Kings College London MBA: Academic and Employability Skills Report

This report, prepared by an MBA student at King's College London, comprehensively assesses academic and employability skills. It begins with a personal overview and a skills evaluation, differentiating between higher education and employability skills, and includes a personal SWOT analysis. The r...Read More

Academic & Employability
Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Task 1...............................................................................................................................................1
Personal overview about myself.................................................................................................1
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................1
Skills evaluation .........................................................................................................................1
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
Short and long term goals and action plan..................................................................................3
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
Application to ensure the safety of data......................................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................7
Recommendation.........................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
A group of essential abilities that is useful to develop the knowledge base and expertise
level of the employees in order to achieve more success in the organisation. It undertakes
qualification, skills, knowledge that is required for particular job position. So it is mandatory for
individual to learn this skills for getting advanced level of success. On the other hand academic
skill refers to those which are required to increase the content knowledge to crack programs that
are related with education. In this report skills that are related with higher education and
employability are included (Minten and Forsyth, 2014). Strength and weakness that are required
to evaluate the skills of an individual. Moreover accurate action plan that include short term and
long term goals that are essential to develop academic and personal skill are included in this
report.
Task 1
Personal overview about myself
I am pursuing the MBA course form the kings collage of London which is a public
research university that is situated in London. It is also the member of federal institution of
United Kingdom. MBA is a course that provides the education or knowledge about the
management. It help me to learn the skill that is related with market and industry. So it my
responsibility to implement my skill into working conditions of organisation. Therefore this
report is formulated by me that help to learn essential skill which are required by the national and
international organisation. So I start my career with in field that enhances my performance
(Koen, Klehe and Van Vianen, 2013).
Task 2
Skills evaluation
Higher education is the formal optional stage of learning that occur when the secondary
education of an individual is completed. It involves different types of courses in order to provide
education in specific field such as law, management, engineering etc. Some skills that are
required to get high education is mention as follow:
Communication skill- Communication is required in all type of courses that helps an
organisation and individual to complete their statement in accurate manner. Like to get
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admission in universities of UK it is essential for candidate to learn English so it is easy for them
to understand meaning of words. Apart from this it also help them to proof read their work due to
which there is less mistake generates in the work.
Ability for persevere and complete task- This aspect shows that an student need to show
the commitment and determination to complete their work. In present scenario most of the
universities identifies this skill in a candidate which determines that they complete their work
with positive attitude. Moreover persevere skill emphasis on individual due to which they
complete their task with more commitment and responsibility (Jones, 2013).
Employability skill
It is a set of skills and behaviour that is necessary for complete every type of job. This
skills are also known as soft skills. The main agenda of this skill that it helps an individual or
employee to complete their work and task with more efficiency and effectiveness. Some skills
that are required for employment in UK is as follow:
Teamwork and interpersonal skill- In present market conditions and industry it is
essential for an employee to complete their work within teams. As this skill is learned by them in
universities while completing a project. In context of organisation this skill helps organisation
and employee to achieve common goal by contributing equal efforts. This results that employee
achieve personal as well as professional goal.
Planning and research skill- In order to complete certain task it is essential for them to
formulate suitable strategy and plan of action through which they complete their work within
minimum time period. Along with this it help to gather relevant and reliable information through
various sources (Jackson, 2015). In order to identify this skill organisation takes test of
candidates like, aptitude test, skills test etc.
Personal SWOT analysis
After identify the employability and academic skill that are required by organisation. I
make a personal SWOT analysis which is based on self assessment test that is conducted through
internet.
Strength
 According to the self assessment test
my team work and organizing skills are
above the average. It determines that I
Weakness
 I have no employment experience due
to which organisation are not able to
develop the trust among myself. It
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have great mark in humanistic skill that
help to influence employees easily. The another skill which is stronger in
my personality is self management. It
help me to complete my work within
specified period. Therefore I didn't
need to push my things.
generates barrier in getting a job.
 In context of my communication skill
they are below the average. Moreover
due to my introvert nature I am not
good to talk with strangers which also
creates communication gap.
Opportunities
 With the help of employment agency it
is easy for me to identify part time job.
Where as my school also provides
internship from well-known
organisation. In UK there are lot of enterprise are
performing their operations it
determines that there are lot of
alternatives are present in market.
Along with this some of them want
candidates who belong to different
background.
