Employability Skills Report: University of Leeds, Business Development

This report assesses key employability skills for a Business Development Manager role, drawing on Clifton Gallup Strengths and Johari's Window theories. It discusses companies like PwC and UHY Hacker Young, examining their values and ethics in relation to personal alignment. The report highlights the importance of networking for commercial awareness, reflecting on attended events and acquired skills. Key strengths identified include consistency, adaptability, and empathy, crucial for professional development and effective team coordination. The analysis emphasizes self-awareness, team development, and communication skills, linking them to improved business performance. The report also touches upon Maslow's hierarchy of needs and utilitarian ethical theory, connecting personal values with organizational ethics. The networking experiences and the application of management theories are also discussed in detail.

Running head: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Employability Skills
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Executive Summary
This report discusses about the key strengths that I have in relation to the professional
position of Business Development Manager. It appraises elements from Clifton Gallup
Strengths along with Johari’s Window theories. It discusses about companies in my sector
like PwC and UHY Hacker Young. It discusses about the values and the ethics of these
companies and whether they align with my views. It also elaborates on the importance of
networking that can help an individual in becoming commercially aware about my sector. It
also reflects on the networking events that I attended and the skills that I was able to learn
with the help of these events.

2EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Table of Contents
Section 1: Know Yourself..........................................................................................................3
Section 2: Know your sector......................................................................................................5
Section 3: Know Yourself..........................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................8
Appendices.................................................................................................................................9

3EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Section 1: Know Yourself
I am currently studying B. SC Honours in Accounting and Finance in University of
Leeds. My desired career choice is the professional position of Business Development
Manager. Gallup Clifton Strengths can help an individual in application of the greatest talents
along with strengths in the everyday life. The key strengths that I have in relation to Clifton
Gall Up strengths is consistency, adaptability and empathy. The significance of Gallup
strengths lie in the fact that it can help people in focussing on the areas of strength that can
help an individual in leading an excellent life. These skills are crucial to the position of
Business Development Manager and these skills can help me in my professional
development. Developing of the aspect of empathy will help the Business Development
Manager in developing products along with services for the customer. It will be able to help
the individual in observing how the customers are using the services that can help a business
in making profit. I have got consistency that can help me in communing messages in the
proper manner that can help the people working as my subordinates in the organization.
Consistency will be able to help the Business Development Manager in building the element
of trust in between the subordinates and the managers (Delaney et al. 2017). Consistent
values can help an individual in maintaining priorities that can increase the efficiency of work
in an organization. The managers and the leaders in the organization being consistent in their
behaviour can help in setting an example before the subordinates that can help in the arena of
effective delivery of performance (Schillebeeckx et al. 2016). Adaptability would be able to
help the Business Development Manager in adapting the business to the changes taking place
in the external environment. One can get a lot of advantages by being flexible and it can help
an individual in responding to the changes taking place in the environment. The element of
adaptability would be able to help the Business Development Manager in opening the mind to
the new ideas that can help in augmenting performance of an organization (Block 2016). I

4EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
can adapt to different situations that can help me in guiding others for thinking through the
decisions that can serve the interest of my business. I can socially connect with people that
can help me in maintaining workplace harmony that can help in building the element of
belonging among the employees of an organization.
The Johari Window Model lays emphasis on the factor of self-awareness, personal
development, interpersonal relationships, improving communications, team development and
that of inter group relationships. The Johari model can help an individual in understanding
oneself in a better manner and it can facilitate the process of understanding other people. The
Johari model can help an individual in perceiving the undiscovered self that can help in the
career progression of an individual.The strengths that I have pertaining to Johari Window
model is that of self-awareness, team development and improving communications. Johari’s
Window can prove to be more beneficial for my professional development as it can it help me
in understanding my emotions comprehensively and it can help me in understanding links
between emotions and thoughts. The three qualities that I have in relation to Johari’s Window
are that of being mature, sensible and knowledgeable.The elements of Joharis window can
help me in achieving my career aspiration and it can help me in my professional
development. These strengths can help me in fulfilling the position of Business Development
Manager and my help my team in the aspect of co-ordination. Being self-aware can help an
individual in understanding business and it can help them in managing the workplace. In the
event of a manager being self-aware he can manage the emotions that can help him in
maintaining effective relationship with the subordinates in the organization. I have the
strength of self-awareness that has an effect on the bottom line of a business. The companies
that have a strong financial performance have employees having higher level of the element
of self-awareness. Self-awareness would be able to help me in the position of Business
Development Manager in developing my business. Team building can help in building

5EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
stronger relationship in an organization and it can help them in solving challenges that arise
in the organization (Harris and Williams 2014). Team development can be of help for an
organization as it can help the team members in staying focussed on the results that can
augment the performance of the organization. Team development would be able to help the
Business Development Manager in building the personal skills of the employees and it can
help in the aspect of collaboration. The communication skills that I have would help me in
communicating and asserting to the various stakeholders. I would be able to get new client
with the help of my communication skills that would be able to help my business in making
profits.
Section 2: Know your sector
Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) is the name of a global professional services network
which is headquartered in the area of London. PwC is a company of immense scale that
provides various kinds of services like tax advisory, strategy consulting, data & analytics,
management consulting, financial advisory and legal. Samuel Lowell Price was instrumental
in founding the accounting practice within London in the year 1849 (Pwc.co.uk 2018).
Prince partnered with that of William Hopkins Holyland along with Edwin Waterhouse.
Holyland soon left and he started to work alone in the accountancy that was called Price,
Waterhouse & Co. PwC lays stress on the values of integrity, care, making a difference and
working together. Integrity helps PWC in staying loyal to the customers that helps in
expanding the consumer base of the company. PWC is instrumental in providing superior
customer service and they care of the interests of the customers. The priority of the
organization is assigned with the customer service that helps the company in earning profits.
PwC makes a difference in the society by taking into account corporate responsibility
strategy that helps it in getting ahead of the competitors. Due consideration is laid by the
company on the aspect of serving the clients that helps in the growth of their business. PwC

6EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
lays emphasis on the ethical principles of integrity, justice and respect. UHY Hacker Young
refers to national group of the accountants along with business advisers that have more than
540 staff in the 23 offices of UK (Uhy-uk.com 2018). It is a regional company that offers
services like bookkeeping along with accounting. UHY Hacker Young want to act as the
business adviser that can help in the aspect of delivering seamless client service. The
ambitious vision of the company helps them in developing skill sets that helps them in
serving the clients. UHY Hacker Young lays emphasis on the value of integrity that can help
them in evolving as a professional service. The company gives importance on the value of
dedication that can help them achieving their vision and surviving in the competitive
environment UHY Hacker Young gives importance on the ethical value of objectivity that
helps them in the building of loyal clients.
The elements of the company Pricewaterhouse Coopers like integrity aligns well with
my personality as I am consistent that helps in the proper maintaining of values. PwC
believes in working together and I have the ability of team development that can help me in
successfully working in the company. The values of UHY Hacker Young goes well with my
personality as both of us believe in objectivity along with integrity. The values of a company
being in accordance with the values of a person can help an individual in working efficiently.
It can provide job satisfaction to an individual and it can be effective in augmenting the
performance of an individual (Debortoli, Müller and vom Brocke 2014). The theory of
Maslow lays stress on the basic needs that can help an individual in his career development.
Abraham Maslow stated that the behaviour of the individuals in the society are on the basis of
the needs. I like to work with integrity that can help me to a great extent when I am working
in PwC and UHY Hacker Young. Money, recognition, esteem, love and belonging are the
five needs that I have that can help me in my professional life. PwC along with UHY Hacker
Young can help me in satisfying the needs in relation to these five aspects that can help me in

7EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
living a fulfilling life. Maslow hierarchy of needs states that the satisfaction of the needs can
boost the professional growth of an individual. Utilitarian ethical theory is on the basis of
ability of an individual that can help him in predicting the consequences of that of an action.
The decisions in an organisation should be made by taking into account the welfare of the
consumers and the clients. The two companies- PwC and UHY Hacker Young takes into
account ethical principles that helps them in catering to the needs along with demands of the
consumer. The ethical principles have helped them in emerging as popular company.
Section 3: Know Yourself
Networking can help in developing a business and it can help in the sector of
Accounting and Finance. The network of the business partners can help in opening
opportunities for a business. The networking would help the business in achieving the
objective of the company. Networking would be able to help me in my sector of Accounting
and Finance in using the advice along with knowledge of other people that can later on help
in the efficient running of a business (Chang 2015). It can be used for getting advice that
would be able to help in developing the business. One can get referrals with the help of
networking that can help the business in earning profits. The attending of the business along
with the social event would be able to help the Business Development Manager in building
the reputation as a reliable and a supportive person. It would be able to help the Business
Development Manager in the generation of leads that can help in the successful running of a
business. Networking would be able to help me in building professional relationship with that
of the business owners (Hunt and Weintraub 2016). The management theory of Henri Fayol
helps in illustrating how management carries on interaction with the personnel. Management
theory lays stress on the aspects of planning, organizing, commanding, co-ordinating and
controlling. The management in an organisation should make sure that the personnel can
work co-operatively that can help in developing an organisation.

8EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
I have attending the networking event of NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards
that helped me in knowing about the inspiring stories of the British entrepreneurs
(Greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com 2018). I was able to meet with outstanding
entrepreneurs with the help of this event that helped me in gaining knowledge related to
business development skills. I was able to get into contact with entrepreneurial talent in UK
that helped me in sharpening my managing skills. I also attended the networking event of
Most Contagious that is attended by the marketers from various successful brands along with
advertising agencies (Contagious.com 2018). I met with world-renowned experts with the
help of this event that helped me in getting knowledge about cutting edge innovations in
relation to media along with marketing. The skills that I used in the events was collaboration
and communicative skills. I was able to learn with the help of this event how to build
relationship with other people that can help me in maximising the profit of my organization.
It can act as an invaluable resource that can bring great benefit for the company.

9EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
References
Block, P., 2016. The empowered manager: Positive political skills at work. John Wiley &
Sons.
Chang, A., 2015. Networking Through Collaborative Learning. In Preparing Youths for the
Workplace (pp. 119-124).
Debortoli, S., Müller, O. and vom Brocke, J., 2014. Comparing business intelligence and big
data skills. Business & Information Systems Engineering, 6(5), pp.289-300.
Delaney, Y., Pattinson, B., McCarthy, J. and Beecham, S., 2017. Transitioning from
traditional to problem-based learning in management education: the case of a frontline
manager skills development programme. Innovations in Education and Teaching
International, 54(3), pp.214-222.
Harris, K. and Williams, J.A., 2014. Some experiences cannot be had at a distance: The
importance of face-to-face settings for building professional networking skills. Atlantic
Marketing Journal, 3(2), p.2.
Hunt, J.M. and Weintraub, J.R., 2016. The coaching manager: Developing top talent in
business. Sage Publications.
Pwc.co.uk (2018). PwC UK - Building relationships, creating value. [online] PwC. Available
at: https://www.pwc.co.uk/ [Accessed 21 Nov. 2018].
Schillebeeckx, S.J., Chaturvedi, S., George, G. and King, Z., 2016. What do I want? The
effects of individual aspiration and relational capability on collaboration
preferences. Strategic Management Journal, 37(7), pp.1493-1506.
Uhy-uk.com (2018). Home - UHY Hacker Young. [online] UHY Hacker Young. Available at:
https://www.uhy-uk.com/ [Accessed 21 Nov. 2018].

10EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Appendices
Appendix A
Figure: Gallup Strengths Certificate

11EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Appendix B
Figure: NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards