Work Based Learning: Key Competencies, Career Prospects, and Progression Opportunities

This report explores the key competencies, career prospects, and progression opportunities in work based learning. It includes a SWOT analysis and skill audit to identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as short, medium, and long term goals for career development. The report also discusses networking, training and development, and mentoring and coaching as important factors for career progression, and identifies potential barriers to progression.

WORK BASED LEARNING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Key competencies.......................................................................................................................1
Career prospects .........................................................................................................................3
Progression opportunities............................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Personal analysis is the key term used to define the person self analysis in the form of
strengths and weaknesses of skills, knowledge, behaviour, competencies (Donald, Ashleigh and
Baruch, 2018). Every person carries different set of expertise and weak spots that requires
improvement for which personal analysis is the key tool. This technique is useful to person in to
identify the traits of the personality that are highly excellent and are counted in terms of strengths
of the individual. The technique is mostly used by the individual working in the jibs to identify
their weak areas that can be further improved through progression opportunities. This reflective
piece highlights the personal key competencies through skill audit and SWOT analysis. The
report also includes the career prospects in terms of short, medium and long term goals of an
individual. In the end the report is all about the progression opportunities and barriers that
individual has in future terms.
MAIN BODY
Key competencies
SWOT analysis
The strong and most common self analysis tool for the person to analyse the self potential
and capabilities in terms of different types of skills. The Swot analysis also help in identification
of weaknesses in the skills. This tool also helped me to analyse my weaknesses of the skills that
I will be improving in future (López-Aguirre, 2018). I have also analysed some key opportunities
in my path of learning new skills and serious threats that I must mitigate to stay in path of growth
and progress. The wot analysis is highlighted below:
Strengths Weaknesses
 My communication skills are my major
strengths that helps me in effectively
blending with my surrounding. This
skill also help me to make good
relationship with employees in the
organisations which is also useful for
me in gaining peer to peer learning.
 The lack of critical thinking and
creative thinking skills are my major
weakness. Due to this weakness I was
lack in thinking out of box or to
provide the firm with new innovative
ideas that could comply with
organisational strategy and lead the
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The good verbal and written
communication also help me in
showing that I have clarity of my job
role and also I good in interacting with
the others during my job activities.
 I have excellent management skills as I
am able to efficiency manage the work
at the organisation. As the job role of
HR I am able to manage and control the
employees of the organisation which is
also helpful in maintaining their good
performance. This skill is the key skill
for my professional career I have been
showing my best performance through
this skill.
firm towards the growth.
 Low decision making skills are also my
weak spot as to weak critical thinking I
am not able to review the situation
quickly which make it as my low
decision making skills.
 I also have lack of time management
skills because of my low organisational
and delegation skills. This means in
order to avoid other hinderance in my
growth I must upgrade my weaknesses.
Opportunities Threats
 I need to develop my IT skills and
during my module I have huge
opportunity to learn these skills. For the
modern business world HR manager
the digital technology adaptation is
must for which I must develop this kills
for my better future opportunities.
 I have an opportunity to learn new
digital recruitment and hiring skills. As
in the modern world after the pandemic
situation the organisations are hiring
through the new recruitment process.
 There is huge threat of collaborative
skills as after the situation of pandemic
and from work from home I have very
low collaborative skills which make me
very nervous and resilient to work back
from office. This threat for me as this
might make me less interactive and low
team worker (Maiese and Hanna,
2019).
 I have huge threat of low leadership
skills I have very low qualities that
could seem as the higher leadership
Skill audit
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Skills and
Abilities
1 2 3 4 5
Communication
skills
*
administrative
skills
*
Creative
thinking skills
*
Time
management
skills
*
Analyse skill gaps and future access to training and development:
Skill gaps are the areas of difference by which person identifies the weak spots through
identification of present skills and future required skills. This tool is highly essential for the
personal growth as this assist in analysing the future skills and also sets a benchmark for the
attainment of goals and objectives. Therefore, in order to meet the modern market demand as an
HR executive I must analyse my skill gaps that must be filled effectively to sustain in market and
also to have brighter career in future. To analyse my skills gaps I have performed skill audit and
SWOT analysis that has effectively analysed my skill set. As per the SWOT analysis I have
recognised that lack of critical thinking skills are my major weakness that also fades my other
qualities as an HR. due to this weakness I am unable to think broadly to generate new ideas.
From this skill I have also encountered my another weakness that is decision making skills as I
am highly incompetent in resolving the problems of the others (Tippa and Mane, 2018). I also
have low time management skills which are important as an HR to deliver productivity and
sincerity in my work. Thus, If I am able to master these skills then I will be able to gain the good
opportunity for my career.
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Career prospects
After implementing SWOT analysis on myself, there are various approaches which are
relevant to all short, medium and long term objectives. The abilities that are determined by me
assisted me in several job professions. As I am able to prove my capabilities in finishing projects
and tasks in given time period. Therefore, it is very essential to determine desired objectives to
be accomplished during my graduation(Woolston, 2020). This is important for me as these ideas
and approaches would support me in gaining more experience and to make myself more
efficient.
Short term goal: These are the objectives which must be achieved in a short span of time
period. These objectives prepare an individual for targeting the little growth towards the possible
career path. After my graduation, there are various options available for me to accomplish in a
short period of time. As I am effective in technical skills which has helped me in enhancing my
knowledge in digital marketing. Because this field possess high growth that would assist me in
strengthening my abilities of utilising IT software and techniques (Rozanova-Smith, 2021). My
aim is to complete my digital marketing course within a time span of around 6 months.
Furthermore, I would also seek for an internship in digital marketing that could assist me in
enhancing practical and IT skills.
Medium Term goals: These are defined as objectives that need a time period of 6
months to 1 year to accomplish desired goals. I could be able to achieve my targeted goal by
registering myself in a diploma course of management. This course will require a time period of
approximately 1 year to get completed. With the help of this course I will be able to enhance my
knowledge and concepts related to HR that would assist me in performing effectively as an HR
manager. After the completion of this course I will be able to analyse roles and responsibilities of
an HR manager and could perform better in organisation. It is important for me to seek for
several career options which relates to my interested field. Therefore, after graduation I would
become eligible in taking participation in programmes and campaigns related to HR field.
Long term goals: These are the objectives which could be accomplished by an
individual in a long period of time. My ultimate purpose is to take a MBA degree after the
completion of my graduation. This would assist me in improving my skills and knowledge in
particular interested field of mine. Therefore, my long term goal is to achieve designation of HR
in a well reputed company. In order to develop my knowledge and skills related to HR I have to
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pursue courses that could enhance my abilities to perform well (Crowley‐Henry, Benson and Al
Ariss, 2019). By choosing master of management I will be able to accomplish this long term of
mine. While pursuing my graduation I could focus on improving my creative and innovative
thinking.
Progression opportunities
Career progression is defined as an activity which is associated with progress and
development in the professional lives so that desirable objectives could be accomplished. This
would assist me in evaluating the risk, opportunities and issues so that I could clear all of my
doubts and further focus on accomplish my objectives (Ani, 2018). Furthermore, to make a good
career in the field of an HR, I am required to improve in following discussed areas:
Networking: This is one of the main component that plays very essential role in
development in of career in HR field. Networking assist in getting touch with various other
people who are associated with this industry. This networking assist in exploring major
opportunities for me because I would get connected with several famous personalities of
industry. The networking process could be done through different online platforms which could
assist me developing my relationship with people of same industry (Chambers and Tzavella,
2021). Furthermore, I could develop my skills by observing activities of those people on social
media platforms.
Training and development: this is also one of the vital element which would assist me
in improving my weak skills. Training and development is considered as one of the important
factor that enhance productivity of a person. Furthermore, this would assist me in boosting my
abilities and performing effectively at my work.
Mentoring and coaching: This is also considered as crucial factor to become an
effective HR manager as it helps in providing relevant guidance and mentoring to people
underneath me. A proper coaching and mentoring is helpful for me as I would analyse the path
by which I could accomplish my desired objectives. I could also gain clarity in my objectives
that I want to accomplish and for which I require guidance from professional.
Progression barrier
Various kinds of barriers that encounter during the procedure of career progression has
been mentioned below in terms of HR position that I am seeking to make my career:
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 Lack of directions: This is considered as one of the major issue that I could experience
in accomplishing my desired goals and objectives. Because of limited direction I was
unable to explore opportunities in the market (Shenoy, 2021). This would assist me in
developing influence on decision and choices that I will encounter in future.
 Fear of failure: This is another issue that I could face while accomplishing my targeted
aims and objectives. I lack self-confidence which is my great weaknesses because I
experience major threat while exploring new areas and getting out of my comfort zone.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been evaluated that proper knowledge and skills are very
essential for students in order to accomplish targeted goals. This report assist in determining
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats which could assist an individual in establishing
skill audit. The above evaluation helps in analysing which capabilities are needed to develop in
order to become effectively HR manager. From the above discussion it could be evaluated that
establishing short, long and medium term goals is important in order to accomplish desired goals.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ani, K.U., 2018. The 21st Century Lawyer: Challenges and Prospects. Available at SSRN
3270279.
Chambers, C.D. and Tzavella, L., 2021. The past, present and future of Registered Reports.
Nature human behaviour, pp.1-14.
Crowley‐Henry, M., Benson, E.T. and Al Ariss, A., 2019. Linking talent management to
traditional and boundaryless career orientations: Research propositions and future
directions. European Management Review, 16(1), pp.5-19.
Donald, W.E., Ashleigh, M.J. and Baruch, Y., 2018. Students’ perceptions of education and
employability: Facilitating career transition from higher education into the labor market.
Career development international.
López-Aguirre, C., 2018. Women in neotropical science: Gender parity in the 21st century and
prospects for a post-war Colombia. bioRxiv, p.477422.
Maiese, M. and Hanna, R., 2019. The mind-body politic. Springer.
Rozanova-Smith, M., 2021. Stay or Leave? Arctic Youth Prospects and Sustainable Futures of
the Russian Arctic Communities. Sustainability, 13(21), p.12058.
Shenoy, V., 2021. Graduate Employment Prospects Post COVID Pandemic Lockdown.
Proceedings of Revamp Educom.
Tippa, N.G. and Mane, S.R., 2018. Problems and prospects of field work training in social work
education: A Review. Innovare Journal of Social Sciences, 6(1), pp.1-2.
Woolston, C., 2020. Pandemic darkens postdocs’ work and career hopes. Nature, 585(7824),
pp.309-312.
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