Reflective Essay on Academic and Employability Skills

This essay reflects on the author's experience in an academic and employability skills module, analyzing their development in areas like time management, research, critical thinking, presentation skills, and interview preparation. The essay utilizes the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to provide a structured and insightful analysis of the author's learning journey.

Reflective essay on Academic
and Employability Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
I) Description..........................................................................................................................1
II) Feelings..............................................................................................................................2
III) Evaluation........................................................................................................................2
IV) Analysis............................................................................................................................3
V) Conclusion.........................................................................................................................5
VI) Action Plan.......................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The organisation requires skills which can be academic and employability for performing
work in academic and professional career. This skills are very important for better work
performance and achievement of goals and objectives. In this essay, the reflection is shown from
Academic and Employability Skills module for development and learning of skills. This essay
has prepared with help of Gibbs reflective model. There are six stages in this model where first
reflect description, then feeling, third shows evaluation which can be positive and negative sites.
In fourth stage of analysis, development of skills is analysed, conclusion is provided and action
plan is taken to improve and develop those skills which is lacked by me. In this way, each stage
should be studied and analysed carefully for finding proper solution to the problems.
MAIN BODY
I) Description
This essay is based on module that is named as Academic and Employability skills. Here,
we need to learn various kinds of skills which is required in professional and academic life for
effective results. With the help of this skills, we can learn regarding managing our time and
making best use of it in professional and personal life. The information which is relevant for
research and way of conducting research in both academic and employability life are covered
and taught in respective module. This module can taught us regarding how can we perform our
academic writing which includes structure framing of paragraphs, sentences, reflective essay,
report writing, way of making references, writing of summary report and citation in assignment.
This module help and taught me that how can I take support of online and e-learning sites for
improving my skills to write academic report and better study. Through the learning of this
module, I learned to pass all types of interviews and able to answer various questions such as
future goals, objectives, visions, strengths, weaknesses and presentation skills.
Through this module, I built confidence in public speaking which helps me in learning
various methods and process that need to be followed while presenting in frontal of audience.
Apart from this, I also learned different ways and methods for writing cover letter and
Curriculum Vitae in order to apply for given job profile. The very significant things which I
learnt through this module is developing and enhancing my critical and analytical thinking skills
for better decision making in future. This module assist me in analysing problem arise in front of
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me, critically evaluating problem, developing various secondary solution with helps of critical
thinking and at last selecting best solution for problem arise through evaluation of all alternative
solutions.
II) Feelings
This is the second stage of Gibbs reflective model after description. In this stage, feeling
towards is explained which can be positive as well as negative that is based on the situation arise
in organisation. As this module assist me in developing different academic and employment
skills that helps in building my personal and professional career and life. By learning this
module, I build confident regarding skills and can perform all types of tasks in my personal as
well as professional life and feel more better and happy. With this module, I analyse that my
classmates, teachers, instructor, friends helped me for developing skills that need to be developed
through respective module. As instructor was serious enough for completing content of module
within given time period in effective and efficient manner.
When I completed my first class I had confusion regarding things to be taught in module
and skills that need to be learned after completion of course or module. All the participation were
given extra time by instructor in order to find the difficulty and get solution of it. Moreover, we
all learned both skills theoretically and practically from this module. All the skills learned from
module was practised by us and practically learn the way of writing business report, Curriculum
Vitae and cover letter. We all performed the task and classwork of this module in group so that
our doubts and issues can be cleared more effectively and efficiently. The instructor made new
group every time for us so that we can get experience in working with multiple group of
individuals. All the group mates were helpful and supportive than competitive. They provide
their full support in order to solve issues and problems which come across me while I was
completing my assigned work, classwork and academic through this module. I experiences both
positive and negative feeling towards this module. As each and every member of group helped
me out in solving my queries and some of them were carrying attitude and egos with them was
negative point for me to complete my assigned task.
III) Evaluation
The overall experience of module is satisfactory as some matters has good and bad
aspects that need to be focused. The instructor was dedicated and regular due to which module
was interesting and satisfactory. This module has relevant content and achieve goal of it. As my
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group said module is good and satisfactory which help them to develop skills such as report
writing, critical and analytical thinking, time management, CV writing and achieve most of the
target set. There are some good and bad aspects which are discussed here.
There were several good points in given module as goals are relevant with given current
situation of job employment market in respective country. This module has set goals for
developing skills which are more required and high in demand at employment sector in UK
market. It includes presentation skills, public speaking, researching skills, critical and analytical
thinking. The structure of module is in systematic manner for achievement of goals. This module
contain both theoretical and practical approach and instructor was dedicated and serious for
completing content. After completion of respective module we develop skills with help of
practical application and theoretical learning. Apart from good aspect, some negative or bad
aspects are also faced by us. As module does not develop critical and analytical thinking skills
because such skills need more time and practice. There are some other contents that can be added
to module for betterment of individuals such as planning, personal development, goal setting,
personal performance evaluation, feedback analysis, quality maintenance.
IV) Analysis
It is fourth stage of Gibbs reflective model where analysis is done after learning skills.
With the assistance of this module, I developed time management skills and can manage time for
each and every work more effectively and efficiently. This can help me in setting plan and
allocate time accordingly for achievement of goals and objectives. When this skills was not
learned by me then I focused on giving equal time for all task whether they are important or not.
Due to this I could complete my assigned task on given period of time. As I use time
management matrix for managing my precious time for assignment work.
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(Source:Time Management Matrix, 2018)
With the usage of respective matrix, I can divide time for work on basis of important and
urgency to me. I also learned collecting primary and secondary data from given module which
can help me to analyse data by using several statistical and mathematical tools. I learned to
analyse data by using median, mode, mean, hypothesis testing, standard deviation. Now I can
present data using various representation tools such as pie chart, line graph, bar diagram that can
aid readers to understand results of analysis. Such type of learning can help me in performing
research in future time period in both professional and academic career.
This module can help in academic writing as I can easily write academic reports with
helps of using suitable references and contents. I also learned various types of referencing system
such as Harvard, APA, and other from module. It helps me in tackling interview and answering
questions smartly in front of interviewer. I also learnt to present myself and determining my
short and long term goals. This module provide assistance in using e-learning and internet tools
for my study course. With use of internet learning I understand and learnt specific topics more
easily. If I realised that this topic is difficult and tough to understand first I use e-learning and
then discuss with my teachers, friends for understanding topic more effectively. As my public
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Illustration 1: Time Management Matrix

