Employability Skills 2: Critical Reflection on Career Development

This report critically reflects on employability skills, focusing on self-awareness and career development within the oil and petroleum management sector. It includes evidence of attending networking events, a job description analysis, a tailored CV, a LinkedIn profile overview, and a professional development plan. The report analyzes the importance of networking for commercial awareness, reflecting on skills used during networking experiences and how the degree program aids in developing necessary skills. It also evaluates professional qualifications, like SET skills, and leadership development programs to enhance career prospects. The STAR method is applied to interview questions, and self-reflection highlights areas for improvement. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and resources for students.

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Employability Skills

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How can networking help you become more commercially aware of your sector?
Networking helps by making us commercially aware because in this way we get a
chance to interact with more people, gain their knowledge and we can even share our
thoughts, and get a reply to it. While working in the oil organization, an event was organized
by the company that shows the practical use of oil and how the natural resources can be
saved. During that event, I got the chance to interact with many people. Few were my clients;
few were buyers and sellers in the oil industry. I believe that professional networks in the best
way to attain information about the new happening in the oil world at both the international
and domestic market. I believe that LinkedIn, which has emerged as the popular social
networking platform offers the direction to connect with many people in our similar field. In
this way, we can interact with them and enhance our network. I have analysed that social
networking services include thousands of online groups, which we can quickly join, to
increase our professional network. In this way, we can take part in the discussion and learn
more about the upcoming and ongoing industry trends (United Nations. Division for Public
Administration and Development Management, 2003). Networking in my field will support
me in interacting with many people and gain knowledge about the new ways of oil usage,
protecting the natural resources, up and down in the oil price in the international market, and
most important through networking I can get a chance to improve my career (Charan, et al,
2010).
Reflect on the networking experiences you have attended and discuss what skills you
used during these events.
During the oil event organized by my organization, I got a chance to interact with
many senior people, who are having an experience 30 years in this field. It was a great
experience to communicate with them and gain so much knowledge from them. During this

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event, my understanding of my area and my communication and socializing skills proved to
be very helpful for me. I didn’t hesitate in interacting with them. One more skill which I
believe was an added advantage was my listening skills. While interacting with the others, it
is essential to be a good listener and listen to their words with patiently (Clifford, 2007). As I
am a learner and new in this field, I got an opportunity to learn more from others. Such events
help us in building our network, and me us more socialize in our area.
How you can use your overall degree programme to help develop the skills set required
for your desired career.
Specializing in the management subjects is wise for the higher education. I believe
that leading scientific and professional body within the energy sector; the oil and petroleum
institute supports in attracting the next generation of professionals, who are interested in
pursuing their carer in the energy sector. It also assists in developing the skills as well as
capabilities in fulfilling the challenges that might occur shortly. My master course in oil and
petroleum management is helpful in learning about my field. It also supported me in learning
about various management skills, which are required for oil management (Finch and Fafinski,
2014). My degree program in the area of oil and petroleum management will assist me in
increasing my profile within the energy industry because it’s fascinating to work in the rising
competition in other industries. I believe that this sector requires being presented in a proper
way for the young people, and come up as their prime choice for pursuing their higher
studies. I believe that cross-train, as well as reskill for combating with the reduction in the
engineering, scientific and technical skills, is essential because it supports in training the
company, especially the universities. Proper training is necessary for the companies, to fulfil
the industry needs for highly skilled people (Hakansson and Snehota, 1995).

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Analyse a professional qualification you could acquire alongside your degree and
explain the rationale for the undertaking of this qualification to meet your career
ambitions.
Along with my professional qualifications, I would like to for SET skills, because it’s
always a reward for the technical specialist so that they can efficiently combat with the
reducing number of graduates who take for SET skills. This type, of course, can be seen as
the financially as well as attractive reward for competing with the high roles in the field of
management, law, and finance. This course will also help me in moving towards innovation.
It will also benchmark my competence level, and provide me with real industry experience
(Izzo, 2006). While doing my master's course, I would also like to take leadership
development programs and will also go with in-house training, so that I can upgrade my
management skills. My degree program will help in improving my learning of oil
management field, but with leadership programs, I can quickly get the industry experience,
which will help me in my future and will even improve my career prospects.
How you plan to acquire these recognized professional qualifications and evaluate how
they could add value to an employer and make you the preferred candidate in an
interview.
After completion of my graduation, I applied for oil and petroleum management
courses in various universities of my choice. I was lucky enough to get selected in one of the
premier college of London for my course. I believe that at present, natural resources are
scarce, and if these are not saved, then our coming generation would get an opportunity to see
it. My course will help me to work in the oil field. This course will act as an added advantage
for the employer, as I have done my bachelors in the same field and I even have two months

