Academic & Employability Skills Report: Evaluation and Action Plan

This report presents a comprehensive self-assessment of academic and employability skills. The introduction emphasizes the importance of these skills for future career success, highlighting the need for continuous skill development in a competitive job market. The skills evaluation section analyzes the student's strengths and weaknesses using a SWOT analysis, based on a personality test. It identifies areas like conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness as strengths, while acknowledging weaknesses in openness to experience and reactions to stressful situations. The report also details an action plan outlining short-term and long-term goals, focusing on improving technological skills and openness to experience. The application section is incomplete, but the report's structure suggests it will discuss the practical application of these skills. The conclusion and evaluation section will summarize the findings and assess the effectiveness of the action plan.

Academic & Employability
Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Section 2: Skills Evaluation.............................................................................................................1
Section 3: Action Plan:....................................................................................................................4
Section 4: Application......................................................................................................................6
Section 5: Conclusion and Evaluation.............................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................8
Section 6: Appendices......................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
.......................................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Academic employability skills play a very important role in the life of an individual as by
developing this a person can enhance its skills and knowledge which can further help in applying
for a job or other activities. Therefore, improving academic skills make the person ready for
future (Andrews and Russell, 2012). With the change in course of time, competition is being
increasing as companies are focussing more on selecting people who are eligible and skilled
enough for performing specific kind of activities. Further assignment will assist in evaluating
own strengths and weaknesses so that opportunities and threats can be identified and steps can be
taken accordingly. Thus, this assignment will be divided into six sections and entire report will
be dependent on the basis of this.
Section 2: Skills Evaluation
Having life skills is very important in this constantly changing environment as this helps
an individual in meeting all the objectives and challenges in a better manner. It has been
analysed that over the past few years, transformation in technologies and demands of the
organisation while hiring new employees are changing therefore, it is necessary that I upgrade
their new life skills on a regular basis so as to deal with every situation. According to my
concern, I should develop some of the skills so that better opportunities can be grabbed by me.
This will not only make the person capable of problem solving but it will also help them in
finding suitable job and employment (de Guzman and Choi, 2013). Some of the skills based on
Higher Education Learning and employability are mentioned below that must be developed by
an individual:
Higher Education Learning:
Higher educational learning is determined as a third-level or tertiary education that open
ups the gate for most of the individual for applying for different kinds of jobs. HE Learning
improves the intellectuality and knowledge sphere. Therefore, having Higher education learning
will ultimately act as a positive action for the individual. Some of the skills that should be
acquired by a person are mentioned below:
Adaptive Thinking Skill: In the scenario of digital technology things are changing in a
rapid speed companies are adopting new and latest technologies for accomplishing the task in an
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effective manner. Higher education learning helps in creating future employees according to the
changing conditions (Ju, Zhang and Pacha, 2012).
Soft Skills: This is a crucial skill that should be developed by an individual, this will
assist a person in influencing other individuals. Moreover, this includes management skills,
organisational skills, capability of interacting with other people etc., For example: this kind of
skill is helpful in maintaining better relations with various persons.
Collaborative Skills: While working in a company it is important that an individual have
the skill of working in collaboration with other persons (Cottrell, 2013). Therefore, developing
this skill will help me in quickly developing relationship with people who belongs to different
culture. As a result, it will help me in increasing my existing knowledge and skills.
Employability:
Most of the skills that are required to be developed are related to employability as this
will further assist them in giving their best at the workplace. Henceforth, some of the skills
according to me which are important to be considered are mentioned below:
Positive Attitude: Working in a company cannot provide benefits all the time there can
be some instances where an individual can fail in doing any kind of task. Thus, as per my
positive attitudes should be maintained so that I can encourage and motivate other people as
well for performing the task in an effective manner.
Self-Management: If I am managing things in an effective way that it can help me in
executing the task in a systematic manner without any kind of issues. Furthermore, in terms of
employability it will be very helpful because by managing my activities I can easily explain the
plans and other activities to persons who are working within the organisation.
Thinking Skills: An individual must be creative and should have developed effective
thinking skills so that in different situation proper actions can be taken in order to overcome the
same. Therefore, if a person is good in thinking skills than he/she can get the desired job ( Emden
and Becker, 2010).
Effective Technological Skills: This is an important factor according to the current
market scenario as companies are recruiting people who are technically very sound. In terms of
my skills I am good in this which further assist me in occupying good position in an
organisation.
