A Reflective Essay on Skills Audit, Competencies and Career Goals

This reflective essay outlines a student's journey of self-assessment and career planning. It includes a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to achieving the goal of becoming an HR manager. The essay details short, medium, and long-term goals, emphasizing the importance of skills development, particularly in time management and problem-solving. It also explores career progression opportunities such as networking, mentoring, and training, while acknowledging potential barriers like lack of direction and fear of failure. The essay concludes by highlighting the importance of continuous learning and strategic planning for career success, encouraging students to explore Desklib for similar resources and study tools.

Reflective piece

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
Key competencies.......................................................................................................................3
Career prospect............................................................................................................................5
Progression opportunities............................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................9
Books and Journals:....................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The report aims to identify various skills, key competencies in order to achieve future
career objectives. A student undertakes various skills, attributes and attitude while looking for
future career profession. After completing or running graduation, every students looks to achieve
effective career profession that will utilise their skills and knowledge. Therefore, the report aims
to present personal skills audit, areas of key competencies and opportunities which will be
prevailing into market (Adámek, 2018). I will showcase all my strength, weakness and key areas
through using Swot analysis. These opportunities will provide an insight about skills which
needs to be enhance to achieve future objectives.
MAIN BODY
TASK
Key competencies
Swot analysis
This tool helps in identifying personal potential and internal capabilities to achieve
objectives and goals. I have many strength which would be beneficial for me to achieve success
in my future career. Correspondingly, I too have weakness which might impact on my goals.
Therefore, this framework will help me to analysis key competencies that is required in the
competitive market. In order to get my future profession i.e. to be an HR manger in a reputed
organisation. There are my key attributes which are describe below:
Strength Weakness
 I have good communication and writing
skills. These skills are very crucial in
the working environment. It helps me
to make relations, talk with confidence
and generate effective outcomes.
 I am capable of managing
administrative work. I have
multitasking skills which will help me
to carry out important workplace
 One of my biggest weak factor is that, I
lack in time management skills. I can
say that, I do not have punctual attitude
towards my responsibilities which
affect crucial areas in my life.
 I lack in problem solving attitude. As I
have high temper which makes me
frustrated during any conflicts and
uncertain problems.

activities
 I have good technical knowledge as I
could work on various Microsoft tools
such as MS-word, PowerPoint, MS-
excel, V look and many more.
 I am not good at giving time to my
priority areas which leads me towards
procrastination (Elliott, 2021). It
affects on my performance and impact
on my growth.
 I lack in creative skills as I prefer new
ideas by would not work upon it. I
rather provide new ideas but that would
not be unique or rare which attracts
others.
Opportunities threats
 I have opportunities to make my career
in digital and IT platforms. As HR
manager, there is requirement of using
HR software which reflect my strength
in these areas.
 I have opportunities to attract
employees and individuals towards
organisation through my
communication skills as I will maintain
good relations which open many path
for being an effective assets for the
company.
 There is huge opportunities to start the
career in management which will lead
to getting high promotions in
organisations.
 I have threat of market competition, due
to having huge expectations of
company to hire individuals in the
competitive market, I may loose
confidence to present myself.
 I have threat of Covid-19. Due to this,
many individuals loose their
employment which stops the growth
and potential of individuals.
Skill audit

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:
The skills gaps are the difference in the present skills which required in an individual. It
can be used as a tool which is helpful to analyse future skills and to achieve own goals.
Therefore, by seeing the current market trends in the HR profession, there are some skills gaps
presented in me which needs to be fulfil. Through analysing the strength,weakness, opportunities
and threats. It has analysed that I lack in most of the important skills such as time management,
problem solving and creative skills. It is required to enhance these skills through getting trainings
and knowledge with experts (Hicks, 2017). It creates large skills gaps in the HR profession as
time management and problem solving skills are the most vital for the role of HR. Therefore, it is
required to enhance these skills in most effective ways by using my strength such as
communication, administrative and technical skills. The current modern business environment,
there are various skills that must be in an employees to seek employment opportunities. There is
high shortage of talented individuals which makes the organisation curious about their roles and
responsibilities. The HR manager needs to have interpersonal skills to maintain team
effectiveness, making relations and provide employee well-being. I have good skills for
communication which will help me in maintaining good relations and keep employees satisfied

and out of confusions and doubts. But due to lack of time management skills, I may loose some
potential opportunities in the dynamic environment and this would impact on my employees.
Career prospect
As per my own competencies identified through Swot analysis, there are some pathways
which are realistic open for all the short, medium and long term purpose. These competencies are
reliable for various job professions for me. As I have a lot of capabilities to conquer in my tasks
and activities (Keller, 2017). Therefore, it is necessary to analyse all the goals which needs to
be achieve wile pursuing my graduation. These pathways will help me to gain experience and
prepare time to achieve next stage.
Short term goals: These goals are created for the short period of time. Short terms goals
helps in achieving small steps towards own career paths. After the graduation, I have a lot of
options which could be achieve in short term period. As I have good technical skills that will
help me to look for digital marketing. There is high growth in this filed which will enhance my
skills to use IT software and tools. My goal is to take a catch on digital marketing within 6
months. In addition to this, I could look for internship in digital marketing which would give me
practical life experience and it will be beneficial for me to boost my IT skills.
Medium term goals: these goals are also set for a specific time period. Medium term
goals needs to be complete within 1 year after my graduation period. I could look forward to
achieve my targets by undertaking diploma courses in masters of management. This would take
maximum a year to perform diploma in HR. this course will help me to enhance my knowledge
and key attributes about be a HR manager (McConnell, Geesa, and Lowery, 2019). It will be
able to identify many roles duties and responsibilities that a HR manager does perform to secure
organisation productivity and profitability. I need to look for career pathway which is related to
my stream and that will suit to my aim. Therefore, as a graduate I could take part in HR
programmes universities campaigns and trainings which would enhance my skills.
Long term goals: these goals are more long term purpose. An individual has many
dreams and gaols which goes lifelong till it gets achieved in the desired manner. My goals as a
graduate is to look forward for MBA course. This would provide me all the knowledge and
expertise regarding my area of specific field. Therefore, I need to join a reputed organisation on
the position of HR. My long term goal is to enhance all my areas to develop HR skills attributes
and professionalism (Williams, 2019). This would be done through taking part in master of

