of career development.
References
Ben, M., 2007. Writing a Reflective Journal: Personal Development. [Online]. Clinpsy.
Available at: http://www.clinpsy.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=955
[Accessed 17 July 2018].

Q3. Getting to know yourself.
Please answer each of the following about yourself. Your answers are to be in whole
sentences (brief answers receive low or no marks).
a) Are you a morning, noon or night person?
I am a morning person because I feel very active and fresh early in the work and it is easy for
me to focus on work in morning.
b) How long can you work intensively and still keep focused?
I can continuously and intensively work for 6 hours and after that, at least one hour break is
needed if the work is as per my interest. But if the work is burdensome and hard for me to
understand then I cannot work more than 4 hours continuously.
c) What sort of work do you look forward to doing?
I am looking forward to working as a professional in ITC sector and make my career in the
field of software development.
d) What sort of work do you leave until the time is almost up, or worse?
Generally, I do not prefer to leave my work and I am fully focused to end my work in the
given timeline. Further, if there is worst situation I will prefer to prioritize my work on its
importance basis and then will leave the least important work.
e) How many hours can you work without break?
I can work for 6 hours nonstop and then a break of 1 hour is necessary for me to be refreshed
and continue my work. Further, it also depends on the difficulty level of work.
f) How long does your work need to be for you to be refreshed?
It depends on the quantity of work. Generally, I need one hour break but if the volume of
work is higher then the 30 minutes break will also be sufficient.

g) How many weeks can you work without a day of not working?
Only a week is enough for me to work without any day of not working because a day of
relaxation is needed in every week for me to be refreshed and energetic.
h) How many days/weeks of not working do you need for you to be refreshed?
At least one day of not working is necessary for me to be refreshed in a week. But if it can be
2 then it will be an added advantage for me.

Q4. Prepare your “to do” list for next week. Use a simple table format and include at
least 8 items, with priorities.
My “To Do” list:
ITEM DESCRIPTION PRIORITY
1. Work on ACS assessments 1
2. Go to Gym 6
3. Go out with friends 5
4. Regular Job work 3
5. Make Reflective Journal and update my resume 4
6. Attend Basketball tournament 8
7. Clean house and buy groceries 7
8. Attempt quiz 2