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SWOT analysis:
According to the “personality test” which is named as Big Five Personality test report,
with the help of which I got to know about the areas of my strengths and weaknesses in which I
have to focus. Therefore, on the basis of the test attempted which I understood and developed a
SWOT analysis which is explained below:
Strengths: Conscientiousness is my biggest strength related to the work which further
makes discipline related to the work ethics, well organised in terms of executing the task and
performing any kind of activity in a systematic manner. Other than this, while doing any kind of
action I prefer to work with others. Thus, it shows my friendly nature which moreover helps me
in maintaining a better relation with other persons. As a result, while working as a IT manager it
will aid me in having different perspective regarding developing an application therefore, it will
help me out in delivering the best out of the resources. Thus, this shows my extraversion
personality. I have one more strength in which I have not exactly mastered but it is my positive
aspect and it is by nature of agreeableness as I have good nature and compassionate about my
work. Henceforth, this will assist me in performing all my task in an effective and efficient
manner.
Weaknesses: An individual cannot include only positive aspects there are some
limitations and weaknesses as well which can further hamper activities that are to be performed.
In terms of my weaknesses according to the test attempted I have analysed that I am traditional
and doesn't favour openness to experiences. This is one of the weakness because working in the
field of Information Technology it is required that new and latest tools and technologies are
accepted so that better outcomes can be provided. Apart from this, my another weakness is my
natural reactions because stressful situations don’t affect me and I act as I am relaxed. But this
can put a negative impression about my attitude as they can feel like I am least bothered
regarding any kind of situations.
Opportunities: In relation with opportunities an individual must grab whatever
opportunities are present at the market area, In terms of my learning I should grab the
opportunity of getting selected in a renowned organisation as a IT manager. This will not only
improve my knowledge but also enable me in performing my action in different situations
according to the circumstances.
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Threats: This is an important factor because weaknesses can work as a threat for an
individual thus, it is required that the same should be taken care off in order to eliminate the
same. For instance: my traditional nature and conservative nature can act as a threat because this
can have confined my knowledge in limited sphere in this advanced working environment.
According to the strengths and weaknesses that was actually obtained and the results that
I gained was somewhat similar and different as well. For instacne: I feel confident in doing work
and according to the test it shows that I have extraversion personality which is because of
confindence level. In terms of weaknesses, sometimes I have lack of confidence and as per the
test in some situations I don't have natural reactions. Therefore, with these I have learned that I
should have to work in certain factors such I have to become social for maintaining better
relations with one another.
Section 3: Action Plan:
In order to achieve goals and objectives it is crucial that I have both long term as well as
short term goals as this will provides a proper guidance regarding what all activities are to be
performed for attaining the same. Therefore, my long term goal is to become an IT manager in a
renowned company so that I can utilise my knowledge and increase the same as well. Apart from
this my short term goal is to develop a website for graphic designing.
Action plan
Skills to be
developed
Current
Proficiency
Target Actions Time Limit
Technology In terms of
technology
factors my current
proficiency is low
because of which
I am unable to get
into the factors
from which I can
get better
outcomes.
I have a target of
2:1 degree that
will be
accomplished
after finishing my
university. After
that my first
priority will be of
learning different
programming
In order to
achieve my
targets, I will first
read technical and
educational
material that are
available
internally after
this on this basis I
will master
For enhancing
this skills I will
take around six to
seven months and
this will be
sufficient for me.
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Currently I am
good in PHP,
HTML for
performing
computer based
activities.
language i.e.
Python, Java, C+
+.
programming
language. After
this, I will send
my code reviews
to the critics so as
to identify how
much I have
developed.
Openness to
experience
Technical is not
the only aspect in
which a person
has to be
proficient there
are other factors
as well. I have to
develop this skill
which is openness
to experience and
my current
proficiency in this
is low because in
some context I
am very
conservative
which is not
acceptable
because to sustain
in the market for
a longer period of
time it is
important to
According to the
current situation,
I follow the
traditional form
of work but while
working as an IT
manager it is
important that I
accept new
technologies for
attaining effective
results. Therefore,
my target is to
learn new and
effective things
which can further
help me while
working within
the organisation
or developing my
own websites as
well.
In order to
enhance this, I
will read new
things which will
increase my
sphere of
knowledge. As a
result, it will
assist me in open
myself to new
experience and
learning new
things as well.