management. As graduate, I could look to enhance my skills in creative thinking and cognitive
skills. Due to having dynamic environment, there is necessity to analyse various key knowledge
and dynamic business function to achieve my goals for being an HR manager.
All the short, medium and long terms are essential for me to set a realistic pathway for
my career. I am dedicated towards my aim and objectives which needs to be accomplish within
maximum 2 years. The career pathways are important for an individuals which showcase the
need and significance of skills and fulfil those gaps.
Progression opportunities
Career progression is an activities which is helpful for an individual to achieve success in
their set aims and objectives. There are many ways that are beneficial to look for the high
achievement as a market leader in developing future (Minott, 2021). It helps in analysing new
challenges, problems and opportunities to get out of all the doubts and be clear with an ambitious
mind. An effective actions and actors are vital to contribute In undertaking progression
opportunities. For the profession of HR, I need to look for some important factors that are helpful
to make me achieve my aims. These are described below:
Networking: it is an essential factor in order to look for career development. Networking
play vital role in getting in getting connected with other places and people. It opens gates for
many opportunities in the HR professions (Wiewiora, and Kowalkiewicz, 2019). By visiting to
new places, meeting with new people and maintaining connections with them is important to
take advantages of opportunities. This can be done through going to seminars, debates and
conferences.
Mentoring and coaching: this factor is also the most significant that will provide
knowledge and skills about what an individual wants to achieve. Getting proper coaching will
lead to effective career progression. I would make my knowledge improve and clear doubts
through mentors who will supervise and monitor my actions through tests, quizzes and case
studies.
Training and development: it is the most crucial factor for the organisation. Training is
require to enhance key skills and develop more potential to perform any tasks and activities in
desired manner (Vassilaki, 2017). It is one of the most require factor that will provide me better
assistance to perform my roles and responsibilities. Therefore, training will lead to boost my
capabilities and potential to analyse my mistakes and work according to the set aims.

Progression Barriers:
There are several barriers which may come across during career progression activities.
Some of barrier for achieving HR position are described below:
Lack of direction: it is a barrier for me to achieve my career objective effectively. Due
to having ineffective relations as I do not get any opportunities to get consultants or educational
family background. This would Crete impact on my decisions and choices for my future.
Fear of failure: this is also a barrier (Orr, 2019). S I loose confidence quite early. Failure
is the bug fear which stops me to take further steps in my profession. As I think, it would waste
resources, time and efforts.
CONCLUSION
The report has concluded that skills and knowledge are the crucial factors that needs to be
present in a student to achieve its career objectives. The report has identified personal strength,
weakness, opportunities and threats to perform own skills audit. This has analysed that, there is
lack of time management, problem solving skills which may impact on the future profession.
Therefore, the report has presented all the short, medium, and long term pathways which are
effectiveness in order to accomplish goals. Also, there is need to analysis crucial factor for career
progression activities. It has shown that, it can cause barrier and hurdles that an individuals needs
to overcome to get success in their objectives.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Adámek, M., 2018. Practical Economic Modelling: Reflective essay.
Elliott, J., 2021. Radiography of human dry bones: A reflective account with recommendations
for practice. Radiography.
Hicks, T., 2017. A reflective analysis of the practice and performance of a degree tuba recital.
Keller, C., 2017. Processing of highly reflective materials: Improving metal cutting with high
power fiber lasers by examination of back‐reflected light. Laser Technik Journal, 14(4),
pp.30-33.
McConnell, K., Geesa, R.L. and Lowery, K., 2019. Self-reflective mentoring: perspectives of
peer mentors in an education doctoral program. International Journal of Mentoring and
Coaching in Education.
Minott, M., 2021. Thought piece: to what extent could the reflective approach to teaching
practicum debriefing strategy be incorporated in lesson study?. Reflective Practice,
pp.1-7.
Orr, S., 2019. What’s in the bag? Reflective practice in church and prison. Practical
Theology, 12(1), pp.58-65.
Vassilaki, E., 2017. Reflective writing, reflecting on identities: The construction of writer
identity in student teachers’ reflections. Linguistics and Education, 42, pp.43-52.
Wiewiora, A. and Kowalkiewicz, A., 2019. The role of authentic assessment in developing
authentic leadership identity and competencies. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher
Education, 44(3), pp.415-430.
Williams, C., 2019. Narrative poem:“A letter from your student midwife” A personal reflective
piece. Women and Birth, 32, pp.S1-S2.