Threats
 In recent years there is lot of boom of
students who are graduated. So in UK
there are not enough opportunities for
job that provides employment to all.
 Overseas students are hunting for job
with more determination in UK.
Therefore British graduates face several
issue that generates more pressure to on
them get a job in local area.
TASK 3
Short and long term goals and action plan
In context of short term goals that are related with my field is beneficial to decide the
career that match with my skill and education (Jackson, 2013). So short term goals that are
decided by me is mention as follow:
Fundamental knowledge about my subject
By the end of my education this subject knowledge help me to complete my work within
systematic manner. Deep knowledge about my subjects such as marketing an advertising that are
learned by me through pursuing this course helps me to successfully participate in different
activities in the working field of organisation.
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Time management
Their is wide scope of short term goals in the upcoming future of market or industry. It
determines that they help to cover goals in parallel way whether they are personal or professional
(Holmes, 2013). In order to achieve more success I learned and improve skill of time
management as this helps me to manage multiple task within minimum time period. Example-
for this I make plan which involves that in how dates which task are needed to complete first. It
helps to divide task and check whether they are completed in specific time period or not.
Long terms plans
Long terms goals are developed for more than one year which determines that it helps an
individual or candidate to complete their task with effective approach. Goals which co-ordinate
between my career and passion are mention as follow:
Work in personal relation department of organisation
One of the object that would works in organisation is public relation department that
helps them to develop positive relationship with its stakeholders. Like an employees need to
interact with its colleagues, customer and investor in order to influence them towards
organisational goal. Along with this it help to understand the own self worthiness, strong and
unique point through which they ensure that they complete their work that nobody else.
Move to another countries
Another long term goal is to work in different country that does not belong to my region.
It determines to perform a job that is not in the physical boundaries of UK (Durrani and Tariq,
2012). This helps to learn new learn new working environment along with new experience. As
this plan include more risk due to which a accurate and realistic plan is needed as it is essential
to live in another country through managing budget. So they does not face problems in future.
Action plan
To develop an effective action plan SWOT analysis is needed. In this task an action plan
is formulated that covered all aspects of my personality such as strength, weakness, opportunities
and threats. Further I make an action plan that undertakes SMART criteria to enhance my skills.
Communication skill
The first aspect that is covered in this report is related with the communication as without
interaction it is difficult to achieve the goals. Moreover it also generates barriers to complete the
particular task. Some action that are taken by me to improve communication is as follow:
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 Participating in different activities that is organized by school or university community
such as culture and annual events (Dhiman, 2012).
 To interact with more number of persons so it increases or boost the confidence to
communicate with others. It helps to make effective statements that complete without any
issue.
In order to measure the communication skill different test are given by me such as IELTS,
GATES etc. that helps to improve and evaluate my English speaking, writing and reading skills.
For this the target which is decided by me is of Christmas holidays so essential changes are
adopted by me quickly.
Problem solving skill
This skill are required to solve different problems which create barrier to complete the
work that is required by the organisation to perform. Problem solving skill also helps to creates
the plans that are related with future. Apart from this it also helps me to develop the ways by
which I help different people. Action that are taken to improve this skill is as follow:
 In order to improve this skill the first step that is taken by me is to become a volunteer
because it help to perform my duty with in different fields.
 To perform different task that is developed by project manager which assist to learn the
basis of all types of works.
For the evaluation of this skill the measures that is taken by me is to evaluate the productivity of
my work that are performed by me ( Guzman and Choi, 2013). The another step that helps to
measure the work performance is to make comparison between expected work and actual work
of the organisation. While the time which is decided to complete the project is to finish them
before the deadline of the organisation.
Self management skill
This skill is useful for individual because it helps them to complete their work within
minimum time period through managing and organising the whole work that is needed to
perform by them. The main agenda of this work is to complete to make a bridge between the
skill and knowledge of my work. Action that are taken to improve self management skill is as
follow:
 Do make self reflection whenever a task is given by the tutor or university.
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 Another step for self management is to proof read and justify the work that is done by
them.
Self management skill are evaluated through analysing the results and the feedback that is
provided by the university (Collet, Hine and Plessis 2015). For learning this skill in effective
manner the date is decided is of before the completion of semester first.
TASK 4
Application to ensure the safety of data
Data is the most crucial part that is mandatory to store it involves all functions that is
performed by the organisation and candidates. For students it is necessary to develop
infrastructure system that match with the needs of backup system. Some steps that helps to
secure the data is mention as follow:
Hardware backups
Hard drive backup is the way through which data is stored in more than one place.