For developing
this, I will take
around three to
four months and
that will be
sufficient for the
same.
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accept new and
latest things so
that better results
can be gained.
Section 4: Application
Backups plays a crucial role in every field because it helps in keeping data and
information safe and secure. “The rule of three” is related to the Information Technology and
defines that whenever a data is kept it must be stored in three different places so that risk of
losing data can be eliminated. For example: I developed a code for web designing thus, there
might be a possibility that I lose my data which can affect my action. So, in order to save the
same, I can keep and store the data & information in cloud, in my personal computers and in
external devices as well. For suppose, my internet is not working and because of which I cannot
access my stored information but as I have stored in three different places therefore, I have the
option of getting the same from my external devices or from my personal computers.
There are some of the possible disasters which can be faced by an individual while
storing data and information. This can happen in normal working environment, pre-disaster etc.,
some of the cause and issues are explained below for better understanding:
Deleting files accidentally: This is the common human error that is done by an
individual and comes under top risk of losing data. Majorly this occur while updating files or
deleting the same.
Viruses and damaging malware: Other possible disaster is new virus attacks on
computers every day. According to this current market area, as most of the computers are
connected with worldwide networks and because of this the risk of viruses and damaging
malware happens on a regular basis so it is crucial that to protect data it is important that a proper
anti-viruses are developed.
Cryptowall virus, is a ransomware that can damage the system and files that are stores in
a computer. Basically, it can damage computer through spam emails, exploit kits etc., therefore,
this is a serious threat. For example: I have developed a software and because of cryptowall virus
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there can be a possibility that my work can be attacked. As a result, I have to do my entire task
all over again.
While working in an organisation or anywhere it is important that proper time
management skill is being acquired by an individual. There are some of the key points that are to
be considered in this and these are given below for better understanding:
 Start a day by having a proper plan that you will do to accomplish what things you want
to do.
 Break the task into different segments as it will assist in performing the task in an
effective manner.
 Work should be categorised according to prioritised level so that delegation of the same
can be possible.
 There must be a relaxation time period so that mind can be work all over again with
enthusiasm.
Therefore, all these steps that are mentioned below will be taken into consideration so as
to perform the activity in a systematic manner. Other than this, for enhancing my productivity
level I will read more books and interact with intellectual people so that existing skills can be
enhanced.
Section 5: Conclusion and Evaluation
From the above report it has been analysed that an individual cannot be master in all and
there are some flaws and limitations which are present in a person. For instance: although I am
good in work ethics and discipline that assisted me in performing my activities in a systematic
manner and gaining better outcomes. Along with this, I am very good in maintaining better
relationship with other persons because of my friendly nature. But there are some limitations as
well, like although I have technical skills and knowledge but it is very limited which is required
to be improved and the main reason behind this is because of my traditional way of performing
any activity. This limit me from gathering appropriate information. Therefore, with the help of
proper training I will try to gain more knowledge and try to learn new things such as
programming language. As a result, it will make me more capable of accomplishing the task in
an effective manner. Other than this, if I will improve my weaknesses than I will be able to grab
as many as opportunities so that I can express myself by providing better outcomes and results.
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APPENDIX
Section 6: Appendices
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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.
de Guzman, A. B. and Choi, K. O., 2013. The relations of employability skills to career
adaptability among technical school students. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 82(3).
pp.199-207.
Ju, S., Zhang, D. and Pacha, J., 2012. Employability skills valued by employers as important for
entry-level employees with and without disabilities. Career Development and
Transition for Exceptional Individuals. 35(1). pp.29-38.
Fallows, S. and Steven, C., 2013. Integrating key skills in higher education: employability,
transferable skills and learning for life. Routledge.
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.
Simatele, M., 2015. Enhancing the portability of employability skills using e-portfolios. Journal
of Further and Higher Education. 39(6). pp.862-874.
Griffin, M. and Annulis, H., 2013. Employability skills in practice: the case of manufacturing
education in M ississippi. International Journal of Training and Development. 17(3).
pp.221-232.
Ju, S. and et. al., 2014. Employability skills for entry-level employees with and without
disabilities: A comparison between the perspectives of educators and employers.
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation. 40(3). pp.203-212.
Cottrell, S., 2013 4th edition, The Study Skills Handbook, Palgrave Macmillan.
Emden, J. and Becker, L. 2010. 2nd edition, Presentation Skills for Students, Palgrave
Macmillan.
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