speaking was weak but learning of this module help me a lot in developing my skills. Now I can
easily and confidently talk in front of public.
This module helped me a lot to prepare fascinating slides with help of power points and
my presentation has become more attractive. I also learnt to give importance to body language
which is important part of presentation. By learning this module, I have started making proper
use of hand movement, eye contact, body movement that help me to do contract with audience
more effectively and making session of presentation more interesting through usage of questions,
expression, stories. In order to get good job I should be able to present myself in front of
interviewer. This can be done by presenting good CV that can be written by learning respective
module. As this can help me to write attractive CV which contain sufficient and relevant
information regarding achievement in academic, extra-curricular and experiences. Thus, we need
to develop and improve critical and analytical thinking, judgemental skills for solving problems
in effective and efficient manner in future period of time.
V) Conclusion
At last, it can be said that this module is really helpful for me to develop my skills which
is required in both personal and professional life. I have believed on myself that I can use such
skills in my life to improve myself more and achieve the ultimate goals. This module has
selected effective skills that is needed in professional and academic career. In order to improve
my critical and analytical thinking I need more time. I need to develop researching skills for
learning mathematical analysis, statistical data and presentation tools. I lack public speaking
skills which need to be improved with help of this module.
VI) Action Plan
There are some skills which are lacked by me which need to be developed. For that I
have prepared action plan which helps in developing my skills more efficient and effective
manner in future time period. They are as follows:
Skills needed to be
Developed
Required Activities Time
Needed
Evaluation
Analytical and
Critical Thinking
Skills
 In order to develop analytical
and critical thinking I need to
read books, watch videos and
4 Months I should be able to
solve problem
more efficient and
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analysis situation arise in front
of me.
 Focusing and solving real life
business cases and situations.
 I need to participate in business
competitions for enhancing my
skills.
effective manner.
Researching Skills  I need to develop statistical and
mathematical analysis skills.
 I should read more books and
participate in seminars,
conference, workshops to
develop skills.
3 Months I should be able to
make and use
appropriate and
proper
mathematical and
statistical analysis.
Presentation Skills  I need to participate in public
speaking.
 I need to improve my skills in
power points.
 I should read books which helps
in developing public speaking
skills.
 I need to watch more public
speakers videos to improve
myself.
1.5 Months I should be able to
give good and
attractive
presentation.
Interview Skills  I need to practice interview with
classmates and friends.
 I should watch interview
videos.
 Developing public speaking
skills for enhancement.
2 Months I should be able to
give good
interview and
presenting myself
in proper and
effective manner.
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CONCLUSION
From above essay, it can be concluded that academic and employability skills is very
important for developing skills in both professional and academic career. Through this I am able
to develop my various skills such as academic writing and researching skills, time management
skills, presentation skills, analytical and critical thinking skills, public speaking skills, interview
skills and developing skills for writing Curriculum Vitae. There are some skills which are lacked
by me and I believe action plan can help me in developing those skills within given time periods.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Andrews, G. and Russell, M., 2012. Employability skills development: strategy, evaluation and
impact. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. 2(1). pp.33-44.
Boahin, P. and Hofman, A., 2013. A disciplinary perspective of competency-based training on
the acquisition of employability skills. Journal of Vocational Education & Training.
65(3). pp.385-401.
Deeley, S. J., 2014. Summative co-assessment: A deep learning approach to enhancing
employability skills and attributes. Active Learning in Higher Education. 15(1). pp.39-
51.
Fallows, S. and Steven, C., 2013. Integrating key skills in higher education: Employability,
transferable skills and learning for life. Routledge.
Jackson, D., 2014. Self-assessment of employability skill outcomes among undergraduates and
alignment with academic ratings. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 39(1).
pp.53-72.
Pinto, L. H. and Ramalheira, D. C., 2017. Perceived employability of business graduates: The
effect of academic performance and extracurricular activities. Journal of Vocational
Behavior. 99. pp.165-178.
Rosenberg, S., Heimler, R. and Morote, E. S., 2012. Basic employability skills: a triangular
design approach. Education+ Training. 54(1). pp.7-20.
Smale, B. and Fowlie, J., 2015. How to Succeed at University: An Essential Guide to Academic
Skills, Personal Development & Employability. Sage.
Speight, S., Lackovic, N. and Cooker, L., 2013. The contested curriculum: Academic learning
and employability in higher education. Tertiary Education and Management. 19(2).
pp.112-126.
Online
Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.toolshero.com/management/gibbs-reflective-cycle-graham-gibbs/>.
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