Usually they came up with those component that are tangible and store data with a larger access.
This method is useful for me because it help to store data that is connected with my network.
Moreover this system helps to store data in multiple backups.
Software solutions
Buying backup software are the most effective tool that is used to store the data. This is
the most effective to save the data which is preferred by me. As it is less expensive and does not
require the another server to store the data. In case if there is change in infrastructure then there
is no need to change in software.
Time management and organisation
Time management is an organisation come under the most fundamental business strategy.
This is essential to improve the employability skill as it helps to increase the work that is needed
to perform by different functions (Benson, Morgan and Filippaios, 2014). Planning which is
related with time management helps me to cover the whole aspect that is related with my work.
Along with this different tools are present which help to manage the time with effective
approach. Some strategies that are required in time management are mention as follow:
 This help to make proper sequence of the work along with this it help to categorise them
as per their roles.
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 The another work that is performed under strategy is to decentralise the work which is
more difficult in the nature.
 To divide the task along with their time management strategy so they complete by
employees with in minimum period.
 Last role that helps me is to complete their work with accomplishing goals of
organisation.
TASK 5
Recommendation
Their are numerous ways are present in the organisation which helps to complete all task
and achieve their goal within minimum time period. Manual appointment record need to be
maintained. However another alternative are included in organisation is to attain the goals by
adopting different methods that reduces the complexities in performing the work effectively. All
the work which is performed by me is mention in organisation is as follow:
 To complete the work of the team and in organisation within sequential process. For this
they complete their work by improving the feedback process.
 In order to increase the team spirit an organisation found those methods by which they
complete their work. Along with this to build those points that bring positive feedback in
organisation (Andrews and Russell, 2012).
 The another method which undertakes is time management. In this the organisation
complete their work through different mock practice. Thus it increases the presentation to
complete the work due to which they complete their work.
 Last factor that is developed in organisation is to generate those steps by which they are
able to make creative and effective design to complete the work. This skill helps me to
show and justify my work with a quick approach.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is concluded that employability skills are essential to
develop which governs that they play an important role in the organisation. Like they help
employees to sustain in the job for longer period. Moreover they also help to develop the skill
such as team work, communication skill etc. Apart form this it help to develop the interpersonal
skill that are required by the organisation to complete their work. I can said that the above skill
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that are mention in this assignment help me to increase the overall productivity of my work. At
last it help me to identify proper strategy that helps to solve different problems in effective
manner.
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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.
Benson, V., Morgan, S. and Filippaios, F., 2014. Social career management: Social media and
employability skills gap. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, pp.519-525.
Collet, C., Hine, D. and Du Plessis, K., 2015. Employability skills: perspectives from a
knowledge-intensive industry. Education+ Training. 57(5). pp.532-559.
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.
Dhiman, M.C., 2012. Employers' perceptions about tourism management employability
skills. Anatolia. 23(3). pp.359-372.
Durrani, N. and Tariq, V.N., 2012. The role of numeracy skills in graduate
employability. Education+ Training. 54(5). pp.419-434.
Holmes, L., 2013. Competing perspectives on graduate employability: possession, position or
process?. Studies in higher education. 38(4). pp.538-554.
Jackson, D., 2013. Student perceptions of the importance of employability skill provision in
business undergraduate programs. Journal of Education for Business. 88(5). pp.271-
279.
Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education. 40(2). pp.350-367.
Jones, E., 2013. Internationalization and employability: The role of intercultural experiences in
the development of transferable skills. Public Money & Management. 33(2). pp.95-104.
Koen, J., Klehe, U.C. and Van Vianen, A.E., 2013. Employability among the long-term
unemployed: A futile quest or worth the effort?. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 82(1).
pp.37-48.
Minten, S. and Forsyth, J., 2014. The careers of sports graduates: Implications for employability
strategies in higher education sports courses. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport &
Tourism Education. 15. pp.94-102.
Pavlin, S. and Svetlik, I., 2014. Employability of higher education graduates in
Europe. International Journal of Manpower. 35(4). pp.418-424.
Suleman, F., 2016. Employability skills of higher education graduates: Little consensus on a
much-discussed subject. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 228. pp.169-174.
Online
Methods of data security, 2018. [Online] Available through<https://phoenixnap.com/blog/data-
backup-strategy-guide-business>.
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