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of industry experience, in which I worked in the management department of one of the top oil
industry. I also possess various courses in leadership development.
Describe a current job description and the specification for the desired job in your
sector.
Job position- Marketing Manager in the oil sector
Job description
- Responsible for marketing activities related to crude oil and natural gas
- Responsibilities also include direct marketing efforts and management of third party
entities.
- Support the marketing VP in various capacities, including helping in the development of
new contracts and marketing option evaluation.
- Research and accumulate the market trends knowledge
- Develop both short and long-term strategies for increasing netback realizations.
Include what skills the job requires and how your CV and LinkedIn profile
demonstrate the essential and desirable skills. Reflect on the interview process and how
well you were able to apply the STAR method and give an example of how you
responded to a question.
Skills
For the marketing manager at oil industry skills required are project planning, project
controller, project management, procurement, power generator, inspection, energy
management, and civil engineering skills (Lemanski, et al, 2011).
Interview process

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In the interview process, a panel was present in the room, where they had asked few
questions with me, to test my understanding of the field. This interview was taken so that
they can also check my knowledge and confidence (McNab, 2016). They also saw my CV, in
which I have mentioned about my qualification and experience. My CV also includes my
skills, which can be an asset for their company. Along with qualification, my teamwork and
leadership skills were also tested. These skills are critical and required when we have to work
on some group task (Newman, 2010).
Star Method
STAR METHOD INTERVIEW
Questions for an interview answered through STAR method
Q1 Can you mention how you can be an asset for our company?
S I have attained both knowledge and experience during my course, and I believe
that can be helpful for your company. I even possess the experience to work in an
international company, were I got an opportunity to assist my manager on
international project. I also possess the knowledge of international market.
T I am looking for different ways in which I can take up the responsibility, so that I
can prove myself.
A I will work with a team and even fulfil my individual duties simultaneously
R I believe that due to my initiative, we can definitely offer best services to
customers.
Q2 How can you bring innovation in the company?
S
With the help of my knowledge, we can try different ways of managing the tasks.
For resolving any issue, I can look around for different ways in which it can be
solved effectively.
T I will work in team, so that we all can come up with new ideas and ways in which
it can be implemented.
A The best idea will be selected and implemented for solving the problems.
R I believe that innovation and unique techniques can help in improving performance
of the company and employees.

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Reflect on what you have learned about yourself and what aspects you need to improve
on for work readiness.
I have learned that through interaction with others, and by doing courses, gaining real
experience, one can quickly succeed in their career. Along with that, we should have various
other skills that can prove to be an advantage for us like, coordination skill, listening skills,
patience, communication, networking, leadership and motivational skills. I believe that I am a
learner and for gaining more knowledge I need to enhance my network, read books and
socialize.

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References
Charan, R., Drotter, S. and Noel, J. (2010). The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the
Leadership Powered Company. John Wiley & Sons
Clifford, J. (2007). Workplace Learning and Development: Delivering Competitive
Advantage for Your Organization. Kogan Page Publishers
Finch, E. and Fafinski, S. (2014). Employability Skills for Law Students. OUP Oxford
Hakansson, H. and Snehota, I. (1995). Developing Relationships in Business Networks.
Cengage Learning
Izzo, A. (2006). Research and Reflection: Teachers Take Action for Literacy Development
Literacy, Language and Learning. IAP
Lemanski, T., Mewis, R. and Overton, T. (2011). An Introduction to Work-Based Learning.
Unknown Publisher
McNab, C. (2016). Network Security Assessment: Know Your Network. "O'Reilly Media,
Inc."
Newman, M. (2010). Networks: An Introduction. OUP Oxford
United Nations. Division for Public Administration and Development Management. (2003).
Leadership and Social Transformation in the Public Sector: Moving from Challenges to
Solutions. United Nations Publications

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Appendices
A) Screenshot or copy of a current job description and specification
B) Current Professional CV

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C) Current Professional Development Plan
Goal/Objective
What is it that
you want to
develop or
achieve?
(e.g. skills
development/
career
development/
future plans)
Specific
State exactly what
you think you
need to do in
order to achieve
your goal
(e.g. coaching /
mentoring /
shadowing
/reading / training /
research
/conferences
/supervisor
support)
Measurable
 How will you
know you have
achieved your
goal?
(e.g. achieved
goal / speak
knowledgeably
about subject /
mastered new
technology/feel
more
confident/received
good feedback)
Achievable &
Realistic
 You have
the
resources,
time,
opportunity
and support
to succeed
 Goals can be
challenging but
must be achievable
and relevant to
your role
Time bound
 With a clear end
date or timescale
 Use realistic
deadlines, to
allow time for
progress to have
been made
Short term
To complete my
masters in oil and
petroleum
management
By enrolling in the
top college
I will manage this
course on my own
Course will be of 3
years
Medium term To enhance my
management skills
By taking real
industry
experience
To work in a team No time limit
Long-term
To go for a top
position in oil
management sector
I will gain
knowledge,
socialize, read
books and gain
experience
Industry experience 10 years